Chip Rogers resigns from state senate post, heading to Georgia Public Broadcasting

Chip Rogers

ATLANTA — State Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, has resigned to take a position with Georgia Public Broadcasting.

“The opportunity to help lead Georgia Public Broadcasting is like a dream come true in many respects,” Rogers said in a statement.

According to a release from GPB, the statewide network is planing to use its “reach and multiple platforms to create programming that will aggregate job opportunities, job growth areas and career counseling.” Rogers will lead the effort “beginning with a statewide weekly radio program examining current economic development trends and highlighting companies that are growing and creating jobs.”

Last month, Rogers said he wouldn’t seek re-election as the state senate’s majority leader, saying “the toll of serving my Caucus was taking too much from my family.” Rogers held the post for four years, making him the longest-serving Republican majority leader in the state senate’s history.

“GPB has a long history of serving Georgians with programming that is relevant to career and consumer issues,” Nancy Zintak, GPB’s vice president of marketing and communications, said in a statement. “We have long wanted to create a forum for our communities to learn about jobs in Georgia and areas of growth around the state.”

On Monday, Gov. Nathan Deal named state Sens. Rick Jeffares, R-Locust Grove, and Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, the new state Senate floor leaders. Jeffares, Bethel and state Sen. Bill Jackson, R-Appling, will serve as liaisons between Deal and the state Senate when lawmakers return to the gold dome in mid January.