It's been the worst kept secret in Georgia politics. But now the state is making public what so many already knew:
Attorney General Sam Olens will interview on Tuesday with the Board of Regents to become the next president of Kennesaw State University. The AJC's Eric Stirgus has the news:
"There has been speculation about this for some time, and up until now, I have remained silent on the matter. Initially, I was planning to conduct a national search to find the next president of Kennesaw State," University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby said in a statement to KSU students and faculty Monday. "Yet, through sincere and earnest conversations with Mr. Olens, I now believe he should be considered at this time."
Gov. Nathan Deal will name Olens' successor at the Department of Law should (cough, cough) Olens get the job at Kennesaw. Speculation about whom Deal would name has solidified around Chris Carr, currently the state's economic development czar and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson.
Some, however, are pointing to the state Constitution to question whether Carr is qualified. Article V, Section III, Paragraph II(b) requires the attorney general to have been an "active status member of the State Bar of Georgia for seven years."
Carr first jointed the Bar on Nov. 1, 1999. He was active and in good standing until June 28, 2007 -- about seven-and-a-half years. From June 29, 2007 to today he has been on inactive status and in good standing. Note that the Constitution does not say the attorney general has to be on active status when appointed.
We've already heard from several Republicans unhappy with the idea of Carr as attorney general. While they all praise him and his talents, the "not a lawyer" thing keeps popping up.
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