Forgotten Giants of Georgia Politics, Part I: Charles Walker — The Hammer Who Ran the Senate

Every generation of Georgia Democrats has its stars. Today, most folks can rattle off names like Stacey Abrams, Raphael Warnock, or Jason Carter without thinking twice. But before the era of national profiles and turnout machines, Georgia had a different kind of political heavyweight, one who didn’t need cable news or a PAC to prove his influence.

His name was Charles Walker, and for a stretch of time, he was the most powerful Democrat in the state.

Not the most famous.  

Not the most photographed.  

But the most powerful.

Walker came out of Augusta with a sharp mind, a disciplined style, and a deep understanding of how power actually works under the Gold Dome. He wasn’t a show horse. He wasn’t a movement leader. He was a governing force, the kind of operator who could count votes, move bills, and keep a caucus in line.

When he became the first Black Senate Majority Leader in American history, it wasn’t symbolic. It was operational. He controlled the flow of legislation in a chamber full of old-guard Democrats who didn’t like being told what to do and yet they listened.

Former Governor Roy Barnes called him “the Hammer.”  Not as an insult but as a recognition.

If Barnes needed a tough bill passed, Walker was the one who made it happen. If a senator needed to be reminded how the process worked, Walker handled that too. He was the rare leader who could talk to rural white Democrats in one breath and Black Belt county leaders in the next, and both sides respected him.

That’s a kind of political power Georgia hasn’t seen since.

Then came the early 2000s, when the Bush Administration’s Department of Justice began targeting high-profile Southern Democrats. Folks still talk about Don Siegelman over in Alabama, but Georgia had its own version of that moment.

Walker was indicted and eventually convicted on charges that remain debated to this day. Whether you believe the case was political or not, the consequences were real and immediate:

- Democrats lost their strongest legislative strategist  

- The Senate caucus fractured which led to party switchers

- Rural white Democrats drifted faster toward the GOP  

- A generation of younger Democrats never learned Walker’s story  

His fall didn’t just end a career, it reshaped the party.

If not for the prosecution, it’s hard to imagine Walker not running for governor. He had:

- The network  

- The fundraising base  

- The statewide relationships  

- The resume

- The ambition  

And unlike many Black Democrats of that era, Walker had real credibility with rural white legislators, a coalition Democrats today are still trying to rebuild.

A Walker gubernatorial run in the early 2000s would’ve looked nothing like the modern statewide campaigns we see now. It would’ve been coalition politics, not nationalized politics. It would’ve been built on governing, not movement energy.

Georgia politics might look very different today.

Three reasons explain why so few Democrats under 40 know who Charles Walker is:

1. His fall overshadowed his rise.  

2. The party’s center of gravity shifted to Atlanta.  

3. The Abrams era reframed Democratic power as turnout-based, not legislative-based.

But if you’re talking about raw, inside-the-Capitol power, the kind that decides budgets, shapes policy, and keeps a caucus in line, Walker had more of it than any Georgia Democrat of the last 30 years.

Charles Walker’s story is complicated, but it’s part of Georgia’s political DNA. Before the era of national fundraising networks and voter‑mobilization machines, Walker showed what Black political leadership looked like inside the halls of power, not outside them.

And for a moment in time, he was the most powerful Democrat in Georgia.

SD‑12’s Turning Point: Edward Brown and the Case for a New Generation of Leadership

Southwest Georgia doesn’t get many open conversations about the future. Too often, folks assume the region will simply keep doing what it’s always done, same leaders, same lanes, same expectations. But every now and then, someone steps forward who forces people to take a second look at what’s possible. In the State Senate District 12 race, that person is Edward Brown.

Edward Brown

Brown is running as a centrist Democrat, but labels don’t tell the full story. What stands out is the path he’s taken and the grounding he brings to the table. His time with the Council of Economic Advisors during the Obama Administration gave him firsthand experience with policy, data, and the economic challenges facing communities like ours. That’s not résumé padding, that’s real exposure to how decisions in Washington ripple through rural counties, small businesses, and working families.

Today, Brown serves as Director of Corporate Development for the Fred Taylor Company in Albany, a role that puts him squarely in the middle of the region’s economic engine. He’s not talking about jobs from a distance; he’s working inside the very systems that keep Southwest Georgia moving. That combination, national policy experience and local economic grounding is rare in state legislative races.

