Sen. Preston Smith's decision triggers domino effect; local qualifying

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Aftermath: What's next for Smith, District 52 Senate seat

-The qualifying picture changed dramatically late Monday as Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, announced his decision to run for attorney general. (Click)

-1. What are Smith's chances? Better than you'd expect for someone entering the race this late. Smith, until this month, chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee. His 20-minute speech before the Senate, blasting this removal as chair, added to his statewide appeal. Plus: he's a champion public speaker. The other AG candidates don't have deep resources (Reports).

-2. Who runs for Smith's now-vacant Senate seat? No Democrat has gotten close to Smith in the past three elections but several have tried. We heard one familiar name early on from the Democratic side. Representatives Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, and Barry Loudermilk, R-Cass, could be in. A few other familiar GOP names are floating, too. Party members had speculated on a vacancy, assuming Smith's appointment to a judgeship. None say this coming. Floyd, Bartow, Gordon vote in this Senate race.

-3. The Domino Effect could touch every level of local government: As incumbents declare for other offices, look for some names that might be below the radar to step into those races. Several levels of local government could be in play, even those not in this year's election cycle -- if a few scenarios come through

How qualifying stands right now:

-Real time qualifying posted by: Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp's office at http://www.sos.ga.gov.  Qualifiers so far:

-Congress: U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga.

-State Senate: D-31 Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, and Pete Bridges, R-Tallapoosa, qualify (Bartow, Polk counties). None for District 52 (Smith's seat).

-State House: D-13 Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome; D-15 Rep. Paul Battles and Hayden Collins, R-Cartersville; D-12 Truett Moss II, R, (Calhoun, Bartow).

-State Superior Court Judges / Supreme, Appeals Court Judges

-Statewide offices (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, etc.)

GOP county qualifers as of this morning:

-County school  board candidates Lamar Grizzle, John Howard, Post 1; Roger Maier, Dr. Davis Nelson, Post 2; Angie Cornett, David Palmer, Post 3. Source: Bartow GOP.

Movie Gallery stores closing: The shop at 3231 Martha Berry Highway in Armuchee is one of those marked for closure as are stores in Cedartown, Calhoun,  Summerville, Adairsville and elsewhere in Georgia. The closing date is fluid: either from four to six weeks or six to eight weeks. "Total" liquidation sales have not yet started. The company is shuttering 760 stores after filing for Chapter 11 and announced massive restructuring plans> Details

Monday update/Bartow County Jail 'in-take' reports> Click

Your latest forecast:
-Tuesday: 60% chance of showers; high near 65; gusts to 25 mph.
-Tuesday night: 30% rain chance, low around 40.

-Wednesday: High of 70, sunny skies.

-Wednesday night: Clear skies, low of 42.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey 

-Why haven't we heard Georgia Tech mentioned in the college football expansion talks?

Rome Braves> Sports 

-Rome loses fifth straight game. Final: 5-0 Charleston. .

-Today at 11: Braves at Charleston.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos> Click