151st Georgia General Assembly explained

151st Georgia General Assembly
Body:	Georgia General Assembly
Meeting Place:	Georgia State Capitol
Before:	150th
After:	152nd
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	56 (36 R, 20 D)
Control1:	Republican Party
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:	President of the Senate
Chamber1 Leader1:	Casey Cagle (R)
Chamber2:	House of Representatives
Membership2:	180 (116 R, 63 D, 1 I)
Control2:	Republican Party
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:	Speaker of the House
Chamber2 Leader1:	David Ralston (R)

Overview

The 151st General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia convened its first session on January 10, 2011, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The 151st Georgia General Assembly succeeded the 150th and served as the precedent for the 152nd General Assembly in 2013.

Officers

Senate

Presiding Officer

Position	Name	align=center	District	align=center	Party
	President		align=center	n/a	Republican
	President Pro Tempore	Tommie Williams	align=center	19	Republican

Majority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	Senate Majority Leader	Chip Rogers	align=center	21
	Majority Caucus Chairman	Bill Cowsert	align=center	46
	Majority Whip	Cecil Staton	align=center	18

Minority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	Senate Minority Leader	Robert Brown	align=center	26
	Minority Caucus Chairman	Doug Stoner	align=center	6
	Minority Whip	Steve Henson	align=center	41

House of Representatives

Presiding Officer

Position	Name	align=center	District	align=center	Party
	Speaker of the House	David Ralston	align=center	7	Republican
	Speaker Pro Tempore	Jan Jones	align=center	46	Republican

Majority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	House Majority Leader	Larry O'Neal	align=center	146
	Majority Whip	Edward Lindsey	align=center	54
	Majority Caucus Chairman	Donna Sheldon	align=center	105
	Majority Caucus Vice Chairman	Matt Ramsey	align=center	72
	Majority Caucus Sec./Treas.	Allen Peake	align=center	137

Minority leadership

Position	Name	align=center	District
	House Minority Leader	Stacey Abrams	align=center	84
	Minority Whip	Carolyn Hugley	align=center	133
	Minority Caucus Chairman	Brian Thomas	align=center	100
	Minority Caucus Vice Chairman	Rashad Taylor	align=center	55
	Minority Caucus Secretary	Stephanie Stuckey Benfield	align=center	85

Members of the State Senate

District	Senator	Party	First elected	Residence
1			Republican	2009	Pooler
2			Democratic	2008	Savannah
3			Republican	2010	Brunswick
4			Republican	1990	Reidsville
5			Democratic	2004	Tucker
6			Democratic	2004	Smyrna
7	Greg Goggans		Republican	2004	Douglas
8			Republican	1998	Valdosta
9			Republican	1992	Snellville
10	Emanuel Jones		Democratic	2004	Decatur
11			Republican	2002	Ockhocknee
12	Freddie Powell Sims		Democratic	2008	Dawson
13	John Crosby		Republican	2008	Tifton
14	George Hooks		Democratic	1990	Americus
15			Democratic	1992	Columbus
16	Ronnie Chance		Republican	2004	Tyrone
17	Rick Jeffares		Republican	2010	Locust Grove
18	Cecil Staton		Republican	2004	Macon
19	Tommie Williams		Republican	1998	Lyons
20	Ross Tolleson		Republican	2002	Perry
21	Chip Rogers		Republican	2004	Woodstock
22			Democratic	2010	Augusta
23	Jesse Stone		Republican	2010	Waynesboro
24	Bill Jackson		Republican	2007	Appling
25			Republican	2004	Milledgeville
26	Robert Brown		Democratic	1991	Macon
27	Jack Murphy		Republican	2006	Cumming
28	Mitch Seabaugh		Republican	2000	Sharpsburg
29	Joshua McKoon		Republican	2010	Columbus
30	Bill Hamrick		Republican	1999	Carrollton
31	Bill Heath		Republican	2004	Bremen
32	Judson Hill		Republican	2004	Marietta
33	Steve Thompson		Democratic		1990	Marietta
34	Valencia Seay		Democratic	2003	Riverdale
35	Donzella James		Democratic	2009	College Park
36	Nan Orrock		Democratic	2006	Atlanta
37	Lindsey Tippins		Republican	2010	Marietta
38			Democratic	1998	Atlanta
39			Democratic	1996	Atlanta
40			Republican	2010	Atlanta
41			Democratic	2002	Tucker
42			Democratic	2010	Decatur
43	Ronald Ramsey, Sr.		Democratic	2006	Decatur
44			Democratic	2010	Jonesboro
45			Republican	2002	Buford
46	Bill Cowsert		Republican	2006	Athens
47	Frank Ginn		Republican	2010	Danielsville
48	David Shafer		Republican	2001	Duluth
49	Butch Miller		Republican	2010	Gainesville
50			Republican	2008	Cornelia
51	Steve Gooch		Republican	2010	Dahlonega
52			Republican	2010	Cassville
53			Republican	2000	Chickamauga
54			Republican	2010	Dalton
55			Democratic	1999	Stone Mountain
56			Republican	2010	Roswell