And then there’s the part people whisper about but don’t always say out loud: his family legacy. As the nephew of former Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor, Brown grew up around public service, political strategy, and the expectations that come with carrying a well‑known name. But he’s not running on nostalgia. He’s running on the idea that Southwest Georgia deserves a future shaped by people who understand both where we’ve been and where we need to go.

District 12 is changing. The issues are changing. The voters are changing. Agriculture is still king, but the region is also wrestling with healthcare access, economic diversification, workforce development, and the long‑term question of how to keep young people from leaving. Those aren’t problems you solve with slogans. They require someone who can bridge communities, speak across divides, and bring a modern understanding of economic development to the table.

That’s where Brown’s supporters say he stands out. They see him as part of the next generation of leadership  someone who respects the region’s history but isn’t trapped by it. Someone who can talk to farmers, business owners, educators, and young professionals without switching masks. Someone who understands that Southwest Georgia’s future depends on building coalitions, not burning them down.

The May Democratic primary will tell us a lot about where voters want to go. But one thing is clear: Edward Brown isn’t just another name on the ballot. He represents a shift — a signal that Southwest Georgia is ready to have a real conversation about what comes next.

And in a district that has long shaped the political identity of this state, that conversation is overdue. 

Lisa Satterfield- Collins to Run For Georgia Senate District 11

Lisa Collins (D-Blakely) has thrown her name in the hat to succeed retiring State Senator John Bullock (R-Ochlocknee) for SD 11 Special Election to be held in January. Collins is Director of Economic Development for Early County & Early County 2055 which is a 50 year Economic Revitalization Initiative for Early County.

Before that she was CEO of Uptown Columbus & Senior Vice President for Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. She also serve on the executive committee of the US Highway 27 Association, the agri-tourism committee for Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, the board of the Southwest Georgia Joint Development Authority, the Early County Development Authority, the Blakely Development Authority, and serve as secretary of the Early County Airport Authority, executive board member of the Blakely / Early County Chamber of Commerce, vice-president of the Blakely Town and Country Club, and is past- president of the Rotary Club of Blakely & she presently is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Southern Economic Development Council, the Georgia Economic Developers Association

She is the only democrat to enter the race for SD 11 which includes 2010 Congressional Candidate & Thomas Co Commission candidate Mike Keown who also served as State Representative.

GA State Senate 17 Debate Conservative Democrat Dr. Nelva Lee. Republican Rick Jeffares was a No-Show

Q&A With State Senate Candidate Donald "Gene" Mitchell (D-Fitzgerald)

1.Short Bio about yourself

My name is Donald "Gene" Mitchell. I am originally from Fitzgerald, GA. I am twenty-six years old, and am the second of five children: my older sister Kristy, then my younger sister Denae, and my two younger brothers Morgan and Chance. I graduated from Fitzgerald High School. While in attendance, I played football, wrestling, state winner in Dramatic Interpretation, and participated in one act play. After becoming the first man in my family to graduate from high school, I joined the United States Marine Corps. During my enlistment, I served in an overseas capacity for most of my enlistment all over the world.

At the end of my enlistment, I returned to Georgia to attend college at Mercer University. Mercer was my dream school as a child, but I could not afford the tuition. I was able to put myself through college utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill. I graduated from Mercer University with honors with a degree in political science and economics. During my tenure at Mercer, I was invited to participate in a paid internship at American Embassy Oslo, Norway as a political and economic consultant. I also traveled abroad to Eastern Europe to learn more about Post-Soviet Union economics. Lastly, I visited Peru to learn about South American Culture and the current socioeconomic status of the country. Following graduation, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue my economic research in eastern Europe, but I have deferred that scholarship to run for District seven's state senate race. I am a Christian and live by the passage which saved me, James 2:14-17.

2. Why are you a Democrat;( Progressive, Moderate or Conservative?)

I have always been a Democrat. I am proud to say I have supported other Democrats like me. These great individuals include Former Congressman Jim Marshall, Mayor Gerald Thompson of Fitzgerald, and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland. My party affiliation represents my values of equal access, compassion, and morality. I believe many Georgians today are frustrated with our State government because my constituents believe those who currently represent us do not care about our beliefs. As a Democrat, I believe it is essential to the governmental process that every voice be heard, every voter have access to his representatives, and no matter what a person's societal status that individual should hold equal weight to his fellow citizens. 

