Gov. Nathan Deal's core team of top aides is undergoing its first significant shakeup since his reelection victory.
Chief operating officer Bart Gobeil, who has worked with the governor since 2011, will move to Savannah to become the director of economic development and state government affairs for the Georgia Ports Authority in July.
He will be replaced by David Werner, another Deal stalwart. Werner was part of a trio of Deal staffers who joined the reelection campaign in the final months of 2014, and as head of the office's legislative affairs he helped broker the passage of the governor's school takeover bid.
Deal's former campaign manager Tom Willis will also depart the governor's office in June. Willis, who was the governor's legislative affairs liaison to the House, will lead an issue advocacy group called Georgia Leads that will push for the school takeover ballot initiative in November 2016.
Gobeil was among the leaders Deal tapped last year to overhaul the state's response to weather emergencies after a few inches of snow last year ground the city to a halt and was tasked with improving the handling of child welfare complaints. A member of the ports authority board, Gobeil also helped coordinate the office's efforts to convince Washington to deepen the Savannah harbor.
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