Changes in Membership from Previous Term

Two seats changed party control from the previous session, one due to defeat of an incumbent and the other due to a party switch (Tim Golden) the beginning of the 151st Georgia General Assembly saw thirteen new state senators. One defeated an incumbent in the general election, one defeated an incumbent in the primary, Six replaced incumbents who had run for other office. Five replaced a senator who had retired.

District	Previous	Subsequent	Reason for change
3rd		Jeff Chapman (R)		William T. Ligon, Jr. (R)	Ran for Governor
17th		John Douglas (R)		Rick Jeffares (R)	Retired
23rd		J.B. Powell (D)		Jesse Stone (R)	Ran for Agriculture Commissioner
29th		Seth Harp (R)		Joshua McKoon (R)	Ran for Insurance Commissioner
37th		John Wiles (R)		Lindsey Tippins (R)	Defeated in Primary Runoff
40th		Dan Weber (R)		Fran Millar (R)	Retired
44th		Gail Buckner (D)		Gail Davenport (D)	Ran for Secretary of State
47th		Ralph Hudgens (R)		Frank Ginn (R)	Ran for Insurance Commissioner
49th		Lee Hawkins (R)		Butch Miller (R)	Ran for Congress
51st		Chip Pearson (R)		Steve Gooch (R)	Retired
52nd		Preston Smith (R)		Barry Loudermilk (R)	Ran for Attorney General
54th		Don Thomas (R)		Charlie Bethel (R)	Retired
56th		Dan Moody (R)		John Albers (R)	Retired