I also believe that our government should be one which shows great compassion. I am always troubled when I hear politicians relegate certain people because they live in different circumstances or share different views. We need leaders who are able to bring everyone to the table to share his or ideas, not pit brother against brother. I am also a Democrat because I am a Christian. When my savior walked this Earth, he taught us that we followers should bless the weak, the poor, and the hungry. He also taught us to walk in his image. My Christian values compel me to face this difficult world with my faith in Jesus and to strive be an unwavering example of Him. Today, our state has a black because of all of the politician in Atlanta who take advantage of the government access they posses. We need representatives who will protect are state's reputation and not tarnish it.

3. Why are you running for the Georgia State Senate?

After speaking with thousands of voters across my district, the one major theme that arises from their concerns is that South Georgia no longer has a voice in the political process. A state senator should be measured by the success, or failure, of his legislation and voting record. Because South Georgia does not have the population majority, we need to convince others with big ideas. Along those same lines, the only two races that could prevent a super majority of the ENTIRE GOVERNMENT is my race and Doug Stoner. If we both fail to make our case, then over the course of the next two years no adequate discourse will occur under the Gold Dome. South Georgia cannot afford two more years of failed policies, political posturing, and poor judgement by the likes of the majority party.

4. What’s the most pressing issue facing the state. Your Senate District?

Overwhelmingly, the economy is the number issue in my district and the State as a whole. Even though the State of Georgia is the 19th largest economy in the world, our citizens are suffering through a 9.2% unemployment (that is two points higher than the national average) and my district currently meanders with a 11% unemployment rate. Almost 20% of our citizens live in poverty, we are the fifth highest state with citizens who have no health insurance, and last year agriculture lost ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE because of discriminatory policies put in place by our Governor. Now, Republicans are trying to dismantle our constitution by eliminating public education. All of these decisions demonstrate how those in Atlanta have no clue how to build an economy and what steps we need to move forward.

5. What is something you think the current Legislature has done well?

Go to recess so they can no longer do harm to our state.

6. What is something you think the current Legislature hasn’t done well?

That list is very long, but I will point out a few. This year we will see something very rare in state politics. You have a party which promised to lower taxes across the state without explaining the ramifications of those actions. After a decade of heavy cuts and austerity measures, Republicans and the State Chamber of Commerce promoted an increase in tax to invest in rebuilding Georgia's infrastructure.

TSPLOST failed horribly because no one trusts our Governor, the Lt. Governor, the state senate leader, or the leader of the house to follow through on the plans in which they laid out. Now, House Bill 1162 is getting murdered because Republicans are trying to consolidate power in Atlanta over education. This is all because of a lack of moral leadership in Atlanta. If we had leaders who had the moral courage to do what this state needs, then the TSPLOST legislation would not have been written so poorly. A revenue increase would have been passed and sign by the Governor, and then they would have let the electoral process decide whether or not that legislation was necessary. Instead, we have no investment in our future, heavy doubts looming over the future of education, no one trusting the democratic process, but those in power remain. As I see it, only the politicians can win in this environment.

7. What is the number one issue you would address as a State Senator?

The first piece of legislation that I will propose to the State senate will be a law to prevent the state government from cutting education in the state budget for the next ten years. We must send a message to our teachers and educators that we still believe in what they do and the importance of their mission. South Georgia, more than ever, needs an investment which will ensure a vibrant workforce for years to come. This investment will also ensure that we begin the process on curbing poverty and high unemployment in our state.

8. Hailing from rural Georgia. In your opinion what must the Democratic Party of Georgia must do to win the hearts & minds of Rural Georgians who have drifted to the GOP over the last decade? 

Much like the economy, a theory exists that only Atlanta matters. The Democratic Party of Georgia has bought this theory. In my district, only five of the ten counties have active local parties. Only one Democratic candidate ran in the seven house races that cover my district. Even in my race, if I had not ran no Democratic candidate would have ran for this seat. As a state, the Democratic party lost half of the senate by simply not running.

