At least he is out of the gate. It generated $102,077 in revenue or about 11 cents for every dollar it cost to run the center in years past. 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. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? His committee assignments included Ethics, Finance & Public Utilities, Health & Human Services, Reapportionment, and Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Affairs. 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. This week, officials on the Board of Regents announced Perdue is the sole finalist for the top job of chancellor. The income stemmed partly from the sale of conservation credits under a federal wetlands protection program. It's us but for your ears. [25], In 2007, Perdue convinced a skeptical legislature to approve a $19 million fishing tourism program he called Go Fish Georgia. Jess Mador is our producer. His nomination was transmitted to the U.S. Senate on March 9, 2017. GPB is committedto bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. President Trump is endorsing Brian Kemp's Republican opponent in the primary, David Perdue, to be the next governor. 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. Georgia Today: Is Mayor Bottoms Paying The Political Cost For A COVID Crime Wave? 10 Things You Didn't Know About Sonny Perdue - US News & World Report Kemp and Perdue are also close political allies, and Kemp recently replaced four members on the board before the vote. Perdue is poised within . As expected, the board named former governor and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue as its sole finalist to head the University System of Georgia. 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. He stated that legitimate, measurable carbon trading could spur so-called carbon sequestration by giving farmers an incentive to innovate. 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. Steve Fennessy: So the faction that was opposed or is opposed to the idea of Sonny Perdue as chancellor seems to be getting smaller. I'm Steve Fennessy. [72], In 2006, Perdue's financial disclosure forms revealed that he had a net worth of approximately $6 million and received compensation of $700,000 that year.[73]. And then also, you know, maybe among some who might be interested in working for the university system. Steve Fennessy: Politics makes strange bedfellows. The secretarys 2019 filing also shows nearly $140,000 in income from Soque River Conservation LLC, which holds land along the Soque River in northern Georgia and is held by a separate trust that Perdue first reported last year. Presumably, some political appointees who served in the Trump administration did so with earnest intentions, hoping to bring dignity and professionalism to the task of advancing the Republican agenda of deregulation, austerity (for non-cronies), and upward wealth redistribution. 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. [6] His nomination was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a 19-1 voice vote on March 30. [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. He's a two-term former governor, Secretary of Agriculture. On April 1, 2022, Perdue took over as the system's 14th chancellor. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo. Charles S. Bullock, III, The Georgia Political Almanac, The General Assembly 199394. 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. He won the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes 51% to 46%, with Libertarian candidate Garrett Michael Hayes taking 2% of the vote. 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. He enjoys flying and, in a 2003 incident, was accused of flying a state helicopter without a license. Eric Stirgus: During his time as agriculture secretary there was, you know, there's been some criticism about his record, you know, concerning issues such as climate change. Sonny Perdue on Confirmation to Lead Dept. There were so many cabinet members who who left, and then he had to appoint new ones. Is Sonny Perdue staking out any does he have a dog in this fight, at least publicly? [42] The floods resulted in Perdue declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. Eric Stirgus: There was some support on the regents, but not enough support to get him across the finish line to be named as chancellor. Steve Fennessy: So how do you get a job to be chancellor? The commitments entailed moving his holdings into a new trust and agreeing not to serve as a trustee or beneficiary of the fund. And then also, I think, you know, there's been some criticism that he's not the best qualified person for the position. So that's a little strange, isn't it? In 2011, he founded Perdue Partners, which facilitated the export of U.S. goods and services. [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. 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". Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. Then there were the full-on MAGA-bots like Sonny Perdue, the Georgia politician and agribusiness entrepreneur who became agriculture secretary. Born George Ervin Perdue III, 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". There's been a lot of different issues that colleges are facing regarding social issues and political issues. It's a little off the beaten path. Like Trump, hes a former Democrat who ascended to political power (in Perdues case, Georgia governor) in a stunning upset. He referenced the pandemic and the phrase "Cultural Revolution." [News tape] FOX5: Critics have questioned Perdue's experience, pointing out his lack of experience in the higher education setting. 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. 