Eric Stirgus: Yes, definitely. Lance Cheung/USDA; Mother Jones Illustration. [News tape] 11Alive: He tweeted, "Brian Kemp is running for governor of the Great State of Georgia. Eric Stirgus: And then there's been issues that a lot of Republican lawmakers have been bringing up to in the Georgia Legislature in recent years about campus speech issues that they feel that, you know, students and groups cannot speak freely on college campuses, particularly conservatives. You know, I guess at the time, they sort of came to an impasse and there was a search firm that was hired to help with the process, but pulled out of the process. President Trump is endorsing Brian Kemp's Republican opponent in the primary, David Perdue, to be the next governor. This is the golden rule do unto others.". Why is Sonny Perdue is such a polarizing figure? Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. You know, Steve Wrigley, you know, he worked in the university system before he became chancellor, so he did have some of that experience. Sonny Perdue is a rarity: A Trump Cabinet member who went the - ajc The income stemmed partly from the sale of conservation credits under a federal wetlands protection program. "There is one thing we know for sure: Sen. David Perdue will be . Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue pledged in 2017 to separate himself from his multimillion dollar business holdings that could pose conflicts of interest in his public duties. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. Steve Fennessy: Chancellor of the University System of Georgia it's one of the most coveted jobs in higher education. I'm joined by Eric Stirgus, who covers higher education for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. OPINION: Incoming USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue is not an ally for The sole vote against him came from Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The board cited Perdue's, quote, "vast understanding of the issues facing the university system," unquote. [32] Perdue disappointed some Georgians by not making the 1956 flag one of the choices on the ballot, despite a campaign promise to do so. So let's go into November with me as your nominee.". He referenced the pandemic and the phrase "Cultural Revolution." 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. Perdue wrote that "liberals have lost all credibility when it comes to climate science because their arguments have become so ridiculous and so obviously disconnected from reality. Here's Why", "USGS Release: Atlanta Flooding Sets New Records", "Gov. But last year, he disclosed he had become trustee of a newly formed fund that includes many of the same assets as his original family trust. 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. [25] Perdue then used the new law on his 2004 tax return to defer $100,000 in taxable gains from the sale of land. So those are some of the things that have concerned a lot of state leaders or particularly on the Republican side. He served as his party's leader in the Senate from 1994 to 1997 and as president pro tempore. Sonny Perdue faces ethics questions over his business holdings Eric Stirgus: It was pretty newsy for us. Dr. Sonny Perdue bio. Monsters of 2020: Sonny Perdue - Mother Jones Who hires the chancellor? Our engineers are Jesse Nighswonger and Jake Cook. [24] During his governorship, Perdue collected at least $25,000 in gifts, including sporting event tickets and airplane flights. Kemp. Steve Fennessy: News that Sonny Perdue will, in all likelihood be the university system of Georgia's next chancellor comes at a time when state legislators are debating bills about how racial history should be taught in classrooms. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? 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. He had even served as the 81st Governor of Georgia, and his tenure was from 2003 to 2011. Latest news, headlines, analysis, photos and videos on Sonny Perdue There were so many cabinet members who who left, and then he had to appoint new ones. [51], Perdue was the designated survivor on January 30, 2018, for President Trump's first State of the Union address. This week on Georgia Today, we look at some issues Bottoms faced during her tenure as mayor with CNN national correspondentRyan Young. He was sworn in by Supreme Court associate justice and fellow Georgian Clarence Thomas. The latest scrutiny stems from Perdues wealth of current and former interests in agriculture, trucking and land development a complex web of trusts, land parcels, holding companies and subsidiaries. Charles S. Bullock, III, The Georgia Political Almanac, The General Assembly 199394. But you know, obviously, you know, there's been a lot of talk recently about issues like critical race theory. It pays pretty well. The terms of two of those members expired at the beginning of January, and Gov. Steve Fennessy: How unusual is it for a letter like that to be written? 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. [3], In 2006, Perdue was re-elected to a second term in the 2006 Georgia gubernatorial election, winning nearly 58% of the vote. Eric Stirgus: The chancellor is hired by the Board of Regents as a 19-member body, and all of those folks are appointed by the governor and so they serve seven-year terms. [18], Perdue was elected as a Democrat in 1991, 1994, and 1996. At least he is out of the gate. David Perdue is running for governor in Georgia. Here's what to know Jess Mador is our producer. He also talked about, you know, bringing stability to the system. [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. The Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Archives . She says a lot of things. 