These are not the signs of a successful party. The DPG needs to move away from National politics and refocus on winning our state, especially in the South. Many people are still registered Democrats down here. Most gave large donations to Gubernatorial candidates and Congressional candidates in the past. These same people have stopped supporting Democrats not because of our beliefs, positions, or demeanor, but because they no longer believe we can win. They no longer see a strong party willing to fight for its beliefs. People love to cheer and support winners. We need to show people that Democrats can win again, show people that we can fight too, that we believe in God, and we believe in freedom. But that also means we must believe in ourselves.

9. Why should constituents vote for you on Election Day? What makes you a better choice than your opponent?

If the constituents in South Georgia want a strong voice that will fight to invest in our district, if they want someone who understands what it takes to rise from poverty, if the people of South Georgia want someone who has fought for our country and is willing to put his life on the line for our freedom, values, and fellow man, then I believe they should vote for me, Donald "Gene" Mitchell. As the next State Senator of District 7, I will be a champion of sound economics, growth in our district, and public education. Everything I am, everything I have done, I have done to serve my fellow man, my fellow countrymen, my family, and my God. If South Georgia wants a candidate with courage, a candidate with strong conviction, and ready to serve on day one. I would ask they consider me, Donald "Gene" Mitchell for State senate.

Democratic Candidates who can WIN in November

63 Democrats in the House, 22 Democrats in the State Senate. That's it! About half of the legislative seats are unopposed this year in the state house & more than that in the State Senate.

Now its time to separate the contenders from the pretenders as far as democrats who can WIN in November:

1, Quentin T. Howell (D-Hardwick). Howell is trying for a second time to unseat Independent Rusty Kidd for HD 145, which covers Baldwin & southern Putnam County. Howell has been campaigning for this seat for well over a year, and has been building support since his 2010 loss. Howell, a Blue Dog Democrat is a businessman/entrepreneur, radio talk show host & veteran of the Navy. He has worked throughout the community in Milledgeville on numerous issues that affected the citizens.  Howell is by far the strongest candidate running as a democrat this year. 

2. Jana Hill (D-Clayton) Hill is making her first run for office against Republican Stephen Allison. Hill, a former educator is a strong advocate for public schools and economic development. Hill serves on the Boards of the Rabun Chamber of Commerce and Community Pantry and is a founding member of the Old School Community Garden. Recently, she was elected as a 2012 Georgia Delegate to the Democratic National Convention and she works with the Development Authority of Rabun County.

3. Renita Hamilton (D-Lawrenceville). This seat is definitely one democrats can win. Hamilton who ran for Lawrenceville City County in 2011 is taking on Joyce Chandler for HD 105. Hamilton, a pro-business, pro-family democrat has the vision, integrity, and real-life experience necessary to bring family-sustaining jobs and a healthier economic prosperity back to the district.  As the owner of a small business, she understands the difficulty of sustaining a viable small business & also understand the problems of entrepreneurs, investors and developers. 

4. Kevin T. Brown (D-Buena Vista) Brown is challenging Mike Cheokas who changed parties & now running as a republican this election cycle. Brown is a former U.S. Army Veteran, Director of the Marion County Family Connection & member of numerous boards thoughout the West Central Georgia Area. HD 138 is one of the few seat that democrats can flip to blue. It consist of Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley & Sumter County.

5. Dr Nelva Lee (D-McDonough) Lee, a native of Panama, moved to the US due to the Noriega Dictatorship.  Lee, a Conservative Democrat is the President and Founder of the MiTio Institute and the MiTio Foundation. The MiTio Institute is an Online Medical Interpreting and Translating Diploma Training Program. She has also served as a Mental Health Coordinator for the Department of Health and as Director of Patient Advocacy for the Grady Health System. And Chair of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. Lee main focus in her run for the State Senate is bringing attention on making the Small business industry in her district as robust and viable as possible and expand hiring incentives to make them S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering Math) industry specific, among other things in her platform.

6. Mary Ann Whipple-Lue (D-Gordon) Lue is taking on James Epps of Dry Branch for HD 144 which now includes NW Laurens County & Bleckley County with Wilkinson, Twiggs & east Bibb County & Eastern Jones Co. Lue a former member of the Wilkinson County BOE is running on bringing more Industry to HD 144.  And being heavily involved in education, wants to fix Georgia's struggling Public Schools. Lue hails from the same hometown as did late State Rep. Ken Birdsong.