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. [9], Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia, the son of Ophie Viola (Holt), a teacher, and George Ervin Perdue Jr., a farmer. Eric Stirgus: I think, you know, there's just some uncertainty among many faculty members about, you know, who will eventually serve in the position and you know what role they may take on, you know, on this, you know, systems operations. Although it returned to last place in 2005,[26] Georgia rose to 49th place in 2006 in the combined math and reading mean score, including the writing portion added to the test that year. Steve Fennessy: So there's a school of thought that Gov. Sonny Perdue Is Sole Finalist to Lead Georgia's Public Universities 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. I understand that the Board of Regents, at least in its previous iteration, was not necessarily too keen on the idea of Sonny Perdue as the next chancellor, is that correct? This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Brian Kemp thinks so, and it looks like he's getting his way. [47], Perdue was constitutionally ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as governor in the 2010 Georgia gubernatorial election. Sonny Perdue plans to stay on amid Trump Cabinet shakeups Gov. This week on Georgia Today, we look at some issues Bottoms faced during her tenure as mayor with CNN national correspondentRyan Young. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. I give him my full and total endorsement.". After Perdue took office, in 2003 and 2004, Georgia moved up from last place in the country in SAT scores. 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, 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. 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. Steve Fennessy: So I'm guessing that maybe he wants to stay out of this altogether, or do we know if he is going to make any kind of public statement endorsing one way or the other? Eric Stirgus: Yeah, I mean, and that's the argument that many of Kemp's team has said. Steve Fennessy: What form has that opposition taken on college campuses or in academic circles? 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. Sanders: one of the the most fun, engaging, charming, and charismatic people Ive ever been around. Perdue: he has an amazing instinctive ability to make decisions.. Eric Stirgus: I think you would have many people who would say that it is a political decision or that the board members themselves have, you know, some say depending on their own personal politics. And you know, for a lot of critics, you know, it did raise their concerns about all of this. That's next. "The. David Perdue now a U.S. senator to . [25] Perdue signed the legislation into law on April 12, 2005, three days before tax day. Revoking accreditation to schools including the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State and Georgia Southern would be a monumental step. Sonny Perdue: Latest News, Top Stories & Analysis - POLITICO Steve Fennessy: Matthew Boedy, a University of North Georgia professor and president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors, told the New York Times that, quote, "a chancellor's job is to defend the system against such bills. While Perdue puffed up the generosity of his boss, the USDA was busy botching the food-relief effort, awarding fat contracts to distributors ill-equipped to handle them, with the result that some parts of the country got a lot of food, while others got very little, NPR reported. Terms of Service apply. He's also a fierce advocate for Sonny Perdue to land the chancellor job, saying his experience . On March 1, 2022, the Board of Regents of University System of Georgia appointed Perdue as the system's 14th chancellor, effective April 1, 2022. [12], In education, Perdue promoted the return of most decision-making to the local level. Steve Fennessy: But in the state of Georgia, I would think that, at least of jobs that are sort of in the employ of the state of Georgia, there are few that are more prominent or important than chancellor. 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. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, a Democrat, later ran the University of California system, and former Gov. After serving as a member of the Houston County Planning & Zoning Commission in the 1980s, Perdue ran as a Democrat for a seat in the Georgia General Assembly. How Trump's Food Box Initiative Overpaid And Underdelivered I cant imagine Sonny Perdue doing that.. Eric Stirgus: No, not officially, you know, because they are personnel decisions that the board makes. 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. [48], During meetings with Georgia state port officials, then-Governor Perdue discussed his family business's use of a terminal, then started a new export company in Savannah soon after leaving office. Sonny Perdue's Ties to His Family Business - American Oversight His Democratic opponent was Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. The terms of two of those members expired at the beginning of January, and Gov. Eric Stirgus: Correct. 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. Secretary Perdue was just chastised for his abuse of tax dollars for political purposes by ethics authorities, so we cannot take these claims at face value, he said. The office directed the USDA chief to reimburse the government for travel expenses and other costs of the event. This is the golden rule do unto others.". 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. [53] In August 2017, he announced a mentoring program for new farmers. Georgias public university system said on Tuesday that former Gov. Why is accreditation important for a university system like Georgia's? [57] Current and former employees of the ERS were strongly critical of the relocation to Kansas City, saying the resulting exodus of scientific and economic talent caused disruption to federal research, especially on climate change and food security. 