2 1 , ▁he ▁was ▁selected ▁as ▁an ▁alternate ▁delegate ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁Republican ▁National ▁Convention ▁in ▁Philadelphia . ▁At ▁ 2 3 , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁Political ▁Director ▁for ▁the ▁campaign ▁to ▁elect ▁St . ▁Sen . ▁Son ny ▁P erd ue ▁to ▁the ▁Georgia ▁Governor ship . ▁P erd ue ▁won ▁despite ▁being ▁heavily ▁out sp ent ▁by ▁inc umb ent ▁Dem ocrat ▁Roy ▁Bar nes . ▁ ▁Sub sequently ▁he ▁was ▁named ▁Political ▁Director , ▁and ▁later ▁Executive ▁Director ▁of ▁the ▁Georgia ▁Republican ▁Party , ▁serving ▁under ▁chairman ▁Ale c ▁Po ite v int . ▁During ▁this ▁ 2 0 0 3 - 0 6 ▁period ▁at ▁the ▁Georgia ▁G OP , ▁Republic ans ▁seized ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁State ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁( a ▁net ▁gain ▁of ▁ 3 4 ▁seats ) ▁and ▁the ▁State ▁Senate ▁( net ▁gain ▁of ▁ 8 ▁seats ). ▁The ▁party ▁also ▁elected ▁a ▁Lieutenant ▁Governor ▁and ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁re - elect ing ▁P erd ue ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁the ▁first ▁Republican ▁in ▁ 1 3 4 ▁years ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁Governor . ▁ ▁R GA ▁- ▁Part ners hip ▁with ▁Ay ers , ▁ 2 0 0 7 - 1 0 ▁ ▁Through out ▁these ▁years , ▁Ben ne cke ▁had ▁worked ▁with ▁Nick ▁Ay ers , ▁P erd ue ' s ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁campaign ▁manager . ▁P erd ue ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁a ▁one - year ▁st