Mr. Perdues appointment as chancellor would also limit his contributions to the campaign of David Perdue, his cousin and a former senator who is running against Gov. USDAs unprecedented farm subsidies have also fueled criticism that taxpayer dollars are being used to keep farmers and ranchers in Trumps corner ahead of the election especially as the president repeatedly touts the money at campaign rallies as his own personal gift to agriculture. In this 2017 post, I recount some of the port-related shenanigans the cousins Perdue got up to together, including launching a port-reliant export business. (Washington, D.C., April 22, 2020) - Today, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced emergency benefit increases have reached $2.0 billion per month for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households across all 50 states and 3 territories to increase food security during the coronavirus national emergency. Students and faculty members around the state are reacting to news that Republican former Gov. Eric Stirgus: You know, it's a pretty important job in the state of Georgia. Eric Stirgus: It was pretty newsy for us. [40], In 2008, Perdue worked with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to implement Ready Georgia, a campaign to increase disaster preparedness throughout the state. [42] The floods resulted in Perdue declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. But last year,. Launched in October 2019, a week after the House of Representatives announced an impeachment inquiry against Trump, the show began with an appearance from Sarah Huckabee Sanders. [63], In August 2020, Perdue supported the president's re-election while promoting the Farmers to Families Food Box Program; Perdue was fined for violating the Hatch Act. And so now he's no longer on the regents. It generated $102,077 in revenue or about 11 cents for every dollar it cost to run the center in years past. 260 14th St. NW Not surprisingly, the news has dismayed many, both inside and outside of academic circles, who worry that Sonny Perdue is conservative politics will set the university system on a dangerous course and even put the system's accreditation at risk. You know, there were some complaints that, you know, he was involved in some changes that, you know, made it a little bit more difficult for students to get the HOPE scholarship. Like Trump, hes a former Democrat who ascended to political power (in Perdues case, Georgia governor) in a stunning upset. Steve Fennessy: It's interesting the the letter was addressed to Sachin Shailendra, who at the time was chair of the Board of Regents, but is one of those members who redistricting kind of pushed out so he's no longer on the Board of Regents. "[36], On November 13, 2007, while Georgia suffered from one of the worst droughts in several decades, Perdue led a group of several hundred people in prayer on the steps of the state Capitol. [25], In 2007, Perdue convinced a skeptical legislature to approve a $19 million fishing tourism program he called Go Fish Georgia. That decision and the selection of Mr. Perdue are both intrusions on academic freedom, Mr. Boedy, the University of North Georgia professor, said. Kemp and Perdue are also close political allies, and Kemp recently replaced four members on the board before the vote. And so, you know, I think he was one of those, you know, members who, you know, was part of that faction were against it. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters. You know, looking at that and he can say that Gov. Georgia Today: Is Mayor Bottoms Paying The Political Cost For A COVID Crime Wave? At least he is out of the gate. Steve Fennessy: So that's not something you can just push aside because you don't like what one of their family members is doing. Her name is Theresa McCartney, and she worked under Mr. Wrigley. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes was also on the ballot. American Oversight is now calling on the inspector general to investigate whether Perdue improperly participated in any such decision, given his ethics pledge to stay out of any matters that might have a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of the assets in his trusts. The board cited Perdue's, quote, "vast understanding of the issues facing the university system," unquote. I'm going to read a paragraph towards the end of her letter. Steve Fennessy: This has been percolating for a while now, Eric: this this idea of Sonny Perdue as the next chancellor of the University of Georgia system. He was confirmed by the Senate on April 24,[49] with Bernie Sanders and nine Democrats voting against him. [7] His appointment was approved by an 8711 vote by the Senate on April 24. [52], During his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue focused on helping new farmers get started in agriculture. You can keep up with Georgia today by subscribing to the show at GPB.org. Sonny Perdue may soon head up Georgias public university system. Has he said, "I'm supporting the guy who's pushing my candidacy for chancellor" or "I'm supporting my cousin who's running against him"? Steve Fennessy: Chancellor of the University System of Georgia it's one of the most coveted jobs in higher education. A Big Ag corporation sold it to Sonny Perdue's company for $250,000", "Agriculture secretary pick Perdue led big political change in Georgia", "Official: Perdue flew copter without license", "Governor Perdue Makes Acting Debut in "We Are Marshall", Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonny_Perdue&oldid=1142223043, Democratic Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators, Republican Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators, Presidents pro tempore of the Georgia State Senate, Republican Party governors of Georgia (U.S. state), Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 05:05. The state's Board of Regents on Wednesday named a veteran finance official as the acting chancellor of Georgia's public university system, stalling former Gov. She