Governor Appoints Decatur Man To Top Transportation Position

Gov. Nathan Deal has named Toby Carr of Decatur to one of the top transportation jobs in Georgia state government.

Carr is only the second person to serve as state transportation planning director, a post created when the transportation department was revamped, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The AJC says,

In his new position, Toby Carr, who reports to Deal, will have perhaps the strongest hand in choosing what projects get funded with large chunks of the state's $2 billion annual gas tax budget.

Carr, former director of the Georgia Republican Party, replaces Todd Long, a career engineer and transportation planner. Long was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue and kept on by Deal. He has now moved to deputy commissioner of the state Department of Transportation.

Carr has been a Deal advisor on several fronts. A bio provided by the governor's office said,

Carr currently serves as Gov. Nathan Deal’s transportation policy adviser and previously worked as Gov. Deal’s liaison to the Georgia House of Representatives as well as the executive director of Deal’s Gubernatorial Transition Committee.

His previous work included working as executive director of the Georgia Republican Party, and as an aide to House Majority Whip Jan Jones in the Georgia General Assembly. Other positions served include the House Republican Caucus Campaign Coordinator for the Georgia Republican Party in 2008 and a political consultant with CapitalSouth.

Carr graduated from the University of Georgia with bachelor’s degrees in both Finance and Agricultural Engineering. He resides in Decatur.