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 . Founder and partner in an agricultural trading company,[4] Perdue served from 2012 to 2017 on the Governors' Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.[3][5] He is the second secretary of agriculture from the Deep South; the first was Mike Espy of Mississippi, who served under President Bill Clinton from January 1993 to December 1994. Mr. Perdue served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011, and later became Secretary of Agriculture under President Donald J. Trump. The credits are meant to offset the environmental impact of land development and they can be bought and sold on the marketplace. Kemp has used congressional redistricting to add more Sonny Perdue supporters to the Board of Regents. Who is David Perdue? 8 things to know about the Georgia senator Steve Fennessy: Well, let's unpack a little bit more this rather awkward political relationship going on. A chancellors job is to defend the system against such bills, said Matthew Boedy, a rhetoric and composition professor at the University of North Georgia and the president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors. 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. Eric Stirgus: Now, you know, conversely, his supporters say he was a governor of Georgia for eight years. Perdue will not improve the state of education as chancellor - he will only ruin it.. So you've had recently, you know, the Board of Regents members serve seven-year terms. Chancellor | University System of Georgia - USG But ethics questions have piled up in recent months about the secretarys mixing of USDA duties and his political promotion of the president. Why are we still talking about this, then? Perdue announced the final relocation site in a letter that was distributed to employees Thursday morning. Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights. Steve Fennessy: So how do you get a job to be chancellor? Eric Stirgus: Yes. Why Brian Kemp wants Sonny Perdue to lead Georgia's higher ed system He continued his effort to cut their wages, ultimately teaming with the Department of Labor on a rule change that will result in an aggregate wage cut worth at least $170.68 million annually over the next ten yearsa transfer of money from low-wage workers to relatively wealthy farm owners. [22], Perdue advocated reforms designed to cut waste in government, most notably the sale of surplus vehicles and real estate. 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. The design of the 2001 Georgian flag was widely unpopular, being derisively named the "Barnes flag". Steve Fennessy: Welcome back to Georgia Today. There's been some social media push against him. Gov. 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. Georgia Today is a production of Georgia Public Broadcasting. After the sale, the huge boiler on the property was sold for approximately $500,000, easily covering the cost of the purchase even if the rest of the land had been valueless. [47], Perdue was constitutionally ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as governor in the 2010 Georgia gubernatorial election. He was confirmed by the Senate on April 24,[49] with Bernie Sanders and nine Democrats voting against him. 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. Personal: Perdue. [70], Perdue is an avid sportsman. And so now he's no longer on the regents. Feb. 15, 2022 Georgia's public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. He spent his 2020 like he spent the other years of his Washington stint: flattering his boss at every opportunity, and lavishing largesse on political allies while undercutting poor people and food-system workers. Trump said Friday that he has directed Perdue to provide at least $16 billion in relief. Perdue claimed a combined $511,800 in income from Perdue Inc., a trucking company; Houston Fertilizer & Grain Co., which manages commercial real estate in Bonaire, Ga.; and StarPort Logistics LLC. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes was also on the ballot. This is Georgia Today. Steve Fennessy: OK, Sonny Perdue is, I think he's 75. Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox. He later served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and was named chancellor of the University System of Georgia in 2022.. Background and Education Her name is Theresa McCartney, and she worked under Mr. Wrigley. 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. You know, there was a faction of regents members who were not supportive of him at all. Looking at the pandemic, they've also had to take on some additional responsibilities, such as, you know, managing coronavirus relief funds. The U.S. Senate confirmed Secretary Perdue by a vote of 87-to-11 on Monday evening. In 2011, he founded Perdue Partners, which facilitated the export of U.S. goods and services. [58][59], Under Perdue, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was accused of suppressing scientific publications for political reasons. [42] The floods resulted in Perdue declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. What Is Sonny Perdue Doing Now? [67], Perdue's assets during his time as Secretary were placed in blind trusts, as is common to prevent financial conflicts of interest. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Eric Stirgus: You know, and then there have been other instances where, you know, Sonny has supported now-Gov. His Democratic opponent was Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. Gov. Senate Republicans aghast at Perdue's false election claims in - CNN The former Georgia governor has a background in agriculture. Mr. Perdue, a graduate of the University of Georgia, said he considered the opportunity to lead the university system, which has more than 340,000 students, as the capstone to a career of public service. Eric Stirgus: Sonny Perdue, you know, encouraged then-President Trump to endorse Brian Kemp in the Republican primary back in 2018. I mean, you know, there is one former member now, Phillip Lehi, who did, you know, say, Hey, I like Sonny Perdue personally. The Perdue USDAs largesse to large-scale farmers and agribusinesses went beyond cutting wages and protective measures for their workers. 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. 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. [14][15], Perdue is not related to the family who owns and operates Perdue Farms (commonly associated with the brand "Perdue Chicken").[16][17]. You know, it's kind of a fascinating situation that, you know, your cousin is running for governor and at the same time his political opponent could be putting you in charge of one of the most important positions in state government. Find them all here. It generated $102,077 in revenue or about 11 cents for every dollar it cost to run the center in years past. He also won reelection in 2000. Or are they sometimes coming from outside it? 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. [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. So Sonny Perdue is very much in the good graces of Donald Trump. 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. So I think there is some concern out there among some of them. 260 14th St. NW Steve Fennessy: What did you think when you first heard about that? Subscribe today and get a full year of Mother Jones for just $14.95. Am I being naive to think that that that would be the case? 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. I cant imagine Sonny Perdue doing that.. Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. Perdue, Trump's first and only agriculture secretary, is a notable exception. 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. Later, FALF Management Trust was created. [69] Perdue lives in Bonaire, Georgia. In his 2002 election campaign, Perdue promised that he would let the state's citizens vote to determine the state flag. Sonny Perdue age, height, net worth 2023, wife, girlfriend, kids Georgias public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo. You know, he's a strong conservative, you know, and he's David Perdue's cousin. [12], In education, Perdue promoted the return of most decision-making to the local level. So you have 14 members who serve each congressional district in Georgia, and then there are five at-large positions. [46] After the state dropped out of the bidding and the land was sold to developers, the value of Perdue's property more than doubled. Brian Kemp is not. Steve Fennessy: So what happened then? [43], Beginning in 2007, Governor Perdue began to pursue the goal of making Georgia the "bass-fishing tourism mecca". Revoking accreditation to schools including the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State and Georgia Southern would be a monumental step. "[35], In 2006, Perdue signed a law that gave Georgia "some of the nation's toughest measures against illegal immigrants. I can't imagine Sonny Perdue doing that." Like Trump, he's a former Democratwho ascended to political power (in Perdue's case, Georgia. But the threat is part of the latest controversy for the Board of Regents, which in October approved a new policy where universities can fire tenured professors with little to no faculty input. 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. He left in June. Yes, there is a acting chancellor. It's called critical race theory, but other parents and some students said that's not what's going on in the classrooms at all. 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." [30], In 2001, Democratic governor Roy Barnes replaced the 1956 state flag, which incorporated the battle flag of the Confederacy, and which had been adopted by Georgia largely as a protest against desegregation. 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. 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. This week, officials on the Board of Regents announced Perdue is the sole finalist for the top job of chancellor. 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. We've been hearing that Gov. 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 . Mr. Kemp had received Mr. Trumps endorsement in 2018, but their relationship deteriorated following the Kemp administrations refusal to undermine Georgias presidential election results in 2020. What Is Sonny Perdue Doing Now? - Vim Buzz And Sonny Perdue was one of the only, if not the only cabinet member who went the distance in the Donald Trump administration. 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.