Rumor has it…
Multiple sources are suggesting that Attorney General Sam Olens will be named President of Kennesaw State University. Olens, who previously served as Cobb County Commission Chair, was elected Attorney General in the state-wide 2010 elections. He would replace Dr. Houston Davis, the chief academic officer for the University System of Georgia, who has served as Interim President since Dan Papp’s retirement in June.
Kennesaw State University has been in the news since the Fox 5 I-Team probe and the AJC reported that University System auditors uncovered numerous policy violations leading to Papp’s retirement and the dismissal of numerous high level administrators.
A government transparency advocate, General Olens rumored appointment would certainly restore credible leadership at the University founded in 1963 and boasting enrollment of more than 33,000 students.
While there are many names being mentioned to replace AG Olens, speculation puts Chris Carr, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, at the top of the list.
About Author
IrishPat
Patrick Malone is a Business Advisor and Leadership Mentor headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. He co-hosts Mountain Daybreak and Mountain Mornings, weekday news programs, and hosts This Week in Blairsville a weekend program on WJUL/WJRB. He is a mentor in Union County High School, serves on his church council and writes a monthly column on leadership in the animal healthcare industry.
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That sucks for the state of Georgia but that is great for Kennesaw State.
In related news Charlie Harper will be appointed COO of Kennestone Hospital.
Nice guys but really ?
We’re still only in the discussion stage. Not sure I want to give up my lucrative blogging career to run a hospital.
Hey, at least he was a student for a long time.
I’ll believe it when I see it. There’s a reason the initials AG frequently stand for “Aspiring Governor.”
Who was the last AG in Georgia to become Governor? They may want it, but the path to the governor’s office doesn’t run through the AG’s office like it does in Virginia.
The last one to get it was Ellis Arnell, but that didn’t stop the two previous AGs from going for it. Bowers and Baker didn’t win their party’s nominations, but they both badly wanted the job. (Though not as bad as Bowers wanted his secretary, apparently). And we’ve only had 3 AGs since 1981, so it’s not exactly a huge sample size either way.
Olens has reached the highest elected statewide post he can obtain in the current Georgia political environment. He would not able to beat Westmorland or Kingston if he wants to try for Governor. Even if they didn’t run he likely would not be able to beat Cagle or even Kemp OTP. Even if Cagle can’t tie his shoes and Kemp can’t count to 20 without taking off his shoes their allegiances to Jesus and other populist stances override their ability to interpret state and US constitutional law.
Happenstance may have given Georgia the first Jewish Governor in the new country through a backdoor more than a couple of centuries ago but we haven’t had any since and none have ever been elected here. Though many may not like me pointing out this history counts for more than the history of former AGs becoming governor.
As a clarification I did want to point out that this is my viewpoint of where the Georgia electorate is at and not my personal viewpoint of the AG. If he was in a a primary for governor against any or all of the four probables I mentioned he would get my vote.
As a KSU graduate, active alum, and lifelong Cobb County resident – I like it.
He’d make good decisions to continue putting KSU on the map and truly elevate our school.