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Gold Dome Live

Update: Cole bows out, Kemp now expected to be secretary of state

1:49 pm January 4, 2010, by Aaron Gould Sheinin

Gov. Sonny Perdue on Monday named Brian Kemp to be the next secretary of state, after state Rep. Jim Cole turned down the job.

Kemp, a former Republican state senator from Athens, is one of three candidates already seeking the 2010 GOP nomination to be secretary of state. But while Kemp now gets to run as an incumbent,Perdue’s spokesman said the governor was not playing favorites in his party’s primary.

“It was about picking someone who you know would do a great job,” said Perdue communications director Bert Brantley. “It’s really more about that than about a primary or giving someone a leg up.”

Kemp is running against Sandy Springs City Councilman Doug MacGinnitie and former Flowery Branch City Councilwoman Robin Carlisle. Five Democrats are running for their party’s nomination. MacGinnitie said he’s received phone calls and e-mails form people who are upset and “who feel the primary process has been negatively impacted.”

Still, MacGinnitie said the decision changes nothing. “I entered this race a year ago because I think it’s a very important position,” he said.

Carlisle could not be reached for comment Monday.

Kemp will take over for Karen Handel, who resigned last week to focus on her campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Cole (R-Forsyth), who has served as Perdue’s floor leader in the House, said in a statement that he is taking a new job with Mercer University and will not seek re-election in 2010.

Word of Perdue’s decision to name Cole, which was never officially announced, raised hackles in some corners of the GOP among activists who saidPerdue should name a caretaker who will not seek the job full-time. His decision to name Kemp instead has not fully extinguished those complaints as theblogosphere and Twitter were popping Monday with criticisms.

But Perdue said Kemp has worked hard to ready himself for the job.

“I have known Brian for several years, and he has shown a strong dedication and commitment to public service,” Perdue said in a statement. “His leadership abilities and integrity will be a great asset to Georgia and the Secretary of State’s office.”

In a statement included in Perdue’s news release, Kemp thanked the governor.

“I greatly appreciate the Governor’s confidence and am honored to serve the people of Georgia in this vital office,” Kemp said. “I will continue the honorable tradition of leadership demonstrated by Karen Handel, Cathy Cox, Lewis Massey, and others before them. I am eager to get started and deliver for the people of Georgia.”

The Secretary of State’s Office incorporates business and oversees professional licensing boards and elections. The last three secretaries of state have gone on to run for governor. The secretary of state before that, MaxCleland, wound up serving a term in the U.S. Senate.

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38 comments Add your comment

RUKidding

January 4th, 2010
1:58 pm

If this is true, it’s bad move on the Governors part, he should have pick a placeholder that wouldn’t run

Kemp as Interim SOS? — Peach Pundit

January 4th, 2010
1:59 pm

[...] The AJC is now reporting the same here, with this as the money quote: A source close to the situation Monday said Perdue was moving toward [...]

Uncle Sam

January 4th, 2010
2:04 pm

VOTE ONLY FOR FISCAL CONSERVATIVES IN 2010. HOLD THEM TO IT !

oldtimer

January 4th, 2010
2:11 pm

Agree with RUkidding..Why not let the nuber two person hold the job till the next elelction and not give anyone a step up.

Rhino

January 4th, 2010
2:13 pm

Brian is a great guy. Hope this helps him with the election. He will do Georgia proud.

Joe the Plumber

January 4th, 2010
2:17 pm

Typical good ole boy politics at work. Couldn’t let the voters decide. Had to strike a back room deal with his boy. Kemp wasn’t qualified to be Ag Commissioner, and he isn’t qualified to be SoS. But Sonny isn’t about to let that stop him.

I’m still voting to Doug MacGinnitie. We need some new voices in Atlanta. Not more of the same from the Gold Dome crowd.

tc

January 4th, 2010
2:21 pm

wonder why cole changed his mind? more skeletons?

scott

January 4th, 2010
2:25 pm

Handel lost my Gov vote just for quitting her job a year early. Wish I could do that, oh wait, I can! But the folks don’t pay my salary.

Seeingisbelieveing

January 4th, 2010
2:28 pm

This is further evidence that the GA Capital Good Ole Boy network looks out for their own. I looked at the qualifications of both Republicans running and MacGinnitie’s qualifications (at least on paper) are far superior to Kemps. MacGinnitie must not be part of the Network.

