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Perdue's old chum joins USDA
Story Date: 4/23/2018
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Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 4/20/18
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue has picked a Georgia ally to serve as minister-counselor for agriculture to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome.
In the new role, Tommie Williams will serve as a liaison between the U.S. government and Rome-based organizations. He'll work on issues such as emergency food assistance, food safety standards, agriculture and rural development.
Similar résumés: Williams and Perdue overlapped in Georgia considerably during their political careers. Perdue was governor from 2003 to 2011 and Williams was a state senator representing the Southeast region from 1998 to 2016, working his way up the ranks to GOP leader and president pro tempore. Both Republicans, Perdue and Williams worked to expand the GOP's power in the state.
They also traveled the world together, making trips to Cuba, South Korea and Japan. Williams was part of a 43-person delegation to Cuba to explore business and tourist opportunities and in 2007 was at Perdue's side in greeting the president of a Japanese chemical company that was planning a joint venture in the state.
Cabinet of friends: As MA readers may remember, Perdue has a history of appointing friends and business associates to posts. A POLITICO examination of Perdue's list of appointments when he was governor - from 2003 to 2011 - found more than a dozen instances when he gave positions to business associates and campaign donors. On other occasions, he rewarded his state staff with opportunities in his agriculture and shipping empire after he left office.
Perdue's other picks: Perdue also selected three agency heads - Ken Isley for the Foreign Agricultural Service; Joel Baxley for the Rural Housing Service; and Martin Barbre for the Risk Management Agency. All have ties to industries they will oversee.
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