About Sonny Perdue
If you would like to see more news from or about Governor Perdue on the Fayette Front Page we encourage you to do a search (above) or visit our Republican News Sweep blog.
Sonny
Perdue was sworn in as Georgia’s 81st Governor on January
13, 2003. Before his run for Governor, Perdue proudly served his local
community, as well as Middle Georgia, his state, and the nation in a
variety of roles. He has been a businessman, community leader, Sunday
School teacher, State Senator, Majority Leader and President Pro
Tempore of the Georgia State Senate, as well as an officer in the
United States Air Force.
Sonny was born on December 20, 1946, in Perry, Georgia, to a lifelong farmer, and a classroom teacher. Perdue attended Warner Robins High School and earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1971 from the University of Georgia. Prior to being admitted to veterinary school, he played football at the UGA as a walk on. While still in school he volunteered to serve his country in the United States Air Force where he honed his flying skills, by earning instrument, flight instructor, and multi-engine ratings. A licensed pilot for more than thirty years, Sonny has enjoyed traveling the state in his single-engine Bellanca Super Viking.
Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1974 with the
rank of Captain and a brief tenure as a practicing veterinarian in
Raleigh, North Carolina, Perdue returned to his native Georgia and
became a successful small-business owner. He started two businesses
from the ground up, concentrating in agribusiness and transportation.
Today, those businesses have grown to include several locations across
the Southeast.
Sonny was already a dedicated leader in his church and his community
when he decided to enter public service. After serving on the Houston
County Planning and Zoning Board during 1980's, Sonny caught the
attention of local community leaders and was asked to run for the
Georgia State Senate. He won, and spent the next 11 years representing
the people of Houston, Bibb, Bleckley, and Pulaski Counties in the
General Assembly.
In a
time of increasing apathy toward politicians and policymakers, Sonny
Perdue never forgot that his job was to serve the people, not play
politics. During his tenure, Sonny's reputation as a skilled listener,
patient decision-maker, and tireless worker earned him the bipartisan
respect of his colleagues. As a result, he rose quickly to leadership
positions. After only four years in the Senate, Perdue was selected by
his peers to the office of Majority Leader. Then, in 1997, Democratic
and Republican Senators elected him President Pro Tempore, another
testament to his expertise as one of Georgia's most effective
consensus builders.
As a state senator, he was often praised for tackling issues when no
one else had the courage to do so and for his ability to grasp the
nuances of complex problems. Sonny was recognized as a leading
authority on numerous issues including agriculture, transportation,
education, emerging technologies and economic development.
Perdue campaigned for Governor on a platform of restoring public trust in state government and empowering all Georgians by eliminating undue interference by government bureaucracies. Since taking office, the first months of his administration have been marked by many major accomplishments.
During the 2003 legislative session, Governor Perdue initiated a first step education improvement bill; extensive tax reform measures that ease the burden on seniors, military personnel and homeowners; and foster parent legislation that helps Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens – children in state care.
The Governor has also made some tough choices by putting together a fiscally responsible balanced budget during difficult economic times. His approach to the budget is no different from that of any family in Georgia. He has set priorities, emphasizing “needs” over “wants.”
Governor Perdue has dedicated his administration to attracting new businesses and jobs to Georgia, improving the quality of programs that touch the lives of children, and fighting for a comprehensive ethics reform package.
For all of his success in business and public service, he is proudest to hold the offices of devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather.
Sonny is married to the former Mary Ruff of Atlanta, Georgia. The couple has four children: Leigh, a speech therapist; Lara, a software consultant in Atlanta; Jim, a UGA graduate who was called into the ministry and currently attends Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina; and Dan, an undergraduate student at Georgia Tech. The Perdue’s have three granddaughters, including newest addition, Elizabeth Grace, and twins, Mary Kate and Sunni. They also have two grandsons, Jack and Jake. Mary and Sonny have also served as foster parents for newborns awaiting adoption.
State to Pursue Legal Action to Protect Conservation Reservoirs
6-20-06
Concerned with ongoing dry weather and the potential for dangerously low
lake levels, Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the state of
Georgia is taking legal action against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
over its management of water releases from lakes Lanier, West Point,
Walter F. George and Seminole on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF)
River system.
