Governor Sonny Perdue intends to name state Rep. Jim Cole as Georgia's next secretary of state, two officials with knowledge of the governor's plans said Thursday.

Perdue will name Cole on Monday to serve the remaining year on Karen Handel's term. Cole, a Forsyth Republican, will run in 2010 for a full, four-year term to be the state's top elections official.

Perdue is set to make his pick official on Monday. The sources could not speak publicly because they were not authorized to speak in advance of the announcement.

Handel is leaving her job as secretary of state to focus on her bid to be the GOP nominee for governor.

The 38-year-old Cole has been a floor leader for Perdue pushing the governor's agenda in the House.

The three-term lawmaker is assistant athletic director for Mercer University. He is formerly a businessman who began Culligan Water of Middle Georgia.

Cole did not return phone calls seeking comment Thursday.

Tags: Georgia, Karen Handel, Secretary of State, Governor Sonny Perdue, state Rep. Jim Cole