Rusty Paul

Russell K. Paul (born June 23, 1952) is an American politician serving as the mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia since 2014.

Rusty Paul
2nd Mayor of Sandy Springs
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2014
Preceded by	Eva Galambos
Member of the Sandy Springs City Council from the 3rd district
In office January 7, 2005 – January 7, 2009
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Chip Collins
Member of the Georgia Senate from the 40th district
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Michael Egan
Succeeded by	Liane Levetan
Chair of the Georgia Republican Party
In office May 20, 1995 – May 15, 1999
Preceded by	Alec Poitevint
Succeeded by	Chuck Clay
Personal details
Born	(1952-06-23) June 23, 1952 (age 72) Oneonta, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jan Paul ​ (m. 1986)​
Education	Samford University (BA) (BS) Georgia State University (MA)

He was first elected to office December 7, 1977 as a member of the Stone Mountain city council (four terms 1978-1984).

He later joined Sec. Jack Kemp at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1987-1991) as an intergovernmental relations office, Deputy Assistant Secretary and later as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations in the George H.W. Bush administration.

Early life and education

Paul was born in 1952,^[1] and grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama area.^[2] He received a Bachelor’s degree at Samford University and attended graduate school at Georgia State University.^[1]

Career

Paul was a Stone Mountain city council member from 1977 to 1983.^[1] From 1989 to 1993, he served as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations for the Housing and Urban Development Department under Secretary Jack Kemp in the George H W. Bush presidential administration.^[3][4] He chaired the Georgia Republican Party from 1995 to 1999, and became a State Senator representing northern Fulton County from 2001 to 2003.^[1] In 2005, he was elected to Sandy Springs city council.^[1] Paul was elected to succeed Sandy Springs' first mayor Eva Galambos in November 2013.^[5]

Paul has courted controversy for his lobbying work in relation to the Development Authority of Fulton County while serving as a publicly elected official.^[6]

Personal life

Paul is married to Jan Paul^[7] and has 5 children.^[8] He is an Episcopalian.^[8]