Deal nominates Ocilla’s Jay Roberts as new DOT Planning director (UNREVIEWED)

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal today nominated Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla) as planning director of the Georgia Department of Transportation. Roberts begins in his new role on May 15. The House and Senate Transportation committees must confirm his appointment.

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

Roberts currently serves as the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and position he will have to relinquish next week upon being confirmed for his new role with the DOT.

Speculation now revolves around Roberts’ replacement as Transportation Committee chair.

According to sources in Atlanta, four names are being bandied about — committee vice-chair Valerie Clark of Lawrenceville, committee secretary Bubber Epps of Dry Branch, and senior committee members Tom McCall of Elberton and Ed Rynders of Leesburg.

“Keep in mind that there very well could be other openings in leadership and I anticipate (House Speaker David Raulston) would want to fill these positions as soon as possible,” Rynders said Friday. “It’s premature to speculate on who will fill these positions, but I am confident that Speaker Raulston will be both thorough and fair with his selections.”

Rynders was instrumental in securing funding for transportation projects including the new Broad Avenue bridge, the Lee County by-pass and the airport extension in Worth County.

The House will hold leadership meetings on Monday where the Republican caucus will select a new majority leader to replace Larry ONeal of Bonaire, who resigned last month. The caucus will also chose a secretary/treasurer to replace Allen Peake of Macon who is seeking the majority leadership position.