Sonny_Perdue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sonny Perdue Sonny Perdue Sonny Perdue Personal life and education Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia and grew up in the small unincorporated town of Bonaire in Houston County. His father was a farmer and his mother was a teacher. Perdue has been known as Sonny since childhood and prefers to be called by that name (he was sworn in and signs official documents as "Sonny Perdue"). He is not related to Beverly Perdue, governor of North Carolina. As a youngster, he flew planes and has maintained his pilot’s license since. Perdue played quarterback at Warner Robins High School and was a walk-on at the University of Georgia, where he was also a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Beta-Lambda chapter). Perdue served in the Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain before his discharge. In 1971 he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and worked as a veterinarian before becoming a small business owner, eventually starting three small businesses. Perdue and his wife, Mary, were married in 1972. They have four children (two boys and two girls) and nine grandchildren (five boys and four girls, the most recent granddaughter was born on April 9, 2008 and the Governor made an announcement via official press release), and have also been foster parents for eight children. In addition to flying, Perdue is also an avid sportsman. Perdue made a cameo appearance as an East Carolina football coach in the movie We Are Marshall, large portions of which were filmed in Georgia.[1] 81st Governor of Georgia Incumbent Assumed office January 13, 2003 Lieutenant Preceded by Mark Taylor (2003-2007) Casey Cagle (2007-) Roy Barnes Georgia State Senator In office 1991 – 2001 Born December 20, 1946 (1946-12-20) Perry, Georgia Republican (1998-present) Democratic Party (1992-1998) Mary Ruff Perdue Bonaire, Georgia University of Georgia Agribusiness, Veterinarian Southern Baptist Political party Spouse Residence Alma mater Profession Religion Military service Service/ branch Rank United States Air Force Captain George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III (born December 20, 1946) is the governor of the U.S. state of Georgia. Upon his inauguration in January 2003, he became the first Republican governor of Georgia since Benjamin F. Conley served during Reconstruction in the 1870s. Political career State Senator After serving as a member of the Houston County Planning & Zoning Commission in the 1980s, Perdue ran for a seat in the Georgia 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia General Assembly. He defeated Republican candidate Ned Sanders in 1990 and succeeded Democratic incumbent Ed Barker as the Senator representing the 18th district. Perdue was re-elected in 1992, 1994 and 1996, serving as his party’s leader in the Senate, from 1994 to 1997, and as president pro tempore.[2] His committee assignments included Ethics, Finance & Public Utilities, Health & Human Services, Reapportionment and Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Affairs. He switched party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in 1998 and was re-elected to the Senate as a Republican. He also won re-election in 2000. Sonny Perdue referendum in 2004. The choices given to Georgia voters were a modified version of the 1879 Georgia flag that had been used as the state’s official banner since 2003 or the version of the flag created in 2001 by the Roy Barnes administration. (The nickname of this flag was the Barnes flag or Barnes rag). Perdue angered some Georgians when the 1956 flag was not a choice on the ballot after promising throughout his campaign that the ’56 flag design would appear in any referendum. However, Perdue was faced with a Democratic House that would not consider having the 1956 flag on the referendum and he needed support for the new tobacco tax he wanted to pass. According to a March 5, 2008, proclamation by Governor Perdue, "Among those who served the Confederacy were many AfricanAmericans, both free and slave, who saw action in the Confederate armed forces in many combat roles. According to the Georgia government’s website on Confederate History Month, they also participated in the manufacture of products for the war effort, built naval ships, and provided military assistance and relief efforts..."[5] As of September 2007, Governor Perdue remained relatively popular. Perdue had a 56% approval rating, while 35% disapproved, according to Republican pollster Strategic Vision.[6] Governor of Georgia Perdue resigned in December 2001 and devoted himself entirely to running for the office of Governor. He was elected Governor of Georgia in November 2002, defeating Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes, 52% to 46% in a three way race. Perdue was re-elected to a second term in the 2006 general election. His Democratic opponent was Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes was also on the ballot. Perdue won handily, with nearly 58% of the vote.[3] Perdue is constitutionally ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as Governor in 2010. Actions as governor Perdue’s main focus in office has been on reforming state government, improving education, and growing the state’s economy. Perdue has advocated reforms designed to cut waste in government, most notably the sale of surplus vehicles and real estate. (Prior to Perdue’s becoming governor, no state agency had even compiled an inventory of what assets the state owned, much less managed them.) In education, Perdue has focused on returning decision-making to the local level. Since Perdue took office, Georgia briefly moved out of last place in SAT scores; though it returned to last place in 2005, in 2006 Georgia rose to 46th place. The high school class of 2006 recorded the sharpest drop in SAT scores in 31 years. [4] Having won office after promising to let the citizens of Georgia vote to determine their flag, Perdue signed legislation for a flag Controversies Land ownership In mid-2003, Perdue purchased 101 acres (0.41 km2) of land next to his Houston County home, for $303,000, after negotiating directly with the owner. The purchase was done using a limited liability company named Maryson LLC, a corporation formed on July 23, 2003.