Time for changing of the guard?

Unlike the overhyped presidential election, where little actual disparity can be found between the likely candidates, a number of state and local races are putting a real choice before Georgia voters.

The upcoming primary election could be described as a contest between members of the old guard & their handpick successors and an emerging new guard. The old guard represents the familiar names, faces and policies of the incumbency. These are individuals who are experienced and well connected politically. They know how to close ranks when they perceive a threat to their influence, and are perfectly willing to call in mutually supporting favors from their fellow politicians.

When faced with a choice between power and principle, these leaders will generally choose what preserves their power. None of this should be construed as proof of evil intent on the part of the old guard; instead, it illustrates a common trait of human nature that power, once obtained, is a very difficult thing to let go.

The new guard can best be described as individuals who have recognized a need for leadership that is grounded in the principles of limited government and greater accountability to the people. To them, raw political power is less desirable than keeping government power within its correct boundaries.

Most of the new guard are newcomers to politics and are running for office out of a sense of public virtue rather than personal gain. Public virtue, in this sense, is synonymous with the concepts of service, self-sacrifice, and disinterestedness. It denotes a choice in which a person’s self interests are voluntarily put aside and sacrifices made for the benefit of society in general. In the case of the new guard, many of the candidates are stepping forward at considerable personal cost to serve where they recognize a need for more principled leadership.

Because many of the emerging new guard do not aspire to be career politicians, the old guard often dismisses them as idealistic and inexperienced. This is a mistake. The new guard candidates, in most cases, have devoted a great deal of time and effort to understanding the challenges and opportunities before us, as well as the foundational principles by which good government operates. This is something the old guard has, in many cases, forgotten.


Name recognition alone used to be sufficient to carry the day for the old guard, but the proliferation of readily available information combined with a growing sense of government overreach has prompted many voters to do their homework.

The old guard senses that a shift is taking place and is doing its best to protect its power from what it foolishly labels “radicals.” But a closer examination of what motivates these new guard candidates to run for office will reveal that, in many cases, we finally will have an actual choice in the coming election.

Dr Nelva Lee: Businessowner, Professor, & State Senator?

She's Businessowner, Philathropist, & a Professor. Nelva Lee, a Conservative Democrat from McDonough is entering the political arena for the first time in her adult life, challenging Republican Rick Jeffares for State Senate District 17.

Lee was born in Colon, Panama, moved to New York at the age of 14, then Seattle, Minnesota, Hawaii & finally here in Georgia.

Lee is founder of the MITIO Institute which specializes in online medical intepreting & translating diploma program in addition Dr Lee is a associaie Professor of Health Sciences for various propriety universities & she has served in other capacities as well.

Dr Lee will face Ultra-Conservative Rick Jeffares for SD 17 which covers Henry, Newton & a portion of Rock County.

Lee is a strong candidate who can appeal across party, racial & cultural lines with her Pro-Life, Pro-Business, Pro-Gun Christian Background. With issues ranging from Illegal Immigration to Jobs & Education, Dr Lee would be a valuable asset to the State Senate, as well as the State of Georgia with her commonsense, down to earth professional approach instead of trying to grab headlines.

Support this up & coming democrat for the State Senate.

 Check out her website:  http://electdrlee.com/

Ben Hill County Democrat Gene Mitchell Announces Candidacy for State Senate

Last week Gene Mitchell announced his candidacy for the vacate State Senate 7 seat vacated by Greg Goggins (R-Douglas) who decided not to run for re-election in Ben Hill County.

Mitchell, a 26 year old former Marine who was honorably discharged from the Military Last year is the only democrat to qualify for the seat. He will face the winner of the republican primary in November.

Mitchell attended Fitzgerald High School & then later enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps which his tour of duty took him to over twenty countries. He served in Active Duty from 2004- 2008 & then in the Reserves from 2008- 2011  After being discharged he entered Mercer University & majored in Political Science.

Gene looked to Fitzgerald to see what future lay there. He found limited opportunities for a returning college graduate. A community that fails to provide a means of living for its youth is doomed to die in the future & he wants to secure the future of those communities by helping south Georgia Grow for the current and future citizens of District 7.

