In a surprising turn of events, Buckhead resident and GOP strategist Nick Ayers has turned down an offer for the role of White House Chief of Staff, according to numerous media reports. The reported reason for rejecting this position that many would be envious of? He and his wife are eager to return to their home in Buckhead to raise their young family. We can’t blame him, we love it here too!
Ayers has been recognized as one of the most influential people in politics under 40 by Time Magazine in 2010 and has quickly risen through the ranks from local to national. Leading up to this weekend rumors circulated that President Trump had chosen Ayers as the replacement to Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, but on Sunday Ayers announced that he was declining the offer and would in fact be leaving the White House at the end of the year, intending to return to Buckhead and spend more time with his family.
Born in Cobb County, Ayers started getting involved in politics while he was a student at Kennesaw State University. He joined a group called College Republicans, and eventually became the chapter president. At the time, Sonny Perdue was planning to run for governor, and Ayers took time off from college in order to volunteer for the campaign. Though he initially planned a career in banking, his work with Perdue encouraged him to pursue politics. That was the beginning of an impressive career path that led to work with the Republican Governors Association, the Republican National Committee, and consulting for a variety of Republican candidates across the country.
It was in 2016 when Ayers began volunteering as chair for Mike Pence’s campaign, and once the election was announced and Pence officially became Vice President, Ayers was named a senior advisor for the Presidential Transition team. Later, in 2017, he assumed the role of Vice President Mike Pence’s Chief of Staff. What’s next for Ayers is uncertain, though without a doubt his career in politics is far from over. Considered one of the top Republican minds in politics he may very well find himself involved with local and state government matters.
