Georgia state Sen. Jeff Mullis announced his support for Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush last week.
"[Former] Gov. Bush has a proven track record of bringing people together to get results without compromising his conservative principles," Mullis, R-Chickamauga, said in a news release. "Gov. Bush has tremendous experience as a successful governor of Florida, and I am confident he is the leader our country needs."
Mullis, who is chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, did not return a call seeking comment Monday. But he joins a collection of other Georgia politicians to back Bush, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Attorney General Sam Olens.
Seen as a moderate in a state where further-right candidates Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich won the 2008 and 2012 primaries, Bush has pressed hard in Georgia this year. In March, he met with Gov. Nathan Deal and spoke before the House and Senate chambers.
"I'm the most conservative governor in Florida's history," he said at the time. "I cut taxes every year. I reduced the state government workforce by 13,000. We took on the trial bar, the teachers' unions - all the groups that wanted to protect the status quo."
He told the state's leaders that the country needs to reform education, letting parents decide their children's schools based on several options. He also told a group of reporters that legalizing medical marijuana is "more than appropriate" if a resident can become healthier with the drug, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
Bush returned to Georgia earlier this month, speaking at RedState - a gathering of Republican activists - on Aug. 8 in Atlanta. Bush was one of nine GOP candidates who spoke at the event.
Bush came back to Atlanta last week for a private fundraiser at the Commerce Club. He is also set to visit Athens, Ga., in September for the Georgia-South Carolina game, where fans will be treated to campaigning as a side to their football, fried food and alcohol.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.