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 . Perdue, a former US senator, has so far raised a fraction of what Kemp has in his campaign war chest. The administration began acquiring bond money for the Go Fish Education Center near his home in Perry, GA. Sonny Perdue, of course, was a two-term governor of Georgia, as well as secretary of agriculture under former President Donald Trump. 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? (Washington, D.C., April 25, 2017) - Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture by fellow Georgian and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Clarence Thomas in a brief ceremony today at the Supreme Court building. And you know, I think there have been a couple of state lawmakers who have publicly come out against the idea. Steve Fennessy: OK, Sonny Perdue is, I think he's 75. The Board of Regents is expected to confirm Perdue's appointment in the next two weeks. She says a lot of things. Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. The secretarys numerous and labyrinthine financial interests in agribusiness and land development makes it essential that his ethical commitments be rigorously enforced so as not to create a conflict of interest, Austin Evers, the groups executive director, wrote last week in a letter to the IGs office. Atlanta, GA 30318 That relationship famously has gone has gone south. [19] After his first year in office, Senator Perdue wrote then Lt. He also talked about, you know, bringing stability to the system. of Agriculture", "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress 1st Session", "Sonny Perdue Named Chancellor of the University System of Georgia", "Meet David PerdueHe Might Be Georgia's Next Senator", National Governors Association: Sonny Perdue, "Trump taps former Georgia governor for agriculture secretary", "Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue Perdue Farms Plans Major Expansion in Georgia", "Official Results of the November 5, 2002 General Election", "Ethical Lapses Trail Nominee For Agriculture Conflicts of Interest as Governor of Georgia", "3 minutes, 1 tax bill, $100,000 for Sonny Perdue", "Georgia climbs in SAT rankings despite drop in score", "2008 SAT Results Highlight Need for Rigor", "Georgia View: Sonny Perdue's Non-Legacy", "Georgia leaders try to skip controversy in flag vote", "Tom Price, Kasim Reed, Sonny Perdue and the Art of the Georgia Deal", "Statement of Governor Sonny Perdue Regarding Court Ruling to Stay Transition to Reformulated Gasoline", "Georgia Enacts a Tough Law on Immigrants", The Confederate and Neo-Confederate Reader: The "Great Truth", "Trump could name Agriculture Secretary whose drought strategy was to pray for rain", "Yes, There Were Black Confederates. 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. "To me it was a boondoggle because of the amount of money they were spending and the location," said Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Perdue is a kind of an easy-going Southern version of the president he served so zealously. United States, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. [3], In 2006, Perdue was re-elected to a second term in the 2006 Georgia gubernatorial election, winning nearly 58% of the vote. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) abstained, as they are first cousins. [58][59], Under Perdue, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was accused of suppressing scientific publications for political reasons. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, payments on the Go Fish bonds, approved by Perdue and the General Assembly in 2007, runs through December 2027 with most payments $1 million a year in bond money. Eric Stirgus: Yes. Steve Fennessy: Well, there was also some changes that happened on the board itself, right? He was sworn in by Supreme Court associate justice and fellow Georgian Clarence Thomas. [69] Perdue lives in Bonaire, Georgia. You know, we reported as soon as we got the copy of the letter. [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. Thanks for listening. 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." In research shared with POLITICO, Accountable.US alleges that farm policies backed by the secretary could potentially have benefited his own or his familys interests beyond the two agribusinesses that were sold. [News tape] WSB: He called being named a finalist a quote wonderful capstone to a career in public service. Steve Fennessy: There's something else going on here. 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. [7] His appointment was approved by an 8711 vote by the Senate on April 24. Sonny Perdue Sworn in as 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture [24], In mid-2003, Perdue purchased 101 acres (0.41km2) of land next to his Houston County, Georgia, home. [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. American Oversight and another watchdog group, Accountable.US, claim that violates Perdues 2017 agreement with ethics officials that he would restructure his original family trust and transfer all of its stock in Perdue Business Holdings to a new, irrevocable trust that wouldnt be overseen by or benefit the secretary. This is Georgia Today. When you go this long without having a permanent chancellor on board, what signal does that send or how does that affect the operations of our schools? Sonny Perdue faces ethics questions over his business holdings 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.