It's Official: Karen Handel Files for Georgia Governor

Note: We received this Friday and included it on the main site, however we neglected to share it properly with our blog, Twitter and Facebook friends. While it's no longer "new" news, it's important and worth sharing a few times. - jmd

Former GOP Chair Fred Cooper to Serve as Campaign Chairman

Karen Handel has officially filed the necessary paperwork to form a campaign committee to seek the office of Governor of Georgia in 2010.

Handel said, “After prayerful consideration and with the support of my husband Steve, I have decided to run for Governor. I am humbled by the level of support I am receiving from all across Georgia and I'm looking forward to the campaign.

“Our next Governor will face many difficult challenges. I look forward to meeting those challenges with exciting new ideas and a vision that will put us on the path to growth and prosperity.”

Handel also announced that Fred Cooper will serve as Campaign Chairman. “Fred Cooper is recognized as one of the great leaders of the Republican Party and in the Georgia business community. I am fortunate to consider him a great friend and I am honored to have him as chairman of our campaign,” Handel said.

Cooper said, “Karen Handel possesses the qualities that are so important in public service – absolute integrity, exceptional experience, remarkable intelligence, and strong, fair leadership. She has consistently demonstrated those qualities….as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor; as Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners; and as Secretary of State.

“She is ready to be Governor; she will be an excellent Governor; I am proud to be on her team,” Cooper added.

Karen Handel biographical information:

Karen Handel is currently serving as the first Republican Secretary of State. She previously served in elective office as Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. In the business community she has served as President and CEO of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and held executive positions with CIBA Vision and KPMG. Karen has also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Sonny Perdue, and in the White House to Marilyn Quayle. She lives in Roswell with her husband Steve.

Fred Cooper biographical information:

Fred Cooper is a longtime leader in the Georgia business community and the Republican Party of Georgia. He has served as State Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, as Georgia State Chairman of former President George H.W. Bush’s campaigns and as Georgia General Chairman for President George W. Bush, who chose Mr. Cooper to be Chairman of the G-8 Summit Host Committee for the G-8 Summit held in 2004 in Sea Island, GA.

Mr. Cooper is Chairman of Cooper Capital, LLC, a private investment firm, which he founded in 1998. Previously, Mr. Cooper was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of CooperSmith, Inc., an Atlanta based company which produced and distributed a variety of baked foods, primarily under the trademark Sunbeam, throughout most of the Southeast and New England. In 1998, CooperSmith was acquired by The Earthgrains Company (now Sara Lee).

Mr. Cooper has held several executive and legal positions, including Vice Chairman, President, Executive Vice-President and General Counsel, at Flowers Industries, Inc., a Fortune 500, New York Stock Exchange Company.

Mr. Cooper is 66 years old, resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and he and his wife Helen have two married sons and five grandchildren.