ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp named five new people to the board that oversees the state's public colleges and universities Friday.
The new University System of Georgia Board of Regents members are Cade Joiner of Brookhaven, T. Dallas Smith of Atlanta, Harold Reynolds of Greensboro, Everett Kennedy of Statesboro and Lowery May of Rome.
All must be confirmed by the state Senate.
Spots on the 19-member board are among the most coveted appointments in state government, typically given to political supporters of the governor. All five people appointed Friday, or their companies, have given at least $5,000 to Kemp's political campaigns.
Joiner, a University of Georgia graduate, is the founder of Shred-X, a document shredding company. He's also the chairman of the Georgia chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Joiner was a member of Kemp's finance committee and inaugural executive committee.
Smith is the founder of T. Dallas Smith & Co., a commercial real estate brokerage that represents buyers and renters. In 1989, the Georgia State University graduate became the first African American broker for Cushman & Wakefield in Georgia. He later worked for Herman J. Russell, a pioneering black entrepreneur in construction and development in Atlanta.
Joiner and Smith take at-large seats, replacing Georgia Power Co. executive Chris Cummiskey of Atlanta and longtime political power broker T. Rogers Wade of Sandy Springs.
Reynolds is chief executive of BankSouth Holding Co. in Greensboro and a member of the family that developed Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee. The Georgia Tech grad also managed Greensboro Lumber Co. He's also a former chairman of the Technical College System of Georgia board. Reynolds will represent the 10th Congressional District, replacing Sandersvile Railroad Co. President Ben Tarbutton.
Kennedy, a Georgia Southern University graduate, is a real estate broker and current president of the Statesboro Board of Realtors. A Georgia Southern athletics supporter, Kennedy is also active in civic groups in Statesboro. He will represent the 12th Congressional District, replacing Statesboro lawyer Laura Marsh.
May, a University of Georgia graduate, is now a member of the Georgia Student Finance Commission as well as the Rome-Floyd County Land Bank Authority, which redevelops abandoned property. She will represent the 14th Congressional District, replacing Ringgold banker Scott Smith.