Sen. Bill Jackson Announces Retirement

Georgia State Senator Bill Jackson (R-Appling) will not be seeking re-election to the 24th District.

Jackson announced his retirement last week at the Georgia State Capitol.

State Sen. Jackson was one of Governor Nathan Deal’s floor leaders.

He will serve out the rest of his two-year Senate term and will not qualify to run for re-election to the Senate District 24 seat.

Jackson said he made the decision not to run after much prayer.

“After much prayerful consideration, I have decided to step down at the conclusion of my term,” Jackson said in a prepared release. “The people of the Georgia State Senate are exceptional, and I greatly appreciate the kindness shown to not only me, but also to my family. I would like to thank Gov. Deal and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle for their leadership and friendship, and my Senate colleagues for their support and camaraderie over the past several years.”

Hart County is the northern most county in the 24th District.

So far, three candidates, two republicans and one democrat, have qualified to run for the seat, including Hartwell Democrat Brenda Jordan.

Both republican candidates are from Columbia County near Augusta.

Sen. Jackson was first elected to the Columbia County Board of Education in 1968, where he also served as chairman.

He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1978, where he served for 16 years.

During his term in the Georgia House of Representatives, Sen. Jackson served on the House Industry, Trade and Tourism, Natural Resources and the Environment, and Special Judiciary Committees.

Sen. Jackson also served on the State Board of Corrections from 2006 – 2007.

In 2007, Sen. Jackson was elected to the Senate District 24 seat in a special election.

He currently serves as Secretary for the Senate Rules Committee, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations, Administrative Affairs, Economic Development, Ethics, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Transportation Committees.