North Georgia state representative named education committee chairman

Georgia State Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, is congratulated after his bill allowing gun license-holders to carry concealed handguns on Georgia's public college campuses passes a vote on the House floor Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Atlanta.
Georgia State Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, is congratulated after his bill allowing gun license-holders to carry concealed handguns on Georgia's public college campuses passes a vote on the House floor Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Atlanta.

State Rep. Rick Jasperse will oversee the Georgia House Education Committee this year, Speaker of the House David Ralston announced today.

Jasperse, R-Jasper, replaces Brooks Coleman as chairman of the 24-member committee that oversees policy on pre-k through 12th grade education. Coleman retired at the end of last year.

Jasperse, a retired county agricultural agent who took office in 2010, does not have deep ties to the committee. He had not been a member prior to his appointment this week.

Ralston also appointed State Rep. Eddie Lumsden to chair the House Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee. Lumsden, R-Armuchee, replaces Johnnie Caldwell Jr., who lost his re-election campaign last year,

On the senate side, Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, will continue to chair the finance committee, and Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, will continue to chair the rules committee. Mullis has overseen the rules committee since 2013.

Among other committee appointments for North Georgia legislators this year:

State Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton: Industry & Labor, Information & Audits, Regulated Industries, Transportation and Ways & Means committees

State Rep. Dewayne Hill, R-Ringgold: House Education, Human Relations & Aging, Industry & Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Intergovernmental Coordination and Retirement committees

State Rep. Colton Moore, R-Lookout Mountain: Human Relations & Aging, Motor Vehicles and State Planning & Community Affairs committees

State Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga: Economic Development & Tourism, Appropriations and Regulated Industries & Utilities Committees, in addition to chairing the Rules Committee

State Sen. Chuck Payne, R-Dalton: Finance, Higher Education, Public Safety and State Institutions & Property committees. Payne will also serve as vice chair of the State & Local Government Operations Committee.

State Rep. Steve Tarvin, R-Chickamauga: Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight; Defense & Veterans' Affairs; Game, Fish & Parks, Retirement and Small Business Committee. Tarvin will also serve as vice chair of the Insurance and Economic Development Appropriations committees.

State Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth: Motor Vehicles, Regulated Industries and Economic Development Appropriations committees. Ridley will also serve as the vice chair of the Banks & Banking Committee.

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