William

January 4th, 2010
2:31 pm

Seeingisbelieveing

January 4th, 2010
2:28 pm
Kinda reminds you of the experience Obama had compared to his counterparts. LMAO

Why Jim Cole turned down the governor's gift | Political Insider

January 4th, 2010
2:32 pm

[...] can find more details here at Gold Dome Live, but this is the explanation issued by state Rep. Jim Cole (R-Forsyth) for turning down Gov. Sonny [...]

Just Nasty & Mean

January 4th, 2010
2:33 pm

I will vote AGAINST Kemp simply because he is trying to use the good-ole-boy system to get elected.
In my case, it will achieve JUST THE OPPOSITE!

Mel

January 4th, 2010
2:50 pm

What’s a secretary OFF state?

Mr. KnowitAll

January 4th, 2010
2:53 pm

I am going to vote for MacGinnite simply to show Sonny and the powers that be that I ain’t taking their crap any more. Sonny vetoed a tax reduction bill and his cohorts aborted getting rid of the license plate birthday tax.

Now that wasn’t very conservative! That wasn’t very Republican. Now its time to PAY for the insurrection.

Let’s vote these RINOS O-U-T and get some REAL new-era conservatives in.

MacGunnite

harleyman

January 4th, 2010
2:55 pm

Secretary Off State? Who the heck edits this crap?

George Bush

January 4th, 2010
3:15 pm

kemp does not know where harvard is much less have the credentials to be sos

Russ

January 4th, 2010
3:20 pm

Why are all the displeased posters anonymous?

Aaron Gould Sheinin

January 4th, 2010
3:26 pm

Harleyman and Mel, where does it say “off State”? I still don’t see it. And to answer your question, no one really, other than me. And you.

kelley

January 4th, 2010
3:39 pm

I just volunteered to help MacGinnite. If he isn’t an insider he must be OK. And frankly, if you knew the political cronies (I do) you would be afraid to put your name down too. This state needs some serious house cleaning. I say throw the bums and crooks out.

Mr Attitude

January 4th, 2010
3:48 pm

Yep, the good ole boy politics are still in effect. And people wonder why Georgia is at the near bottom in every statistical category imaginable.

One didnt have to wonder who the replacement would be? WASP

Russ

January 4th, 2010
3:54 pm

Who on this board knows anything about Brian Kemp? Please share what you know.

PHILL

January 4th, 2010
3:55 pm

Brian is Honest and will do the right thing for the people of Georgia. We need someone like him in Atlanta.

Fauntle-ROY BARNES

January 4th, 2010
3:55 pm

Y’all are making my campaign just a bit more easier !

Mr. KnowitAll

January 4th, 2010
4:02 pm

Oh…great Mr Attitude. You just HAD to throw race in the pot. You just couldn’t resist dumping that CHIP on your shoulder and that victimization that race always implies.

YOU–Mr. Attitude—out of nowhere, and for no justification at all, you inject race into a standard dialog about SoS. You have diluted the meaning that it no longer means ANYTHING.
You just cannot let a discussion go by that you don’t blame it on whites scheming and meddling to victimize blacks. From now on, those that use race tells me you can’t be serious–else you wouldn’t make such a stupid comment.

Calling someone a Racist no longer has any meaning thanks to you and the justice brothers–Jesse and Al and the other scammers attempting to use race as their “Excuse”. Their bribe.

GET OVER IT!!!!\ Get that useless baggage off your back and get on with the serious business of life.

Don’t talk to me about race any more….I am DONE WITH IT. It has been overused, and abused for way too long. Take your victimization and “Whites be bad” and shove it.

Robert

January 4th, 2010
4:02 pm

The first action of the Secretary of State should be to close the Georgia Archives located in Morrow, Ga and relocate it to the old “City Hall East” Building (2 million sq. ft.). The Secretary of State is responsible for this mis-management in the State Capital City (Atlanta). He will resign if he had to work under those conditions. It’s a shame that GA tax payer $$$ is wasted and nobody does anything about it. The Secretary of State is not in compliance with the Georgia Records Act or the Open Records Act.

