Sonny Perdue

George Ervin " Sonny " Perdue III ( born December 20, 1946 in Perry, Georgia ) is an American politician. He is a member of the Republican Party and served from 2003 to 2011 as the 81st Governor of the State of Georgia.

Life

Perdue was born in Perry and grew up in Houston County. His father was a farmer, his mother a teacher. In his childhood, he was not called by his real name George, but Sonny.

He was elected in 1991 for the Democrats in the Senate of Georgia. In 1997 he moved to the Republicans.

In November 2002 he won the gubernatorial election against incumbent Roy Barnes; He was the first Republican governor in Georgia since 1872, four years later he was re-elected with 60 % of votes.; his opponent was the Democratic candidate Mark Taylor. Since the state constitution forbade him for reelection, he left in January 2011 from the Office; and was succeeded by Nathan Deal.

Sonny Perdue is married, father of four children and four-time grandfather.