Announced Retirements

Members of the House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party	First elected	Residence
1			Republican	2004	LaFayette
2			Republican	2004	Rossville
3			Republican	2008	Ringgold
4			Republican	2001	Ringgold
5			Republican	2004	Calhoun
6			Republican	2004	Cohutta
7			Republican	2002	Blue Ridge
8			Republican	2008	Blairsville
9			Republican	2000	Dahlonega
10			Republican	2008	Clarkesville
11			Democratic	1998	Menlo
12			Republican	2010	Jasper
13			Republican	2006	Rome
14			Republican	2010	Cartersville
15			Republican	2008	Cartersville
16			Democratic	2007	Cedartown
17			Republican	2002	Dallas
18			Republican	2010	Carrollton
19			Republican	2010	Hiram
20			Republican	2004	Woodstock
21			Republican	2002	Canton
22			Republican	2006	Holly Springs
23			Republican	2006	Cumming
24			Republican	2010	Suwanee
25			Republican	1992	Gainesville
26			Republican	1994	Gainesville
27			Republican	2006	Gainesville
28			Republican	2008	Toccoa
29			Republican	1990	Hartwell
30			Republican	1994	Elberton
31			Republican	2004	Jefferson
32			Republican	1996	Marietta
33			Democratic	2010	Austell
34			Republican	1998	Smyrna
35			Republican	2004	Acworth
36			Republican	1988	Powder Springs
37			Democratic	2004	Marietta
38			Republican	2010	Marietta
39			Democratic	2002	Austell
40			Democratic	2010	Smyrna
41			Republican	1996	Marietta
42			Republican	1994	Marietta
43			Republican	1996	Marietta
44			Democratic	2004	Smyrna
45			Republican	2002	Marietta
46			Republican	2003	Milton
47			Republican	2002	Alpharetta
48			Republican	2004	Roswell
49			Republican	2000	Sandy Springs
50			Republican	2010	Johns Creek
51			Republican	1996	Norcross
52			Republican	2000	Atlanta
53			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
54			Republican	2004	Atlanta
55			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
56			Democratic	1990	Atlanta
57			Democratic	2001	Atlanta
58			Democratic	2009	Atlanta
59			Democratic	2006	Atlanta
60			Democratic	2010	Atlanta
61			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
62			Democratic	1994	East Point
63			Democratic	1980	Atlanta
64			Democratic	2002	Atlanta
65			Democratic	1992	Red Oak
66			Democratic	2002	Tyrone
67			Republican	1998	Winston
68			Republican	2004	Villa Rica
69			Republican	2006	LaGrange
70			Republican	1996	Newnan
71			Republican	2004	Newnan
72			Republican	2006	Peachtree City
73			Republican	1988	Griffin
74			Democratic	2004	Riverdale
75			Democratic	2010	Jonesboro
76			Democratic	2010	Rex
77			Democratic	2000	Riverdale
78			Democratic	2008	Jonesboro
79			Republican	2010	Dunwoody
80			Republican	2004	Atlanta
81			Democratic	2010	Atlanta
82			Democratic	2010	Atlanta
83			Democratic	2002	Decatur
84			Democratic	2006	Atlanta
85			Democratic	1998	Atlanta
86			Democratic	2000	Avondale Estates
87			Democratic	1990	Stone Mountain
88			Democratic	2002	Stone Mountain
89			Democratic	2002	Avondale Estates
90			Democratic	2002	Atlanta
91			Democratic	2008	Atlanta
92			Democratic	2002	Decatur
93			Democratic	2008	Lithonia
94			Democratic	2010	Lithonia
95			Democratic	2010	Conyers
96			Democratic	2002	Duluth
97			Republican	1992	Duluth
98			Republican	2010	Buford
99			Democratic	2002	Norcross
100			Democratic	2004	Lilburn
101			Republican	2010	Lawrenceville
102			Republican	2010	Lilburn
103			Republican	2002	Lilburn
104			Republican	2010	Lawrenceville
105			Republican	2002	Dacula
106			Republican	2010	Snellville
107			Republican	2011	Loganville
108			Republican	2004	Auburn
109			Republican	2004	McDonough
110			Republican	2010	McDonough
111			Republican	2010	Monroe
112			Republican	2004	Social Circle
113	VACANT
114			Democratic	1992	Athens
115			Republican	2006	Athens
116			Republican	2002	Greensboro
117			Republican	2008	Grovetown
118			Republican	1994	Evans
119			Republican	2006	Augusta
120			Democratic	2002	Augusta
121			Democratic	2006	Augusta
122			Democratic	2009	Augusta
123			Democratic	2006	Hephzibah
124			Democratic	1996	Sparta
125			Republican	2010	Monticello
126			Republican	2004	Griffin
127			Republican	2007	Zebulon
128			Democratic	1992	LaGrange
129			Republican	2009	Columbus
130			Democratic	2002	Junction City
131			Republican	2004	Columbus
132			Democratic	1974	Columbus
133			Democratic	1992	Columbus
134			Republican	2004	Americus
135			Democratic	1992	Montezuma
136			Republican	2011	Musella
137			Republican	2006	Macon
138			Democratic	1999	Macon
139			Democratic	1975	Macon
140			Republican	2008	Dry Branch
141			Independent	2009	Milledgeville
142			Democratic	2008	Sandersville
143			Republican	2010	Dublin
144			Republican	2006	Eastman
145			Republican	2004	Warner Robins
146			Republican	2001	Bonaire
147			Republican	2008	Cordele
148			Republican	1975	Parrott
149			Republican	1982	Cuthbert
150			Democratic	1996	Albany
151			Democratic	2008	Albany
152			Republican	2002	Albany
153			Republican	2010	Tifton
154			Republican	2002	Ocilla
155			Republican	1998	Vidalia
156			Republican	1984	Swainsboro
157			Republican	2004	Newington
158			Republican	2010	Brooklet
159			Republican	2009	Rincon
160			Democratic	2004	Garden City
161			Democratic	2008	Savannah
162			Democratic	2006	Savannah
163			Republican	2010	Savannah
164			Republican	1996	Savannah
165			Democratic	2002	Midway
166			Republican	2010	Glennville
167			Republican	2004	Darien
168			Republican	1978	Nicholls
169			Republican	1996	Ambrose
170			Republican	1998	Nashville
171			Republican	2008	Camilla
172			Republican	2004	Cairo
173			Republican	2010	Thomasville
174			Republican	2002	Valdosta
175			Republican	2006	Valdosta
176			Republican	2010	Lakeland
177			Republican	2004	Waycross
178			Republican	2011	Blackshear
179			Republican	2010	Brunswick
180			Republican	2010	Woodbine