[7] Maryson’s registered agent was Stephan Holcomb, a Houston County dentist. Perdue appointed Holcomb, a neighbor of the governor’s sister in Houston County, to the state Board of Dentistry in 2003. The lawyer who organized Maryson LLC was state representative Larry O’Neal (R-Warner Robins), the chairman of the Ways & Means committee of the House.[8] Perdue paid the 2003 tax bill on the property after it was acquired by Maryson, Houston County tax records show. In May 2004, the land was transferred from Maryson to Perdue’s own name.[7] The transfer price was recorded at $305,000. 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Maryson was dissolved on July 9, 2005, a year after the sale.[8] Perdue failed to disclose the property or any interest on his financial disclosure forms for calendar years 2003 and 2004, as required by Georgia law.[7] Five days after Maryson was incorporated in 2003, O’Neal also incorporated a partnership for Perdue and his wife, Mary, called Perdue Plantation LLC, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. This partnership also was not listed on Perdue’s 2004 financial disclosure report. The Secretary of State’s Office said an official is required to report ownership or a fiduciary position in a company.[8] Praying for rain In November 2007, while Georgia suffered from one of the worst droughts in several decades, Perdue, along with lawmakers and local ministers, prayed for rain on the steps of the state Capitol. This came shortly after Alabama Governor Bob Riley issued a proclamation declaring a week in July as "Days of Prayer for Rain" to "humbly ask for His blessings and to hold us steady in times of difficulty." The Atlanta Freethought Society opposed the rain prayer saying in a statement, "The governor can pray when he wants to. What he can’t do is lead prayers in the name of the people of Georgia."[9] Sonny Perdue Republican Sonny Per- 24,543 100.00 due (Incumbent) Turnout Republican hold Party Candidate 24,543 Swing Votes % ±% Senator 18th district, 2000 Republican Sonny Per- 30,681 69.2 due (Incumbent) Democratic Miller Heath Turnout Republican hold Party Candidate 13,647 30.8 44,328 Swing Votes % ±% Georgia gubernatorial election, 2002 Republican Sonny Perdue 1,041,677 51.4 46.3 2.3 Democratic Roy Barnes 937,062 (Incumbent) Libertarian Garrett Mi- 47,122 chael Hayes Turnout Republican gain from Democratic Party Candidate 2,025,861 Swing Georgia gubernatorial election, 2006 Votes % ±% Republican Sonny Per- 1,229,724 57.9 +6.5 due (incumbent) Democratic Mark Taylor 811,049 38.2 -8.0 3.8 +1.5 Electoral History Senator Party 18th district, 1990 Candidate Votes % ±% 17,932 70.53 7,451 25,383 Swing Votes % 29.47 Democratic Sonny Perdue Republican Ned Sanders Turnout Democratic hold Party Candidate Libertarian Garrett Mi- 81,412 chael Hayes Turnout Republican hold 2,102,185 Swing Senator 18th district, 1996 ±% [1] http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2006/ Democratic Sonny Per- 28,920 100.00 press1182.shtml due [2] Charles S. Bullock, III, The Georgia (Incumbent) Political Almanac, The General Assembly 28,920 Turnout 1993-94 Democratic hold Swing [3] Georgia Election Results, Georgia Secretary of State th district, 1998 Senator 18 [4] Jeffery Whitfield, Clayton News Daily, Party Candidate Votes % ±% "School system suffers drop in SAT References 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Political offices Preceded by Roy Barnes (D) Georgia Senate Preceded by Ed Barker (D) Georgia State Senator from 18th district January 1991 – December 2001 United States order of precedence (while in Georgia) as of 2009 Governor of Georgia January 2003 – present Incumbent Sonny Perdue Succeeded by Ross Tolleson (R) Order of precedence in the United States of America Preceded by Joe Biden Vice President of the United States Succeeded by Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House of Representatives Jill Biden Second Lady of the United States Preceded by Jon Corzine United States order of precedence (while outside Georgia) as of 2009 Succeeded by M. Jodi Rell [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] scores", 8/29/06 (AP sources used in report) • Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue official http://gov.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/ state site cit_1210/2/32/ • Saturdays 107379793Confederate%20History%20Month%202008.pdf With Sonny • Biography at the National Governors "Poll Results - GA". Association http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/ • Biography, interest group ratings, public georgia_poll_091207.htm. Retrieved on statements, vetoes and campaign finances 2008-02-14. at Project Vote Smart ^ Ken Foskett, "Perdue failed to disclose • Issue positions and quotes at On The land buy near prized tract: Acreage next Issues to the governor’s Houston County home • Collected news and commentary at The abuts a pristine forest that’s slated for New York Times major development", Atlanta Journal• Collected news and commentary at The Constitution, October 28, 2006 Washington Post ^ James Salzer, "Perdue invests close to • 2008 2006 2004 2002 Governor campaign home: Governor appears to ignore his contributions rationale in Florida deal, Atlanta Journal• 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 State Constitution, September 2, 2006 Senate campaign contributions Dry Georgia rallies, and prays, for rain • Georgia Heritage Council Weather - MSNBC.com External links Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Perdue" Categories: 1946 births, Living people, Governors of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia (U.S. state) State Senators, University of Georgia alumni, Delegates to the Republican National Convention, United States Air Force officers, Baptists from the United States, Georgia (U.S. state) Republicans This page was last modified on 18 May 2009, at 19:27 (UTC). 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