“Since the beginning of May, the state of Georgia has been trying to get the Corps of Engineers to listen to our concerns about the way they have been managing our conservation reservoirs in the Chattahoochee River Basin, only to be dismissed by the Corps. And to complicate matters even further, the Corps admitted this weekend to releasing more than 22 billion gallons of water from Lake Lanier by mistake,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “It is the responsibility of the corps to properly manage the basin and it has failed in its duty.”
"The Corps' plan calls for the release of more water than the endangered species would have received naturally, and that over-release of water will come at the expense of vital needs upstream,” Governor Perdue added.
Col. Pete Taylor, commander of the Corps’ Mobile District, notified the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) on Saturday that the Corps had miscalculated the amount of water stored in Lake Lanier. Taylor said the lake is at 1065.72 feet above sea level, which is actually 1.9 feet lower than the Corps previously reported. This means the Corps mistakenly released approximately 22.5 billion gallons of water from Lanier, as the region approaches what is traditionally the driest time of the year.
“Based on drought year 2000 data, that’s enough water to support the entire city of Atlanta for 118 days,” said Carol A. Couch, EPD Director. “This notification reinforces the state’s argument that the Corps’ management policies are misguided, and will place the region in a water supply crisis if left unchecked.”
Georgia will file a motion for a temporary restraining order as early as today asking that the Corps be directed to allow only the minimum necessary flow in the Apalachicola River at Chattahoochee, Florida. This legal action is intended to require the Corps to allow the lakes to refill and recover the stored water lost to downstream releases.
The Corps has been attempting to manage flow releases to support Gulf sturgeon and endangered mussels in Florida. EPD first notified the Corps in early May that the current ACF reservoir management policy would result in record low water levels in the major lakes this summer and jeopardize the region’s drinking water supply. Representatives of Alabama, Florida and Georgia participated in a two-day meeting with Corps officials and staff. EPD also has sent numerous letters requesting changes in Corps water management policy.
“These unfortunate actions and the Corps’ repeated lack of response to our concerns leaves Georgia with no alternative but to take legal action to protect our water resources,” said Governor Perdue.
Governor Perdue and Heidi Becker Discuss Christian City's Home for Children
7-25-06 Heidi Becker of Fayette County, recently met with Governor Sonny Perdue to discuss Christian City's Home for Children at the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce breakfast where Governor Perdue was the guest speaker.
Governor Perdue Announces $580 Million Budget Surplus
7-20-06 Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the state of Georgia has a $580 million budget surplus for FY06. Governor Perdue’s top priorities for the budget surplus are education and increasing the state’s rainy day fund. More
Record $2.25 Billion Invested on Road Improvements in FY06
7-20-06 Governor Sonny Perdue, Department of Transportation (DOT) Board Chairman Mike Evans and DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl today announced that the state of Georgia has invested a record $2.25 billion in improvements to Georgia’s transportation infrastructure during Fiscal Year 2006 (FY06). The $2.25 billion is nearly double the amount spent in 2005, the previous highest year, and is more than 108 percent higher than the amount invested in FY02 when Governor Perdue first took office. More
High Performance Principals Honored at Governor’s Mansion
(L-R) Back Row: Tracie Fleming, Karen Bullock, Governor
Sonny Perdue and Sam Sweat. Front Row: State School Superintendent Kathy
Cox, Sandra Watson, Wenonah Bell, Fayette School Superintendent John
DeCotis and Len Patton.
8-4-06 Six of Fayette’s elementary, middle and high school principals are among the more than 100 principals across Georgia designated as “high performance principals.”
Tracie Fleming (McIntosh High), Karen Bullock (Kedron Elementary), Sam Sweat (former principal of Starr’s Mill High), Sandra Watson (former principal of Peeples Elementary), Wenonah Bell (Braelinn Elementary) and Len Patton (Rising Starr Middle) were honored at a reception at the Governor’s Mansion on June 27 for their achievement.
Principals receiving the “high performance” designation were identified as leaders whose schools were performing well above expectations.
Under the High Performance Principals legislation championed by Governor Sonny Perdue, these principals and high performing principals from outside the state are eligible to receive salary supplements if they agree to transfer to middle and high schools classified as “Needs Improvement” schools.
