Peach Tree Times

South Georgia state Sen. Dean Burke is leaving his elected office for a state job as chief medical officer of Georgia’s Department of Community Health, according to a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta.

Burke, a Republican from Bainbridge, is slated to officially step down Saturday. Georgia Gov. Brain Kemp has announced a special Republican primary to fill Burke's District 111 Senate seat will be held Jan. 31.

"My passion’s obviously been health care," Burke told the Moultrie Observer. "I feel like I can make a difference there."

A medical doctor by trade, Burke won a special election to the Senate in 2013. His south Georgia district including communities in the counties of Seminole, Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Colquitt and Cook.

Burke has said he was first approached about the chief medical job by the Department of Community Health after Kemp won re-election in November. He added that he previously led a subcommittee that oversees the department’s budget, FOX 5 reports.

Kemp has also named Juvenile Justice Commissioner Tyrone Oliver as incoming corrections commissioner beginning at the start of 2023. Department of Juvenile Justice assistant commissioner and chief of staff Shawanda Reynolds-Cobb will be installed as interim commissioner.