Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms is wasting no time getting to work. Days after her historic win, the former Atlanta mayor unveiled her gubernatorial transition team, “Georgia’s Promise,” and brought in some of the most powerful names in the state to help lead it.
Among them is billionaire entertainment mogul Tyler Perry, who joins a roster of transition co-chairs that reads like a who’s who of Georgia business, philanthropy and politics.
“Our transition will be called Georgia’s Promise because the work of keeping our promises to Georgians starts now, well before Inauguration Day,” Bottoms said at a press conference announcing the team. “Our goal is simple: to be ready to govern on day one.”
Leading the effort is John King, who will serve as chief operating officer of Georgia’s Promise. Bottoms described King as “a distinguished military veteran” who also served as chief operating officer for the city of Atlanta during her administration.
Perry, who owns Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, was introduced as “an entertainment mogul who is also a huge philanthropic part of our Georgia community.” He’s joined by Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, former Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO and former interim Spelman College president Roz Brewer, and Jason Carter, who leads the work of the Carter Center and is a former state senator.
Other co-chairs include Bottoms’ former chief of staff and affordable housing leader Carmen Chubb, Delta Air Lines executive and former Atlanta COO Richard Cox, former state Rep. and Democratic Party of Georgia chair Jane Kidd, civic leader Michelle Nunn, retired Coca-Cola Enterprises executive Vicki Palmer and former state Rep. Rashad Taylor.
The team’s honorary co-chairs span generations of Georgia leadership, including former Govs. Roy Barnes and Joe Frank Harris, Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, former Sen. Sam Nunn and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Bottoms said more announcements are on the way, including additional co-chairs, policy leads and senior staff, and that her team is taking a “very deliberate approach.” Her priorities remain the issues that defined her campaign: lowering the cost of living, expanding access to affordable health care, including Medicaid expansion, and investing in public schools, teachers and students.
She also said she’s spoken with outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp, who offered his staff’s support for a smooth handoff. “Governor Kemp and I actually have a very cordial, friendly, personal relationship,” Bottoms said. “Our politics don’t always align… but as a person, I take him at his word.”
When asked what it means to become the first Black woman governor in American history, Bottoms shared a perspective from her husband. “He said there have been a lot of Black women in America over the course of history. And God has said, you get to be the first,” she said. “I don’t take that lightly.”
She added that she hopes the moment resonates far beyond politics. “I hope for young boys and girls across this state, no matter where they live, no matter their race, no matter their background, I hope they see some inspiration in this moment.”
Check out the full speech.
