User:Georgia18atl/sandbox

= Rick Jeffares =

Rick Jeffares is an American politician who served in the Georgia State Senate from 2010-2017. He represented Senate District 17, which encompasses Henry, Newton, and Rockdale Counties. Jeffares is a Republican who is currently running to become Georgia's next Lieutenant Governor.

Early Life, Education and Work Career
Rick Jeffares was born and raised in Henry County, GA and now resides in Locust Grove. When Rick was young, his dad was a farmer like his grandfather and the four generations of ancestors before him who farmed cotton, soybeans and wheat and raised cattle on tracts of land around Henry county.

At the age of 13, Rick lost his father and took over – working the farm, helping his mother raise Rick’s two younger brothers, and eventually putting himself through Clayton College and State University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Management.

Rick began his career at the Henry County Water Authority and led the City of Covington Water and Sewer Department. Having found his niche, he started J&T Environmental Services, an operation and maintenance services company where he continues to build and service water, sewer and wastewater facilities. He also serves as a project manager for G. Ben Turnipseed Engineers.

Political Career
As Rick’s business interactions took him into communities around his hometown, he gained an interest in public service and served as City Manager for Locust Grove (2001-2008), eventually becoming Henry County Commissioner in 2008.

In 2010, Rick was elected to the State Senate from Georgia’s 17th District. He has represented portions of Henry, Newton, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties during his tenure in the Georgia General Assembly. He serves as Chairman of the Regulated Industries and Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources Committees. He is also a member of the Appropriations and Ethics Committees.

He also serves as the Vice-President of the Georgia Rural Water Association and is a member of the Georgia Violence Commission.

In May 2017, Rick decided to run for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia.

Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
Rick Jeffares decided to run to become Georgia's next Lieutenant Governor and filed his paperwork on May 25, 2017. The focus on his campaign is to promote affordable college education, workforce development, and to provide solutions for Georgia's transportation infrastructure.

Rick is the only candidate in the field to have an endorsement from a sitting United States Congressman. Drew Ferguson, who represents Georgia's 3rd Congressional District endorsed Jeffares for Georgia's #2 job because of his vision to make Georgia's government smaller.

While Rick joined the race significantly later than his opponents, he had a surprisingly strong fundraising total to disclose on his first financial disclosure report.

On December 1, 2017, Rick Jeffares resigned from the Georgia State Senate to completely focus on his cmapaign for Lt. Governor.