Rep. Tim Bearden says David Ralston, who last week was elected speaker of the state House of Representatives, is a strong candidate for the position, and he should know. For the last five years, Bearden has been Ralston’s seatmate in the House, with both men being the only two legislators on their respective row in the House chambers.

“On the very last row there are two seats. He’s in one, and I’m in the other,” Bearden said. “We have no one else to talk to. It’s just me and him.”

Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, was named to the speaker position on Thursday, defeating Ways and Means Chairman Larry O’Neal, R-Bonaire, and Bill Hembree, R-Winston, en route to winning the top position in the House.

A representative of District 7, Ralston served as a Georgia state senator from 1992-1998. Also in 1998, Ralston was the Republican nominee for attorney general. Ralston previously ran against then-Speaker Glen Richardson, R-Hiram, a year ago but was defeated at that time. Richardson has since resigned the position amid revelations that he had a sexual relationship with a lobbyist for Atlanta Gas Light while pushing a bill that would have provided a $300 million pipeline for the company.

Bearden, R-Villa Rica, said that even in defeat he supported Ralston, and it’s only fitting that he now fill the position that eluded him more than a year ago. With Ralston’s victory, Bearden said, the workings of the House will likely improve during the upcoming 2010 session, as Ralston works hard to facilitate discussion and hear all sides of an issue.

“We’re going to truly see a lot more debate and dialogue, which will allow us to get closer to perfecting the bill or shutting down a bill that may need to die in the House,” Bearden said. “His demeanor is completely different than our former speaker. Dave is a very patient man. He is just very calm in his demeanor, and it doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat, he will allow your voice to be heard.”

Bearden said he has been friends with Ralston for quite some time now, and the new speaker has visited Carroll County on a number of occasions. He said Blue Ridge, which is in Fannin County in the North Georgia mountains, has a lot of similarities to Carroll County in the sense that residents share similar values and hopes for the state as a whole.

“While he’s got the mountains, we don’t have the mountains but there are a lot of similarities. There are hard-working citizens in both places that want us to do the best that we can for them in Atlanta,” Bearden said. “I have a very good relationship with the new speaker. I think it will bode well for the state, and I think it will bode well for Carroll County.”

From a potential shortage to a budget that’s stretched thin, Ralston will have a host of issues to address when the 2010 legislative session begins in January, but his ability to reach across the aisle will ensure that everyone in the House will be working toward the same goal, Bearden said.

“There’s a huge plate set in front of him right now, especially with the budget crisis. He’ll work on those things that need to be addressed in the state of Georgia,” Bearden said. “In Carroll County or in Waynesboro or in Blue Ridge or in Atlanta, it’s very important for the whole state to work together.”