Board of Regents pick Sonny Perdue as next Georgia Chancellor
Former Governor and U.S. Agriculture Secretary would run Georgia universities
ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) – The Board of Regents has picked former Governor Sonny Perdue to lead the University of Georgia system.
The full board still must confirm the selection in a vote.
Tuesday’s selection comes after a year long, nationwide search for a new Chancellor.
And a bit of politics.
Perdue is a former Governor of the State and served as Agriculture Secretary in President Trump’s cabinet.
His selection also has ramifications in the current race for Governor.
Current Governor Brian Kemp pushed the re-organization of the Board of Regents to clear the path for Perdue to take over.
But Sonny Perdue is also the cousin of the man trying to take Kemp’s job, David Perdue.
Candidate David Perdue issued this statement on his cousin’s nomination today:
“Sonny’s leadership experience and long history of service to the State of Georgia and our country make him the best choice to serve as Chancellor of the Board of Regents. Sonny will lead Georgia’s higher education system to new levels. I congratulate Sonny on being the sole finalist and look forward to working together when I’m Governor.”
(AP Photo/Elijah Nouvelage, File)
Governor Kemp also issued a long statement praising the choice, noting he managed a budget 15 times larger than the one for the University System when he lead the Department of Agriculture.
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