Mr Attitude

January 4th, 2010
4:07 pm

Aw Mr Know it All,
Are your feelings hurt?? The truth hurts, doesn’t it? Well, you make your bed, you have to lay in it and the knuckleheads under the gold dome have placed Georgia into a hellhole that going to take generations to recover.

Bribes?? HA!!

Jackson

January 4th, 2010
4:18 pm

Joe the Plumber wasnt complaining when Perdue supported Gary Black for Ag Commissioner. In fact, when the governor worked AGAINST Kemp no one complained at all. Sounds to me like the Governor realized it wasn’t a shoe in for Republicans.

kelley

January 4th, 2010
4:29 pm

If you think this appointment stinks look at Perdue’s appointments for Superior Court Judges. Very scary! Anyone who is connected with Perdue is suspect. He is paying back for favors and is insuring he still will weild control when he is out of office.

Abe

January 4th, 2010
4:59 pm

Just for the record (and to correct the last paragraph of the article), the Secretary of State also oversees Securities, the state archives, and the Capitol museum.

Puzzling

January 4th, 2010
5:45 pm

Yep Mr Attitude since the WASP don’t have a prayer in Atlanta City goverment offices they have to have somewhere to go.

South GA Repub

January 4th, 2010
6:20 pm

It would be foolish NOT to appoint one of the GOP candidates, though I would surely be upset if I were supporting one of the other GOP folks. In terms of the general election, however, it would be STUPID not to take advantage of this perogative on incumbancy (sp?).

enough is enough

January 4th, 2010
6:40 pm

This is really outrageous. The Gov picks his guy (Cole) because he doesn’t think the two candidates could win and then his guy has some of the same zipper problems that every other R seems to have and drops out. So, the Gov thinks again and pikcs one of two that he didn’t think so highly of just this weekend. If the Ds cant beat this cast of clowns in the fall then they dont deserve to win. Pathetic

fulldawg

January 5th, 2010
5:55 am

Another “Sonny Day” in Georgia!

Road Scholar

January 5th, 2010
9:00 am

“It was about picking someone who you know would do a great job,”

Then should the mgmt of the SOS office be fired for being incompetent, esp the second in command? Why couldn’t someone not running or the second in command be placed in charge? Because Sonny is still trying to set himself up for “retirement”.

I have no problem with how the SOS office was run, but stacking the deck for the next election has a smell to it!

The Snark

January 5th, 2010
1:22 pm

Mr. KnowitAll:

I share your anger that the legislature failed to pass another tax reduction bill. If they had only done their job, the state would be facing a $2 billion deficit this year instead of $1 billion. The swine! What were they thinking?

Kemp supporter

January 5th, 2010
5:08 pm

Brian is a person of integrity, and will do an excellent job. Re-elected or not. It is a solid choice.

wtf

January 6th, 2010
2:35 pm

Can’t wait for Sonny boy to go back to Bonaire. And now with Ralston leading the house, we’ll probably never get a Sunday sales referendum (revenue!) Ralston doesn’t even participate in votes because he “doesn’t drink” so it doesn’t affect him.
When will the good ol boy politics stop in GA?

DStrykr

March 19th, 2010
8:02 am

Just like Karen Handel, Kemp has covered up Charity Fraud in the State of Georgia. Complaint 1153 Mr. Kemp, along with the others who filed complaints on this “charity”; a non-existing organization that you gave a corporate license and permit to AFTER complaints were filed. If you can take an Atlanta City Council man to court for Charity Fraud, why not five people acting like they are an organization and collecting thousands of dollars from the public?
http://www.sos.ga.gov/pressrel/20080929a.htm

Look into it Mr. Kemp as we have asked your office to do over and over again. It must have just been an over site on their part not to file their TAX RETURNS to the State or IRS for how many years?

The only answer we get from your office is “all I can say is, we received your complaint and they got their permit”. Expect more postings and letters to editors of major papers about this case because you well know, there is a case here. It is the responsibility of the SOS of State to protect not only the public, but good standing charities as well:

“When Georgians donate their resources to charities, they trust that their contributions will be used as promised. When one charity breaks this bond, especially one led by an elected official, it can harm the ability of legitimate organizations to raise resources and fulfill their missions,” said Handel. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue charities fraud cases to protect both legitimate charities and their donors.” Karen Handel

We can’t get hold of you Mr. Kemp and as a possible elected official, you need to take a look at how your voters will be able to contact you.