“I just dislike to listen to it,” explained Wayne Garner, a longtime Capitol lobbyist who served with Robinson in the Ga Senate. “He was just a seriously neat, smart man. He didn’t have a imply bone in his human body. He labored nicely with Democrats and Republicans. He bought along with all people on both of those sides of the aisle.”
Robinson, a attorney, was elected to the Ga House in 1984 to depict his dwelling, Columbus.
6 many years afterwards, he was elected to the Ga Senate, where he rose rapidly. He initially served as an assistant ground chief for Gov. Zell Miller, and afterwards he turned Senate the greater part chief and president pro tempore, the next-greatest post in the chamber.
But Robinson gave up a promising political occupation in 1994. Members of the Normal Assembly are paid out a compact portion-time salary, and he claimed serving was getting a fiscal toll on his spouse and children, a common chorus between lawmakers.
“He left at the top of his match, he remaining to get care of his family,” mentioned Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, the dean of the Typical Assembly who labored carefully with Robinson. “Very handful of persons will voluntarily depart political place of work at the heights Pete Robinson did.”
Robinson used what he’d learned to return to the Capitol as a lobbyist. He crafted a huge shopper listing of quite a few of the state’s most effective providers, and he founded Troutman Sanders Methods. He remaining to be a part of King & Spalding in January 2019.
More than the decades, he represented money products and services businesses Synovus and CitiGroup, managed care giants Aetna and Cigna, AFLAC insurance policy, AT&T, BellSouth, Coca-Cola, non-public jail organization CoreCivic, Delta Air Lines, Typical Electric powered, Basic Motors, Ga Energy, drugmaker Merck, Microsoft, the Southern Co., SunTrust Bank, Verizon Wireless and dozens of other firms and associations.
As is the case with a selection of major lobbyists, Robinson was also a key fundraiser for state leaders. Whilst he served in the Typical Assembly as a Democrat, he aided elect governors from both equally get-togethers.
He labored in Atlanta, but he kept a residence in Columbus and was energetic in the area neighborhood.
Gov. Brian Kemp remembered Robinson as “a excellent mate and a dedicated community servant to the Columbus location and our point out.”
“Pete’s a long time of leadership in his regional neighborhood, the Typical Assembly and many roles considering that, performed a significant part in making Ga a greater spot for all who phone it home,” the governor reported.
Smyre, who had not too long ago spoken with Robinson, said: “He was a pricey mate. He was instrumental in the state and instrumental in Columbus.”
Georgia Property Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, initially achieved Robinson in 1993. Ralston had just been elected to the state Senate.
“During all the years considering the fact that, he was a trusted pal and a confidante,” Ralston stated. “Pete’s influence was stamped all in excess of this condition, although in a tranquil way. For somebody who appreciated the persons and the processes of the political arena, he never ever sought the limelight.
“Many Georgians, such as myself, will skip this excellent chief. His passing leaves a void which will by no means be loaded.”
