Governor backs plan to appoint, not elect, agency heads ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - State lawmakers are preparing a measure that would give the Governor authority to appoint the head of insurance, labor, agriculture, and schools.

Those four positions are all currently held by elected officials.

Jonathan Shapiro reports.

Bert Brantley, Governor Perdue's spokesman, says moving from elected to appointed officials will improve the efficiency of departments.

BRANTLEY: The best thing about it is that it would free up these important agency heads to take the political considerations out of their job and really be able to focus on running their agency.

Led by Republican State Senator Bill Heath, the measure is gaining steam in the Assembly.

Brantley says it makes sense to get it done this year so the appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest is avoided.

BRANTLEY: It's good timing because the governor of course will be out of office and so it doesn't benefit him in any way and it also gives the people running for the seats this year time to serve out a full term.

The measure would have to pass with two-thirds support in both chambers to make the November ballot.

While governors in other states enjoy greater power to appoint, critics in Georgia worry about patronage and cronyism.

For WABE News, I'm Jonathan Shapiro. © Copyright 2012, WABE