In college, politics were not Sonny Perdue’s first priority.

“I was pretty much apolitical when I was your age,” the former Georgia governor said Wednesday night. “There were other things on my mind when I was here at Georgia.”

However, detachment from political affairs is a part of his life history that the University alumnus said students should not emulate.

Former Governor Sonny Perdue spoke to students at the SLC Wednesday night, urging students to get involved in the political system. ROBYN JOHNSON/Staff

During a question and answer session with the University’s College Republicans, Perdue urged students to get involved in local, state and national politics.

“Don’t be like me,” he said. “Get passionate about having good government and hold your elected representative accountable.”

Over the course of an hour, Perdue answered questions about his experience during his eight-year span as governor and his thoughts on the current state of politics in Georgia. He said one of the most important components of being successful in politics rested on authenticity.

“People can smell a phony,” Perdue said. “They can tell if you’re a fake. If you’re bald, run as a bald guy. Don’t run as a wig. We have things in our life that we don’t like that we would change, but I am who am and that’s who God made me.”

Perdue said this policy of authenticity led him to run under his nickname of “Sonny” rather than running under his birth name.

“I’ve been Sonny all my life so I’m going to run as Sonny Perdue, not George Ervin Perdue III,” he said. “And there’s a real connectivity with young people. They just felt like they could touch a ‘Sonny.’ I’m persuaded that I got a lot of votes from grandparents because some 8-year-old said ‘You’re going to vote for Sonny, aren’t you grandpa? You’re going to vote for Sonny?’”

Authenticity also led Perdue to switch parties in 1998 after years of identifying as a Democrat — and is one of the reasons the former governor believes many people in Georgia have become Republican in a historically blue-state.

“The southern voter and the southern citizen has always been a conservative voter by and large. Fiscally conservative and socially conservative for the most part,” he said. “We had federal Republicans but state and local Democrats. I had an epiphany in 1998 that I called truth in advertising. I really believed that it was a transparency issue, to run with the flag that I had voted with most closely.”

Regardless of political aspirations or affiliations, Perdue said students should consider becoming opportunities to aid political campaigns and learn more about the governmental process.

“You’ve got more at stake for the future than I do. I’m concerned for my grandchildren and the kind of government they’ll live under,” Perdue said. “I want to challenge all of you tonight, don’t let your youth be a detriment. You can be effective in your local government. You can be effective in your state and district governments. The real battle is out there on the front lines so get out there and get engaged.”