Points of Light CEO Michelle Nunn is running for the United States Senate from Georgia. She is the daughter of former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and is seeking the Democratic nomination. Incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) announced he will not run for re-election.
Nunn has taken a leave of absence from Atlanta, Ga.-based Points of Light and Tracy Hoover has been appointed to lead the organization, according to a statement from PoL Board Chair Neil Bush. Hoover has been PoL’s chief of staff and chief operating officer.
Nunn, 47, told the Associated Press, “Wherever I go in Georgia people speak of their frustrations with what’s not happening in Washington, that there is a focus on fighting instead of getting things done. I believe in the power of individuals to create change when they join together.”
Nunn joins the race already entered by Karen Handel, Georgia’s former Secretary of State and point person of the ill-fated slashing of funding for Planned Parenthood while a senior executive with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Handel is running as a Republican.
Physician Branko Radulovacki also announced he is running for the Democratic nomination. Other announced Republicans include U.S. Reps. Paul Broun of Athens, Phil Gingrey of Marietta and Jack Kingston of Savannah. The general election is November 4, 2014 with the democratic primary scheduled for June 3, 2014.
The PoL announcement gave few details and messages were not immediately returned. Via the statement Bush said: “For the past 20 years, Michelle has helped to build the service movement and has done an exceptional job leading Points of Light. She is visionary, creative and a magnet for great people passionate about service. We will miss her, but our extraordinary team – which she and Tracy have built together – will continue to engage millions of people in meeting the most pressing challenges of our time.”
Better Georgia, a progressive group tied to Democrats, polled 1,662 registered voters during May. Results showed Nunn beating Handel but behind almost all other contenders, announced and rumored.
“It’s an honest poll. She would be competitive,” said Bryan Long, executive director of Better Georgia, via a press release announcing the results.
Nunn founded the Hands On Network, a network of volunteer organizations. It was merged with The Points of Light Foundation in 2007 and Nunn was appointed CEO of the new entity. The name was shorted to Points of Light two years ago.
