In his time in politics, Charles Walker has been called many things.
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An egomaniac. A fierce competitor. Ethically challenged. And some things that can't be printed.
But one title probably fit him best: power broker.
With his conviction Friday on 127 federal criminal charges, the political landscape in Augusta, over which Mr. Walker cast such a huge shadow for nearly two decades, is now forever changed. How that change will evolve is the question now on the lips of many Augusta political aficionados.
Mr. Walker's misfortunes provide an opportunity for a newcomer to grab the spotlight that the senator consumed with his often larger-than-life personality. Lawyer Ed Tarver, who lost to Mr. Walker in last year's Democratic primary, has been the first to publicly announce he'd like to assume the mantle.
"He will be able to effect certain things much earlier than would some other player who may emerge," Joseph Greene, a professor at Augusta State University and a local political commentator, said about Mr. Tarver, a former chairman of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. "If I had to handicap this thing, you would certainly look at people like Ed and say, 'Well, we're still going to suffer a setback, but it won't be as severe as it would be if someone else emerges who doesn't have the presence or breadth that an Ed Tarver or some others who may emerge would carry.'"
Dave Barbee, the chairman of both the Richmond County Republican Party and the Human Relations Commission, expects a lot of jockeying for position among local black politicians to assume the role of kingmaker that Mr. Walker was widely thought to hold.
"There is a huge power vacuum, and I can't tell you who is going to be the one to fill it," Mr. Barbee said. "Right now, the minority community is in total disarray and total shock. I think there's a short time before when you'll see who will emerge as leader."
BARBARA GORDON, owner and publisher of the black weekly The Metro Courier, refutes the notion that the black community is so monolithic that Mr. Walker's conviction will put it in a state of confusion.
"I think he's being pretty presumptuous," she said.
"What are we supposed to be now, a community of mindless little children who follow the direction of one man? What about the rest of our elected leadership? ... There are other great minds and other great talents in our community, and I'm confident that that talent will emerge, stronger and even more dedicated to the people of our community."
Ms. Gordon mentioned Augusta Commissioners Willie Mays and Marion Williams as two who could fill the void left by Mr. Walker, and to a certain degree, former Mayor Ed McIntyre, who died in 2004.
"I think Willie is the product of a legacy of public service that is based on honor and integrity," she said. "Marion, although he doesn't have the political savvy of a Ed McIntyre or Charles Walker, he still is a person ... driven by the right reasons."
THE PICTURE ON who will replace Mr. Walker will get clearer during the next couple of weeks when Gov. Sonny Perdue issues a writ calling for a special election. The election will be held 30 to 60 days after Mr. Perdue releases the writ.
Because the special election is nonpartisan, there is no guarantee that a Democrat or a black person will win the seat for District 22, which is more than 50 percent black and drawn to have a Democratic representative.
Lowell Greenbaum, the chairman of the Richmond County Democratic Party, said a real possibility is that several Democrats could run, canceling each other out and allowing a Republican to slip in.
"A party can argue for support of a candidate, but the term Democrat does not appear on the ballot, so it makes it interesting," he said, adding that it's too early to say whom the party will endorse.
If a black candidate does succeed Mr. Walker, he may have to overcome some ramifications from the senator's conviction.
There is a gnawing feeling among several pundits that when the smoke finally clears, Mr. Walker's tribulations will be used to cast a negative light on black politicians.
"Even in the year 2005, a lot of hardcore racists will still not accept black leaders to represent them," Mr. Greene said. "So, for those with that mind-set, it certainly offers new ammunition for them. "
MR. WALKER CLAIMED that the case against him was politically motivated because he was a high-ranking black public official. While making it clear that the Democratic Party respected the jury's decision, Dr. Greenbaum said he fears that the verdict will drive away aspiring young black politicians.
"I don't think that there's any question that a part of the black population looks at this as yet another black leader who has been brought down by people in power because he was black," he said. "And the young people don't want to get involved with that. They fear that if they rise to too high a height, they also will be cut down."
Ms. Gordon, whose newspaper backed former state Sen. Randy Hall, who is white, when he defeated Mr. Walker in 2002, said she doesn't think the senator's problems will have any impact on black politicians.
"There's definitely a political element in what happened," Ms. Gordon said. "There's also a racial element in what happened. But the other part of it is, there's also a Charles Walker element in it as well, because there's no grace in doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, when you help folk but at the same time you're making sure that you help yourself, too.
"Public service is not about balancing the situation between what you get and what your constituents get."
Staff Writer Johnny Edwards contributed to this article
Reach Mike Wynn at (706) 823-3218 or mike.wynn@augustachronicle.com.
Previous Stories
• Walker must appeal from cell
• Walker receives 10-year sentence
• 'McIntyre bill' now applies to Walker
• What they're saying about the Walker verdict - 06/06/05
• Walker verdict changes politics
• What they're saying about the Walker verdict - 06/05/05
• Jury convicts on 127 of 137 counts
Federal Indictment Documents
(Adobe Reader is required to read these files. Click here for the free reader)
• Full 66-page indictment *Caution: Large document* (pdf)
• Part 1: General Allegations (pdf)
• Penalty Certificate (pdf)
• Scheme to Defraud Advertisers in the Augusta Focus (pdf)
• Scheme to Defraud Involving Grady Memorial Hospital (pdf)
• Scheme to Defraud Involving the Medical College of Georgia (pdf)
• Scheme to Defraud Involving His Political Campaign Account
• Charles & Monique Walker's Scheme to Defraud the C.S.R.A. Classic (pdf)
• The Tax Counts (pdf)
