Dan Lakly

News Obituary Article

State legislator Lakly, 65, dies of heart attack

By JAMES SALZER

Veteran Fayette County state Rep. Dan Lakly, a fiscal conservative who was a frequent critic of government spending, died Monday of a massive heart attack, state officials said.

Lakly, 65, a Peachtree City Republican, was chairman of the House Information and Audits Committee.

A Yugoslavian immigrant's son, Lakly served on the Peachtree City City Council in the 1980s, then from 1989 to 1992 on the Fayette County Board of Commissioners.

He was elected to the General Assembly in 1992, when Republicans were a minority in the House. He won re-election twice before losing in the Republican primary in 1998 to Kathy Cox, now the state's school superintendent. Six years later he made a comeback, winning a Fayette County seat in the House just in time for the GOP to take over the chamber.

Legislative staffers said he apparently fell and hurt his wrist over the weekend and had surgery. They said he was expected to be released from the hospital Monday.

Lakly was never afraid to give his opinion on an issue, and he also wasn't afraid to be on the losing end of one-sided votes, such as in 2005 when he opposed popular legislation outlawing smoking in most enclosed work sites and public places. He compared it to an edict in Nazi Germany.

Longtime lawmakers also remember him for a 1995 fight he had with then-Rep. Billy McKinney (D-Atlanta), the father of former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. During a heated argument, Lakly accused McKinney of threatening him with a knife. McKinney denied having a knife, but the legend of the flared tempers lived on at the Capitol for years.

In a statement, House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) called Lakly a "kind, caring, and gracious person.

"He set a great example for us all, and it will be impossible to replace his tenacity," the speaker said. "The memory of his service to Georgia will be honored by not only his family but also a grateful district and state."

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said, "Dan was very passionate in his beliefs and a skilled public servant. He will be missed by his colleagues in the House of Representatives."

Gov. Sonny Perdue said, "Dan was a champion for the people of Fayette County and leaves behind a legacy of service to his community and all of Georgia's citizens. He will be greatly missed."

Survivors include his wife, Donna; three sons; and four grandsons. Funeral arrangements were not immediately available Monday.

© 2007 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution