The Board of Regents announced that the former Republican governor is its choice to become chancellor. Sonny Perdue is a rarity: A Trump Cabinet member who went the - ajc [44], Upon the end of Perdue's term as governor, many in the Georgia General Assembly condemned the project and Perdue after an advisory council (appointed by Perdue) began to funnel additional bond money to the project located in his home county. The harangue, which ended with the ag secretary leading a chant of four more years, earned Perdue a knuckle-rap from the Office of Special Counsel for violating the Hatch Act, which forbids government employees from campaigning while on the job. Perdue, a former US senator, has so far raised a fraction of what Kemp has in his campaign war chest. [40], In 2008, Perdue worked with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to implement Ready Georgia, a campaign to increase disaster preparedness throughout the state. [19] After his first year in office, Senator Perdue wrote then Lt. [News tape] 11Alive: This is where angry parents are accusing the school board of trying to indoctrinate students with controversial curriculum on race and American history. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners. So you have 14 members who serve each congressional district in Georgia, and then there are five at-large positions. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo. And you know, for a lot of critics, you know, it did raise their concerns about all of this. He served as his party's leader in the Senate from 1994 to 1997 and as president pro tempore. [7] The Georgia Board of Regents on Tuesday named former governor and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue as the sole finalist to lead the state's University System. Your support makes this possible. And besides the national prominence afforded any state governor, Perdue garnered widespread attention for his actions in 2007 during the worst drought in Georgia's history. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, a Democrat, later ran the University of California system, and former Gov. His Democratic opponent was Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. Perdue will not improve the state of education as chancellor - he will only ruin it.. What is it about this job that appeals to him? [2] He previously served as the 81st governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011; Perdue was the first Republican to hold the office since the Reconstruction era.[3]. 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. Trump Cabinet Member Sonny Perdue Appears To Acknowledge - HuffPost Steve Fennessy: There's something else going on here. You know, he also backed Brian Kemp to fill the position of Secretary of State. Steve Fennessy: And when Wrigley said he was going to retire, was there kind of a shortlist floated around of possible successors? Caught in the middle of a Republican overhaul of education, teachers feel under attack, Senate bill cracks down on local school boards' ability to eject disruptive parents from meetings. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes was also on the ballot. [51], Perdue was the designated survivor on January 30, 2018, for President Trump's first State of the Union address. Senate Republicans aghast at Perdue's false election claims in - CNN Sonny Perdue won the 2002 Georgia governor's race, defeating the incumbent, Democrat Roy Barnes, to become the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction. 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 . Steve Fennessy: Chancellor of the University System of Georgia it's one of the most coveted jobs in higher education. It's a little off the beaten path. Eric Stirgus: Sonny Perdue, you know, encouraged then-President Trump to endorse Brian Kemp in the Republican primary back in 2018. Lance Cheung/USDA; Mother Jones Illustration. Across the state, teachers have found themselves caught in a conservative battle to ban divisive topics from classrooms, which Republican lawmakers define as a various list of ideas regarding race. But ethics questions have piled up in recent months about the secretarys mixing of USDA duties and his political promotion of the president. USDA said the reorganization of Perdues finances was cleared by career ethics staff, pointing to the secretarys 2019 financial disclosure that was signed by ethics officials. Secretary Perdue has visibility into and control over the trusts and their underlying assets, and he continues to benefit from them despite the plain terms of his 2017 ethics agreement, Evers wrote to the inspector general. We'll be back next week. Who is David Perdue? 8 things to know about the Georgia senator Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who like Grassley is up for reelection in 2022, said he hasn't "paid a lot of attention" to Georgia's governor race, saying "we got our hands full . [47], Perdue was constitutionally ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as governor in the 2010 Georgia gubernatorial election. Then the pandemic hit, ripping through migrant farm worker communities, who toiled on with little in the way of protective gear or opportunities for social distancing. Eric Stirgus: I think it's been a mix of both. In July, as the general election heated up, the department tapped a Depression-era funding mechanism called the Commodity Credit Corporation to come up with $14 billionwithout having to consult Congressto hand to producers of commodities like corn, soybeans and wheat, ostensibly for losses due to the coronavirus. Georgia's higher ed system taps acting leader, passing on Sonny Perdue At least he is out of the gate. The FALF Management Trust had no conflicting assets with his duties as Secretary of Agriculture, and therefore the Secretary could become a trustee of the trust. Trump said Friday that he has directed Perdue to provide at least $16 billion in relief. Brian Kemp is not. But you know, we are hearing, you know, some of the newer members could be a lot more supportive of Sonny Perdue. Is Sonny Perdue staking out any does he have a dog in this fight, at least publicly? I think Steve really was making maybe about a half million dollars when he retired, so that's way more than the governor of Georgia was making. In 2005, Georgia state Rep. Larry ONealPerdues personal lawyermanaged to pass what the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called a seemingly mundane tax bill thatincluded a a last-minute change that saved the governor an estimated $100,000 in state taxes. Looking at the pandemic, they've also had to take on some additional responsibilities, such as, you know, managing coronavirus relief funds. Georgia regents name Sonny Perdue finalist to lead University System Revoking accreditation to schools including the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State and Georgia Southern would be a monumental step. How is that number arrived at? And I'm curious about why it's elicited such a ferocious response on the side of those who are for the idea, but also those who are against it. And then also there has been, through the congressional redistricting process, you know, because of some changes insome of the districts, you know, we've had two additional changes on the regents where two members are now no longer on the board and the governor has replaced another one of those members and all three of the members that he has replaced are people who have been, you know, very supportive of the governor in the past through campaign contributions and other ways. Using the CCC to hand billions to big farmersmajor Trump supporters in 2016 is a signature move of Perdues USDA. Steve Fennessy: So what happened then? Feb. 15, 2022 Georgia's public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. Raphael Warnock. Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. The former two-term Georgia governor has kept his cabinet post until the end, maintaining a close relationship with . Perdue is one of the original Trump Cabinet appointees who remained by the president throughout the administration. Georgia Public Radio GPTV, Oversight group isnt reviewing Georgia regents choice of Sonny Perdue. The department did not provide further documentation that potential conflicts in 2017 were limited to AGrowStar and Pro Ag Products. [23], In January 2003, Perdue signed an executive order prohibiting himself and all other state employees from receiving any gift worth more than $25. DECATUR The Washington Post on Tuesday published a story that Archer Daniels Midland Co. sold a grain storage plant valued at millions of dollars to Sonny Perdue for $250,000 weeks after he . Conley. [45], During his governorship, the Georgia State Ethics Commission received thirteen complaints against Perdue. 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. Perdue restructured his original family trust into a new fund that he did not oversee, and the fund then sold off two of his businesses directly involved in agriculture the only assets that posed potential conflicts, according to a USDA spokesperson. [67], Perdue and his wife, Mary (ne Ruff), were married in 1972 after dating for four years. GPB is committedto bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. Saeger, of Accountable.US, said the inspector general still needs to review that claim. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The likely appointment of Mr. Perdue, a Republican, comes during a volatile time in Georgia politics, with the State Legislature considering several bills that would ban, or limit, how race and activism are taught in the classroom. He shortly thereafter became a committee chairman, then climbed the leadership ladder to majority leader and to Senate president pro tempore. [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 Perdue USDAs largesse to large-scale farmers and agribusinesses went beyond cutting wages and protective measures for their workers. 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. Her name is Theresa McCartney, and she worked under Mr. Wrigley. The watchdog groups are now seeking information about whether Perdue was involved in a decision by the Army Corps of Engineers which works with USDA on some wetlands restoration efforts to reallocate Soque River Conservations credits in a way that significantly increased their value. Gov. Is that right? You know, he's a strong conservative, you know, and he's David Perdue's cousin. Eric Stirgus: Georgia's top elected officials constantly talk about, you know, we need workers who are college and career ready, people who can just step into jobs. 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. Perdue bids farewell: 'We put American agriculture first' - AgriNews [68] They have four children (Leigh, Lara, Jim, and Dan),[68] 14 grandchildren (six boys and eight girls), and have also been foster parents for many children. Steve Fennessy: The last full-time permanent chancellor, why did they leave? Perdue, Trump's first and only agriculture secretary, is a notable exception. Perdue is the first cousin of former U.S. Secretary Perdue did nothing wrong when he complied with his ethics agreement and followed the advice of career ethics officers at USDA (at considerable personal expense) to restructure his trusts.. Steve Fennessy: Sonny Perdue is a Republican, so when he uses an expression like Cultural Revolution, what is he referring to? Quite honestly, I've been in the private sector for 30 years. Eric Stirgus: Yes. Sonny Perdue served two terms as the governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011. The Washington Post detailed several wish-list items that ADM achieved: loosening of regulations on pork production, fewer inspections, helping lobby against proposed government bans on glyphosate by Thailand and Vietnam, and promoting ethanol and biodiesel. He was the only member of the Trump administration to endorse such a plan. "[35], In 2006, Perdue signed a law that gave Georgia "some of the nation's toughest measures against illegal immigrants. Steve Fennessy: Welcome back to Georgia Today. Sonny Perdue Is Sole Finalist to Lead Georgia's Public Universities Governor Perdue stood out for his impressive experience and leadership in public service as well as a vast understanding not only of Georgia and its communities but of the issues facing the university system as we move forward, Harold Reynolds, the chair of the Board of Regents, said in a statement on Monday. His name is Sonny Perdue. [25] Perdue then used the new law on his 2004 tax return to defer $100,000 in taxable gains from the sale of land. Steve Fennessy: Well, there was also some changes that happened on the board itself, right? That relationship famously has gone has gone south. You know, then there are many others outside the metro area. That's next. He's a two-term former governor, Secretary of Agriculture. Eric Stirgus: Publicly, I don't think he's said one way or another right now. Eric Stirgus: Well, he didn't go into specifics that day. Eric Stirgus: Yeah, I mean, and that's the argument that many of Kemp's team has said. Anyone can read what you share. Eric Stirgus: Correct. Very few Republican elected officials, operatives, donors and activists in Georgia have. Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue nominated as USDA Secretary 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. Personal: Perdue. 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? [28] In 2008, Georgia moved up again, to 45th place. So let's go into November with me as your nominee.". Steve Fennessy: So there's a school of thought that Gov. [67], Regardless of whether the deal was intended to influence Perdue's actions, and if it was if it actually had any impact, the Perdue years were good ones for ADM. So we have not had a chancellor at least, a non-interim chancellor for at least seven or eight months, right? [23] Prior to Perdue's becoming governor, no state agency had compiled an inventory of what assets were owned by the state. 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. These emergency benefits represent a 40% increase in . And then also, I think, you know, there's been some criticism that he's not the best qualified person for the position. [42] The floods resulted in Perdue declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. 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. What is that history? Report: ADM sold plant to Sonny Perdue weeks after being named Trump ag The crux of the watchdog complaint comes down to a handful of Perdues businesses the secretary reported as sources of income, at least a half-million dollars, on his 2019 filing. The administration began acquiring bond money for the Go Fish Education Center near his home in Perry, GA. Perdue led Ossoff in the . But Perdue is struggling. [8] Perdue served as Secretary of Agriculture throughout Trump's term. The commitments entailed moving his holdings into a new trust and agreeing not to serve as a trustee or beneficiary of the fund. Many credit Pierre Howard for helping Perdue build the early foundation of what would become his future political career.[20]. Perdue has long been Trumps most effective advocate among rural voters, visiting all 50 states to spread the presidents message and spearheading massive taxpayer aid programs that kept farmers afloat through Trumps trade war and the pandemic. Ethics authorities have already issued warnings to a dozen Trump administration officials for violating the Hatch Act, but Perdues straightforward appeal to reelect Trump was seen as especially flagrant. The complex arrangements were criticized as breaking the spirit of the rule, however, and that Perdue and his family's ties to his corporation were not distanced as much as the law intended. Eric Stirgus: You know, he's never spoken publicly about it. Opponents of the choice say Perdue's appointment would jeopardize academic freedom across the systems 26 campuses. [24], In mid-2003, Perdue purchased 101 acres (0.41km2) of land next to his Houston County, Georgia, home. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shocked manyby announcing last week she will not be running for reelection. [55], In July 2019, Perdue ordered two USDA agenciesthe Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agricultureto move from the USDA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. to the Kansas City metropolitan area. He left in June. In December 2001, Perdue resigned as state senator and devoted himself entirely to running for the office of Governor of Georgia. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has long been President Donald Trumps most effective advocate among rural voters. His selection has angered professors concerned about academic freedom. Entitled President Trumps Affection for American Farmers, the episode featured the host and former White House press secretary competing to see who could lavish the most praise on Trump. Secretary Perdue complied with his ethics agreement and followed the advice of ethics officers at USDA when he restructured the Perdue Family Revocable Management Trust into a new family management trust, in which the secretary and his wife had no ownership interest and were not trustees, the spokesperson said in a statement. "The most important activity in which any governing board will be involved in is the selection of the CEO. Other issues addressed by Perdue include assisting rural communities, helping farmers operate with less regulation, increasing exports, passing the 2018 farm bill, and addressing crop damage caused by dicamba. And so, you know, they point to things like that and they also point to issues, you know, point to things that, you know, hey, other states have hired elected officials and former politicians to lead colleges or universities. The property (in Estill, South Carolina) had originally been purchased by ADM for 5.5 million dollars, and independent assessments and government tax assessors agree on that as a fair range; however, AGrowStar was offered the property for US$250,000, a fraction of its value. Kudlow used the opportunity to fluff Trumps economic record. You know, I've worked with him, but you know, I just didn't feel like, you know, he was the best person for the job. [11], Perdue played quarterback at Warner Robins High School and was a walk-on at the University of Georgia,[12] where he was also a member of the Beta-Lambda chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Sonny Perdue may soon head up Georgias public university system. Eric Stirgus: Last March, we started hearing talk you know that Perdue was interested in the job or that some board members on the Board of Regents were interested in him becoming chancellor. Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and billionaires wouldn't fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do. [25] Perdue signed the legislation into law on April 12, 2005, three days before tax day. USDA To Implement President Trump's Executive Order On Meat and Poultry Each of those firms is owned by Perdue Business Holdings Inc., and Secretary Perdues newly created FALF Management Trust of which the secretary is a co-trustee owns 100 percent of the voting stock in Perdue Business Holdings, according to his 2019 disclosure. The terms of two of those members expired at the beginning of January, and Gov. He referenced the pandemic and the phrase "Cultural Revolution." So you've had recently, you know, the Board of Regents members serve seven-year terms. I give him my full and total endorsement.". Kemp. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer Eric Stirgus: The chancellor is sort of the person who makes sure all the trains run on time, so to speak. Sonny Perdue issues state of emergency for 17 Georgia counties", "Perdue fails to disclose '04 purchase of land", "Trump to announce Sonny Perdue for Agriculture", "Sonny Perdue Sworn in as 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture", "Trump hires campaign workers instead of farmworkers at USDA", "Sonny Perdue is Trump's 'designated survivor' for State of the Union 2018", "Perdue tells second Iowa Ag Summit he wants to support new farmers", "Trump administration to return refined grains to school lunches", Many USDA workers to quit as research agencies move to Kansas City: 'The brain drain we all feared', ERS union predicts mass exodus ahead of relocation, 'Cut, Relocate, Eviscerate': Moving a USDA Research Agency Will Have Lasting Consequences, Employees Say, Economists flee Agriculture Dept. [News tape] 11Alive: He tweeted, "Brian Kemp is running for governor of the Great State of Georgia. What Is Sonny Perdue Doing Now? - Vim Buzz Undeterred by the pandemic-led spike in hunger, Perdue also doubled- and tripled-down on a long-held goal: boosting work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that would eliminate food aid forat least 1.2 million peopleabout a third of them households containing senior citizens, nearly a quarter with children, and 11 percent with a disabled person, according tononpartisan think tank Mathematica. Georgia Runoff: Perdue-Ossoff Senate Race Heads To Runoff : NPR - NPR.org Thanks for listening. 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. David Perdue is running for governor in Georgia. Here's what to know [12] A 2005 tax bill passed by the Georgia Legislature allowed residents to gain a tax break if they sold a property in Georgia to buy similar property in another state, and made the change retroactive to 2004. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. 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. . A low-ball estimate of the value of storage in the grain silos was US$3 million. "[37], According to a March 5, 2008, proclamation by Perdue, "Among those who served the Confederacy were many African-Americans, both free and slave, who saw action in the Confederate armed forces in many combat roles. Economists in the USDA's research branch were told to include disclaimers in their peer-reviewed publications stating that the findings were "preliminary" and "should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy". Brian Kemp and thought Trump thought his endorsement would spell immediate trouble for the incumbent. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said today that he did not plan to step down from his Cabinet duties, amid reports that the president is getting ready to make several . A department spokesperson claims the 2017 agreement had to refer to the holding company at large, rather than those two firms in particular, because it was the legal entity that owned the businesses. But is there a way of, like, by appointing by at least advancing the candidacy of Sonny Perdue for chancellor is this a way for Brian Kemp to gain some political points with some Trump voters out there? I'm joined by Eric Stirgus, who covers higher education for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His committee assignments included Ethics, Finance & Public Utilities, Health & Human Services, Reapportionment, and Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Affairs. Sonny Perdue was its sole finalist to become chancellor, a choice that has outraged some professors and led a regional agency to threaten the accreditation of the 26-school system. Steve Fennessy: What form has that opposition taken on college campuses or in academic circles? Eric Stirgus: No, not officially, you know, because they are personnel decisions that the board makes. He also has largely avoided the sort of major scandals that have dogged many others in Trumps Cabinet. [54] In December 2018, he changed the nutrition standards for school lunches to allow more refined grains, allow milk with added sugar, and increased sodium. And then a couple of months later, my colleague Greg Bluestein ran into him at an event and Sonny did say that he was interested in the position, if the regents would have him. Kemp continues to be grateful for that support, and he feels some, you know, some loyalty, from what we've been hearing from our sources towards Sonny Perdue.
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