currently produces the Georgia Today and Battleground: Ballot Box shows. [3], In 2006, Perdue was re-elected to a second term in the 2006 Georgia gubernatorial election, winning nearly 58% of the vote. Is Sonny Perdue staking out any does he have a dog in this fight, at least publicly? Feb. 15, 2022 Georgia's public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. She says a lot of things. [27] In 2007, Georgia moved up to 46th place. And you know, in saying, you know, this is why we, you know, we are concerned about Sonny Perdue becoming chancellor. The Perdue USDAs largesse to large-scale farmers and agribusinesses went beyond cutting wages and protective measures for their workers. USDA argues that the reorganization Perdue laid out in his 2017 ethics agreement was intended to separate the secretary from two agribusinesses in particular: grain merchandiser AGrowStar LLC and grain marketer Pro Ag Products, both of which were also owned by Perdue Business Holdings before they were sold to outside buyers. Perdue and a partner purchased the agricultural land in 2009 and later earned so-called mitigation bank credits for converting the tract for wetland conservation purposes, according to the watchdog organizations. Eric Stirgus: You know, he's never spoken publicly about it. [14][15], Perdue is not related to the family who owns and operates Perdue Farms (commonly associated with the brand "Perdue Chicken").[16][17]. The watchdogs question whether the sale of AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products was enough to quash all potential conflicts. He shortly thereafter became a committee chairman, then climbed the leadership ladder to majority leader and to Senate president pro tempore. So you've had recently, you know, the Board of Regents members serve seven-year terms. His name is Sonny Perdue. So we have not had a chancellor at least, a non-interim chancellor for at least seven or eight months, right? Alec Poitevint, long a pivotal player in the Perdue network, is now backing Kemp over David Perdue. Perdue served in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of captain before his discharge. after feeling punished under Trump, "Economists flee Agriculture Dept. Kudlow used the opportunity to fluff Trumps economic record. The office directed the USDA chief to reimburse the government for travel expenses and other costs of the event. Or are they sometimes coming from outside it? Some would say the most important job is, you know, making sure that money that comes from the state is sent to the schools and is being spent properly. [News tape] WSB: After what the board's chairman described as a nationwide search with, quote, "numerous highly qualified candidates," in the end, the board voted to pick Perdue as the sole finalist for the job. After Perdue took office, in 2003 and 2004, Georgia moved up from last place in the country in SAT scores. He enjoys flying and, in a 2003 incident, was accused of flying a state helicopter without a license. Terms of Service apply. Jess Mador is the lead podcast producer at GPB News. The terms of two of those members expired at the beginning of January, and Gov. Steve Fennessy: OK, Sonny Perdue is, I think he's 75. There, he managed a workforce of 110,000 employees in the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the stated objective of being the most efficient, effective and customer-friendly agency in the . Earlier this week, Georgia's Board of Regents announced that Sonny Perdue was the sole finalist for the job. Eric Stirgus: Yes, I think the governor could certainly use this on the campaign trail and, you know, to, you know, David Perdue supporters and say, "Hey, look, you know, I've made Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the university system. [7] However, most served in the early years of the war and were either forced at gunpoint or feared reprisals for disloyalty. So that's a little strange, isn't it? Not satisfied with fighting to take food off the tables of poor families, Perdue also set his sights on farm workers. In 2010, at the tail end of his second term as governor, Perdue named his cousin, David Perduewho had just stepped down as chief executive of Dollar General discount storesto the board of the Georgia Ports Authority. Mr. Perdue served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011, and later became Secretary of Agriculture under President Donald J. Trump. Trump announced just days before his own inauguration, on Jan. 20, 2017, that. A longtime Atlanta-based journalist, he is a former editor-in-chief of Atlanta magazine. [23] Prior to Perdue's becoming governor, no state agency had compiled an inventory of what assets were owned by the state. [46], In December 2004, Perdue bought $2 million worth of land near Disney World from a developer who he had previously appointed to the state's economic development board. Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights. [News tape] WSB: Gov. Once again, left-leaning organizations like American Oversight will do anything they can to stop this administration from helping the American people, the spokesperson said. Why is there 19? The COVID-19 crisis served as yet another opportunity to promote the political fortunes of his boss, without impeding his pursuit of a pro-agribusiness, anti-worker agenda. All Rights Reserved. Its another death, wound, stab in the heart for anybody that works in the university system to have someone like this, he said. [News tape] Alex Ames, student activist, FOX5: And as governor, he chose to defund billions of dollars and begin, you know, a decades-long spree of defunding from our teachers and, you know, students and parent schools that we attend every day. Senator David Perdue by their grandfather George Ervin Perdue I. However, Perdue was faced with a Democratic House that would not allow the 1956 flag to be included in the referendum, due to its Confederate origins, and he needed support for a tobacco tax he wanted to pass to raise revenue. The design of the 2001 Georgian flag was widely unpopular, being derisively named the "Barnes flag". Steve Fennessy: When did we first hear that Sonny Perdue who was the outgoing Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump administration, of course a two-term former governor of Georgia was interested in the job of chancellor? I ran because I was frustrated with the government. He praised the tax cuts and the program of deregulation, which, he claimed, benefitted the people who needed it most, those in the middle, and the lower rungs. Its little wonder that Trump would train his benevolence on the little people, because hes a blue-collar guy who worked for years in the construction yards, with all kinds of folks, all colors, Kudlow informed Perdues listeners. Kemp has used congressional redistricting to add more Sonny Perdue supporters to the Board of Regents. And I understand that he wasn't the biggest supporter of the idea of Sonny Perdue as chancellor. He left in June. Meanwhile, in 2020, the pandemic ravaged meatpacking workers and put millions out of work, causing a surge in the need for food assistanceboth very much areas of concern for the agriculture department. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shocked manyby announcing last week she will not be running for reelection. That's next. Eric Stirgus: His name is Steve Wrigley and he retired. He's a two-term former governor, Secretary of Agriculture. Sonny Perdue on Confirmation to Lead Dept. His anti-immigrant machinations worked all too well, creating a crippling labor shortage for Georgias immigrant-dependent farms and poultry slaughterhouses. Higher education is where I wanted to have a real impact as governor, only to be stymied by twin recessions, he said in the board-issued statement. 11/08/2018 02:42 PM EST. [24], Late in the evening of March 29, 2005, the penultimate day of the legislative session, Representative Larry O'Neal, who also worked part-time as Perdue's personal lawyer, introduced legislation making capital gains tax owed on Georgia land sales deferrable if the income goes to purchase out-of-state land, also, unusually, making the tax break retroactive. [News tape] FOX5: Critics have questioned Perdue's experience, pointing out his lack of experience in the higher education setting. Coronavirus-riddled slaughterhouses, in turn, emerged as primary vectors for spreading the pathogen to surrounding communities. Perdue made his acting debut in "We Are Marshall," a 2006 film about the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, supporters and staff.. Perdue addressed the crowd, saying "We've come together here simply for one reason and one reason only: to very reverently and respectfully pray up a storm" and "God, we need you; we need rain." He referenced the pandemic and the phrase "Cultural Revolution." Perdue will begin his duties as the 14th chancellor on April 1, according to a press release from USG. Yes, there is a acting chancellor. Mitch Daniels of Indiana has led Purdue University since 2012. Very few Republican elected officials, operatives, donors and activists in Georgia have. A USDA spokesperson denied Perdue was involved and said holding such land doesnt conflict with his duties as secretary. [22], Perdue advocated reforms designed to cut waste in government, most notably the sale of surplus vehicles and real estate. [9], Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia, the son of Ophie Viola (Holt), a teacher, and George Ervin Perdue Jr., a farmer. Steve Fennessy: By definition, you're appointed as a regent by the sitting governor, but appointing and hiring a chancellor is supposedly, at least theoretically, not supposed to be political, right? So, you know, we've been hearing that this from faculty members who have been upset about, you know, some of his credentials in that space. Republican Sen. David Perdue, a former Fortune 500 CEO, will face off against Democrat Jon Ossoff, a 33-year-old media executive, again in a runoff election Jan. 5. He also won reelection in 2000. [64][65][66], In June 2021, a news story broke of financial dealings Perdue had after his nomination as Secretary of Agriculture but before his confirmation. His selection has angered professors concerned about academic freedom. (David Perdue is now locked in a tight runoff election that could decide which party controls the Senate in the next Congress.). It's a little off the beaten path. As governor, Perdue mastered the Trumpian strategy of using know-nothing bigotry as a beard for brazen self-dealing, sometimes involving his own family. It pays pretty well. They have to be in charge of making sure that the schools comply with federal education policies and procedures, state education rules and regulations. Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, First National Flag of the Confederate States of America, North American Vexillological Association, United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, List of American politicians who switched parties in office, "Former Georgia governor tapped as Trump's agriculture secretary, sources say", "Company Overview of Perdue Partners, LLC", "BPC Congratulates Sec. These emergency benefits represent a 40% increase in . In July, with the economic fallout from the pandemic generating a massive hunger crisis, Perdue alighted on North Carolina, a key swing state, to stage a rally promoting congressionally mandated food aid as an example of the personal benevolence of Donald Trump. You know, he was brought on actually, you know, during Sonny Perdue's tenure to take on the job. Brian Kemp: That's why I'm looking forward to working with the members of the General Assembly this legislative session to protect our students from the divisive ideologies like critical race theory. I'm Steve Fennessy. [71], In 2006, while still governor, Perdue made a cameo appearance as the coach of the East Carolina Pirates football team in the movie We Are Marshall, large portions of which were filmed in Georgia.
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