Excerpts from his announcement, which by the way you find on his facebook page, he says..... As I look back on my life, the answer is clear that American dream still very much exists. As children, my sister and I lived with my single mother who did not graduate high school. My mother worked two jobs and went to night school until she obtained her GED and associates degree from East Central Tech. My mother did not accomplish this alone. I remember many weekends and nights when my sister and I would stay with my grandmother and Aunt Alisa, both of whom also worked two jobs.


Unfortunately, over the past ten years, a radical change has occurred in South Georgia.

The public education system which laid the strong foundation for me is under attack. Austerity measures implemented a decade ago have cut deep into Georgia's education budget, forcing local governments like Ben Hill county to foot the bill. These cuts in education have forced furlough days, layoffs, and struggling school systems to wonder how to properly provide adequate education for our children. As a man who was brought out of poverty by public education, I see this issue as the number one issue facing our children, our community, and the future of South Georgia.

The burden of funding education now pushed upon our local governments has not only created difficulties for our school systems but also for our local economies. The recession has deeply impacted south Georgia's manufacturing sector and the increased burden of funding education has crippled our local governments resources to invest in the quality of life and economic development of south Georgia. Fitzgerald has seen her sons and daughters move away in pursuit of finding a job because adequate employment is disappearing.

The time to reinvest in south Georgia is now.If we are going to succeed as a state, then all of Georgia must ensure that South Georgia develops economically. We can do this by developing infrastructure, steering away from policies that hurt farmers, and working together to ensure the entire state prospers, not just Atlanta.

Friends and family, the challenges we face today did not happen overnight. Likewise,we will not solve them overnight. We must work together, building consensus and moving forward with the plans we devise. Cynical attitudes and divisive rhetoric only constrain us.

I hope the DPG & the Democratic Senate Caucus get behind this young Bluedog Democrat & show its support

Check out his website: http://geneforga.com/

GA-SD 12: Shivers v Sims in 2012?

Down in the isolated corner of Georgia, you will find Clay County, a small, sleepy farming community located along the banks of the Chattahoochee River & Lake Walter F George.

There you will find Clay County Commissioner David Shiver (D-Fort Gaines), a farmer & owner of Clay Farm Products (Riverside Peanut Co). Shiver, a conservative democrat was elected to the Clay County Board of Commissioners in 2000, having won re-election twice. He is up for re-election in 2012. That's also when Freddie Powell Sims is up for re-election to the State Senate. With the expected widening of SD 12, you can expect democratic challengers to Sims seat & Shivers is one of those possibilities.

Shivers is a life long resident of Clay County. He has been married to his wife Sandy for thirty years and has one daughter, Heather. Commissioner Shivers and his wife also have one granddaughter. The Shivers also operate Joe and David Shivers Farm, LLC & a member of Clay County Economic Development Council since 2004

Shivers holds the distinction of being the first commissioner to complete the ACCG Commissioners Certification training. He is also a certified volunteer firefighter, became an ordained Deacon in 2000 and is presently Chairman of Deacons at Bethel Baptist Church.

One of his main goals is to continue improving services while creating jobs to keep the young people at home in Clay Co & this is a problem for just about every rural county in Georgia.

If Shivers were to officially run for the State Senate, he'll have to do it on his own due to the Georgia Democratic Party rule of not getting involved in primary elections, which is questionable.

I have long called for the elimination of democratic legislators who are "ineffective" & Sims fits that bill as a ineffective legislator.

Lucas to Run for State Senate. Will Someone Challenge Him?

State Representative David Lucas (D-Macon) announced Monday that he will seek the State Senate seat held by Robert Brown, who will seek the Macon mayoral seat in this fall elections.

Lucas a 37 year veteran of the State Legislature is a formidable candidate for the Central Georgia Senate seat.

So the question is: will Lucas cakewalk his way into that Senate Seat? Or will someone else from Macon, or Twiggs or Wilkinson County make a run at the open seat.

To give my two cents on this, I think that one other person may qualify to run in the open seat. Fear may keep others from qualifying for this race due to Lucas's connections in Macon, plus he'll probably have the endorsement of Robert Brown to boot. But this is a prime opportunity for some other aspiring, ambitious candidate from that area to test the waters. You never know.

Power & Politics: Former State Senators Hugh & Jim Gillis, Jr (D-Soperton) of Treutlen County

I don't know of any family that has a iron grip on a county here in Georgia, but the Gillis' of Treutlen County sure does come close to being that exact family.

