The Senate Transportation Committee on Monday voted swiftly to confirm Toby Carr as the state's transportation planning director, the semi-final step in his appointment.
Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Carr, a former director of the Georgia Republican Party, to replace Todd Long, a career transportation planner and engineer.
The planning director has perhaps the strongest single hand in picking which projects get funded from large parts of the state's $2 billion gas tax budget. Since Deal became governor, Carr has advised him on transportation and acted as planning director pending confirmation.
Confirmation hearings are an opportunity for legislators to publicly vet a candidate's experience and ask about his or her approach to the job. The Senators on Monday asked Carr nothing.
"We've had great experience with him already," said Sen. Bill Jackson, R-Appling, noting Carr was Deal's liaison to the Legislature. "You have to have faith in the people that you've known."
Jackson began the meeting with a prayer that the committee "justify" "the appointment of a good man by a great governor."
Carr now faces hearings in the House.
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