Cartersville Native Broce Named Interim Head Of Georgia DFACS

GEORGIA — A Cartersville native has been named interim director of Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services by Gov. Brian Kemp.

Candice Broce was named Friday by Kemp, her appointment effective immediately. She replaces Tom Rawlings as department head, who unexpectedly resigned Friday after what The Atlanta Journal-Constitution described as “an angry verbal altercation” the day before with a private security officer working with a film crew. Rawlings declined comment to the Atlanta newspaper.

Broce most recently served as Kemp’s chief operating officer. She also served as his communications director and his chief deputy executive counsel. Before that, Broce managed communications and served as legal counsel for elections and legislative affairs at the Georgia secretary of state’s office.

“Candice Broce has served in numerous vital roles in my administration and I deeply appreciate her willingness to lead a critical state government agency on an interim basis,” Kemp said in a statement Friday. “I know she will bring dedication, integrity, and leadership to the Division of Family & Children Services so the agency can deliver the highest quality of care and essential services to Georgians in need.”

Broce holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech and a law degree from Georgia State. She lives in White with her husband Jason and two sons, Beau and Jack.

Read the article about Rawlings' departure in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.