Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) recently announced his appointment of David Burge as the incoming Commissioner of the Department of Revenue (DOR), following the confirmation of current commissioner Frank O'Connell by the Georgia House and Senate Judiciary Committees as the state's first Tax Court Chief Judge.
The Governor originally appointed O'Connell as DOR Commissioner in February 2023 after more than two decades of dedication within the Department. He will officially become the Chief Judge on April 1st, 2026.
Gov. Brian Kemp thanked O’Connell for his years of service and credited him for improving the efficiency of the DOR. He also expressed optimism as O’Connell moves to fill the role of Georgia’s first Tax Court Chief Judge.
"Marty and I are truly grateful for Frank O'Connell's years of service to the people of our state and for his great strides in improving the efficiency of the Department of Revenue," Kemp stated. "That unwavering commitment to putting the best interests of hardworking Georgians first is why I nominated him to be Chief Judge of the Tax Court, and those values will serve him well as the very first person to serve in this role."
Burge will begin his service at the Department of Revenue on February 1st, 2026. He will officially take over as commissioner on February 16th. Burge is also currently a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta, where he focuses on real estate transactions in commercial lending, corporate, and capital markets.
Kemp appointed Burge to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs board in 2020, where he subsequently served as both Chair and Vice-Chair, providing oversight to the state agency responsible for operating 65 programs.
Kemp had nothing but good things to say about Burge and emphasized his role in strengthening Georgia’s local economies.
"David has spent decades making Georgia's communities and economy stronger, both in his professional and personal capacities," Kemp commented. "Marty and I are thankful that he will continue this good work after accepting the call to serve at the Department of Revenue, where he will always prioritize the good stewardship of taxpayer money."
