Deal appoints legislator to transportation post

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed state Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla, as planning director of the Georgia Department of Transportation — essentially making him the governor’s man in the all-important but otherwise independent agency.

As chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Roberts was the lead sponsor on House Bill 170, the $900 million-a-year transportation funding bill recently signed by Deal.

“Rep. Roberts is a subject matter expert and a statewide leader on transportation issues,” Deal said in a press release. “He’s earned the trust of his colleagues on the two transportation committees, and I look forward to their confirmation of his nomination.”