By Katheryn Hayes Tucker

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Gov. Nathan Deal will soon have a new top lawyer.

David Werner, executive counsel to the governor, will leave the Capitol Nov. 1 to become director of state and local government relations for Delta Air Lines, Deal announced Monday.

“Werner has been an instrumental member of my administration since the 2010 campaign and I'm grateful for his service to our state,” Deal said in a news release. “During his tenure, Werner has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the well-being of our citizens and his efforts as executive counsel have helped to advance the interests of many Georgians. His knowledge and experience have been assets to the State of Georgia and I wish him the best as he transitions to the private sector.”

Werner had only been in the top lawyer position since the beginning of 2017, upon the departure of Ryan Teague, longtime aide and the executive counsel to the governor. In January, Teague left the governor's office for the private sector.

The governor named Carey Miller, deputy executive counsel and public safety policy advisor, as Werner's replacement. Miller will step into the new job on Oct. 15.

Miller is also a co-chairman of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform and sits on the State Steering Committee for the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. He is the former senior managing editor of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and a former president of the Student Bar Association at the University of Georgia School of Law. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree from the University of Georgia.

Deal will finish his second four-year term as governor in 2018, limited by the constitution from running again. A list of Republicans have announced plans to run. Two lawyer-legislators – Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans—are campaigning for the Democratic nomination.