Changes in Membership from Previous Term

Fourteen seats changed party control from the previous session, three due to defeat of an incumbent, three due to retirements/resignation or runs for other office and the other eight due to a party switch from the Democrats to the Republicans (Ellis Black, Amy Carter, Mike Cheokas, Bubber Epps, Gerald E. Greene, Bob Hanner, Doug McKillip, Alan Powell) the beginning of the 151st Georgia General Assembly saw thirty-four new representatives. One defeated an incumbent in the primary, three in the primary run-off, ten replaced incumbents who had run for other office. Sixteen replaced a representative who had retired.

District	Previous	Subsequent	Reason for change
14th		Barry Loudermilk (R)		Christian Coomer (R)	Ran for State Senate
18th		Mark Butler (R)		Kevin Cooke (R)	Ran for Labor Commissioner
19th		Daniel Stout (R)		Paulette Braddock (R)	Defeated in Primary Runoff
24th		Tom Knox (R)		Mike Dudgeon (R)	Ran for Insurance Commissioner
33rd		Don Wix (D)		David Wilkerson (D)	Defeated in Primary
38th		Pat Dooley (D)		Sam Teasley (R)	Defeated in General
40th		Rob Teilhet (D)		Stacey Evans (D)	Ran for Attorney General
50th		Mark Burkhalter (R)		Lynne Riley (R)	Retired
60th		Georganna Sinkfield (D)		Gloria Bromell Tinubu (D)	Ran for Secretary of State
75th		Ron Dodson (D)		Yasmin Neal (D)	Retired
76th		Mike Glanton (D)		Sandra Scott (D)	Retired
79th		Fran Millar (R)		Tom Taylor (R)	Ran for State Senate
81st		Jill Chambers (R)		Elena Parent (D)	Defeated in General
82nd		Kevin Levitas (D)		Scott Holcomb (D)	Retired
94th		Randal Mangham (D)		Dar'shun Kendrick (D)	Ran for Governor
95th		Toney Collins (D)		Pam Dickerson (D)	Defeated in Primary Runoff
98th		Bobby Reese (R)		Josh Clark (R)	Retired
101st		Mike Coan (R)		Buzz Brockway (R)	Retired
102nd		Clay Cox (R)		B.J. Pak (R)	Retired
104th		Lee Thompson (D)		Valerie Clark (R)	Defeated in General
106th		Melvin Everson (R)		Brett Harrell (R)	Retired
110th		John Lunsford (R)		Andrew Welch (R)	Retired
111th		Jeff May (R)		Bruce Williamson (R)	Retired
113th		Bob Smith (R)		Hank Huckaby (R)	Retired
125th		Jim Cole (R)		Susan Holmes (R)	Retired
143rd		DuBose Porter (D)		Matt Hatchett (R)	Ran for Governor
153rd		Austin Scott (R)		Tony McBrayer (R)	Ran for Congress
158th		Bob Lane (R)		Jan Tankersley (R)	Retired
163rd		Burke Day (R)		Ben Watson (R)	Retired
166th		Terry Barnard (R)		Delvis Dutton (R)	Retired
173rd		Mike Keown (R)		Darlene Taylor (R)	Ran for Congress
176th		Jay Shaw (D)		Jason Shaw (R)	Resigned
179th		Jerry Keen (R)		Alex Atwood (R)	Retired
180th		Cecily A. Hill (R)		Jason Spencer (R)	Defeated in Primary Runoff

Changes in Membership During Current Term

Date seat became vacant	District	Previous	Reason for change	Subsequent	Date of successor's taking office
November 30, 2010	136th		Tony Sellier (R)	Died of Congestive Heart Failure.		Robert Dickey (R)	February 16, 2011
December 9, 2010	178th		Mark Williams (R)	Resigned to serve as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.		Chad Nimmer (R)	February 16, 2011

See also

• List of Georgia state legislatures

External links

• Georgia General Assembly website
  • 2011-2012 Representatives by Name, District
  • 2011-2012 Senators by Name, District