The board that oversees the Georgia Department of Transportation has new leadership.

The State Transportation Board last week elected Tim Golden of Valdosta its new chairman. He replaces board member Ann Purcell of Rincon.

The 14-member board sets GDOT policies and oversees the agency. Members are elected by congressional district by a caucus of state senators and representatives from their respective areas.

Golden represents the 8th Congressional District on the board, and most recently was vice chairman. He served 16 years in the Georgia Senate and seven in the House of Representatives and was first elected to the State Transportation Board in 2015.

The board also elected Rudy Bowen of Suwanee as vice chairman and Emily Dunn of Blue Ridge as secretary. Bowen was first elected to the State Transportation Board in 2007. He previously served as board secretary.

Dunn is a registered nurse who was first elected to the board in 2011.

Golden and Bowen were elected without opposition. Dunn was challenged by board member Jeff Lewis, but she prevailed by a vote of 8-6.

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