New executive director named at Get Georgia Moving
June 4, 2008 at 1:27 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsIt was the loudest and most powerful player in the push for transportation funding during the last legislative session but it still wasn’t able to convince lawmakers to act on transportation.
But yesterday Get Georgia Moving, the coalition of more than 50 organizations ranging from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to the Sierra Club, announced Terry Chastain as its new executive director. That’s a sign the state’s powerplayers still have a little faith in our elected officials to do something next year.
Chastain is the chamber’s vice president of government affairs and was a familiar face at the Gold Dome this year. The chamber says he’ll be a loaned executive to the coalition.
“It’s humbling to represent so many respected organizations on such an important public policy issue,” Chastain said in a released statement. “With all of these groups working together and with the support of so many in the legislature, I am very confident we will be successful in our efforts.”
Earlier this year the coalition rallied for a funding mechanism that would’ve injected cash into the $7 billion budget the DOT is facing. The best bet was SR 845 — that would’ve allowed regions to levy a sales tax to raise cash for transportation projects. We all know how that ended.
Well, there’s always next year. And the year after that.
Text of the announcement after the jump.
Get Georgia Moving Coalition
Names Terry Chastain Executive Director
Coalition of Business Leaders, Transit Advocates, Road Builders and Environmentalists
Chooses Veteran Capitol Advocate
As Coalition Becomes Sought-After Voice in Transportation Policy
ATLANTA – The Get Georgia Moving coalition, which represents more than 50 groups across Georgia –including business leaders, government leaders, transit advocates, road builders and environmentalists –today announced that it has named Terry Chastain as its executive director.
“Transportation is the number one issue that will affect our region’s quality of life and our state’s economic future – and the expertise and consensus of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition are needed more than ever,” said Joe Leonard, retired chairman of AirTran Airways, chairman of the transportation policy committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition. “Terry has been in the trenches on transportation policy for a long time now, and there couldn’t be a better choice to lead the coalition as we continue to press for real action on transportation funding.”
Chastain joined the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in 2004 as executive director of the Southeastern Economic Alliance, a coalition of 16 major chambers of commerce across six states advocating for high-speed rail in the Southeast. In this role, Chastain helped secure cooperation from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina for a regional rail plan between Macon, Atlanta and Charlotte.
He was named vice president of government affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber in July 2006, and will now head Get Georgia Moving as a loaned executive.
“Terry has worked hard at the capitol to draw attention to the critical transportation funding shortfall facing our state,” said Charles Tarbutton, assistant vice president of Sandersville Railroad Company, chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving coalition. “His dedication helped the Get Georgia Moving Coalition build momentum during the 2008 session, and he will continue to lead the charge in this new, full-time role.”
Earlier in his career, Chastain held posts as a senior staff member to former Georgia Congressman Mac Collins in Washington, D.C., and former government affairs adviser for the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. He holds a law degree from Georgia State University’s College of Law and is an active member of the Georgia Bar Association.
“It’s humbling to represent so many respected organizations on such an important public policy issue,” Chastain said. “With all of these groups working together and with the support of so many in the legislature, I am very confident we will be successful in our efforts.”
Members of the Get Georgia Moving coalition support a funding mechanism that will relieve traffic congestion, ensure air quality and promote economic development. To that end, the coalition also supports efforts to optimize current revenue sources, invest in transit and all other modes of transportation, and support innovative funding programs.
Participants in the coalition include:
* American Council of Engineering Companies
* Association County Commissioners of Georgia
* Atlanta Regional Commission
* Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development at Georgia Tech
* Central Atlanta Progress
* Citizens for Progressive Transit
* Civic League for Regional Atlanta
* Clean Air Campaign
* Community Improvement District Alliance
* Council for Quality Growth
* CSX
* C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.
* Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association
* Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers
* Georgia Chamber of Commerce
* Georgia Concrete Pavement Association
* Georgia Conservancy
* Georgia Construction Aggregate Association
* Georgia Department of Transportation
* Georgia Economic Developers’ Association
* Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
* Georgia Engineering Alliance
* Georgia Highway Contractors Association
* Georgia Municipal Association
* Georgia Policy and Budget Institute
* Georgia Power Company
* Georgia Railroad Association
* Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
* Georgia Transit Association
* Georgians for Better Transportation
* Georgians for the Brain Train
* Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
* Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
* HNTB Corporation
* Livable Communities Coalition
* Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
* Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
* Norfolk Southern
* Regional Business Coalition
* Sierra Club
* Transit Planning Board
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