(Hugh Gillis Left), (Jim Gillis, below right)

If you travel east on I-16 you'll past by Treutlen County, home of the powerful Gillis Family who have left their mark on Treutlen County & Georgia Politics.

The Gillis name that is synonymous with the area's agricultural industry and public service landscape.

The county was founded by Neil Gillis (D), who was the state senator for Emanuel County at the time Treutlen County was founded in 1917. Neal Gillis founded Soperton Naval Stores in the late 1800s, a turpentine business located on east Georgia. Neil Gillis, remembered as the "Father of Treutlen County," was a local bank director and large landowner who campaigned successfully for the creation of the county.

But it doesn't end there.

His son Jim L Gillis, (D-Soperton) also got into politics. He became State Senator & later Highway Commissioner serving under Eugene Talmadge. Interstate-16 was named in honor of Jim Gillis, Sr

Then there was Jim L Gillis, Jr (D-Spoerton) who he ran a successful campaign for the Georgia Senate. He served again from 1945 to 1946, and returned home to become first mayor and then county commissioner of Treutlen County, a post he held for forty years, retiring in 2001.

Hugh Gillis (D-Soperton) ran successfully for the Georgia House of Representatives. He served two terms, one from 1941 to 1944, and the other from 1949 to 1956. Gillis was elected twice to the Georgia Senate, the first time in 1957, and the second in 1962. He would hold that seat for the next forty-two years, making him the longest-serving member of the Georgia General Assembly. In the senate, he was elected president pro tempore, and served on the Appropriations Committee before retiring in 2004.

Let's begin with Jim Gillis, Jr.

Back in May of this year, NRCS joined the Ohoopee Conservation District and the Pine Country Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) to celebrate and honor Mr. Jim L. Gillis, Jr, who at age at 93, is the longest serving conservation district board member in the Nation. Gillis was a founding member of the Ohoopee River Soil and Water Conservation District and remains its Chairman to this day. He was also an inaugural member of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Hall of Fame. Mr. Gillis witnessed the early days of NRCS, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.

Gillis manages over 12,000 acres of timberland, and is well respected throughout the Southeast for his timber management program. Jim L. Jr. is the chairman of the board for the Georgia Forestry Commission, on which he has served since 1971. He also has served as president of the American Turpentine Farmers Association.

Jim L. Gillis Jr. is chairman of the board of the Bank of Soperton and is past president of the Georgia Bankers Association and was president of the State Association of County Commissioners. Hugh Gillis also is a stockholder in the Bank of Soperton.

Hugh Gillis was honored this year by the Georgia Farm Bureau in recognition of the many contributions he made to Georgia’s forestry and agriculture industries during the 56 years he served in the Georgia General Assembly.

Gillis helped oversee the passage of numerous bills that helped Georgia’s forestry and agriculture industries remain profitable, benefiting the economies of many rural Georgia communities that depend on these industries. Gillis was a charter member of the Treutlen County Farm Bureau where he served on the board of directors in some capacity for nearly 70 years and continues to support the organization as a director emeritus.

Gillis helped found Gillis Ag & Timber, a pulpwood & logging company back in 1940.

Hugh Gillis, an old school rural democrat, more conservative that some republicans on some issues, is recognized for championing rural healthcare and helping to start a dental school. He was the longest serving member of a state legislature in the country, having served a total of 56 years in the Ga General Assembly.


The Gillis family are deep rooted family in politics. They have dominated local and state politics for years. Hugh Gillis is now out of the politics, but still sits on many important boards (so he is still unoffical in politics) They are just a very powerful family in that very small community of Soperton. There's more in the pipe line as Hugh son Donnie (D) is a Superior Court Judge in the Dublin Circuit & at times sits on the Treutlen Court, as well as another son that at last check was a democratic county commissioner for Treutlen County.

One person says that Treutlen County have some of the best roads in the State, all because of the Gillis Brothers, which I can't confirmed because I never visited the county. They have given back to nearby Brewton-Parker College, as well as back to their community. The Gillis family are well-respected in the county, although they do have some "Haters" as well, hell we all do.

Who knows we may well see another Gillis family member take the plung into Georgia Politics, possily in 2012. Who Knows.