ATLANTA (March 8, 2024) — Sen. Shelly Echols (R–Gainesville) of Hall County announced today she will retire from service as a member of the Georgia State Senate.
“Serving the constituents of State Senate District 49 has been a tremendous experience and a true honor. Drew and I are blessed to have two children, Chloe, and Cohen,” said Sen. Echols. “While Chloe is off at college, Cohen is a high schooler with Down Syndrome and still at home; and although I feel called to public service, I have realized over the past two years that my highest calling is being a mother to two of the most important people in my life. For the past sixteen years my duty as a mom has been to provide the structure Cohen needs to live a successful and productive life. I am looking forward to having more time available to spend with my children and family once I fulfill my term in the Senate. Drew has done a phenomenal job maintaining the structure in our home in my absence; but it is time for me to let someone else take the reins in Senate District 49 so that I can be home and focus on being a mom.”
Sen. Echols looks forward to serving out the remainder of her term in the State Senate where she serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2022.
In addition, she serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and a member of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Tourism, Finance, Health and Human Services, and Administrative Affairs.
Sen. Echols, a Gainesville native, attended Gainesville College and North Georgia College & State University (currently UNG), obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. Sen. Echols began her career as a high school social studies teacher before joining her father’s business, Daniel’s Charters, where she served as the Director of Human Services. In 2007, she began her own business planning education-based field trips for schools across the state, Daniel’s Educational Tours. In 2018, Sen. Echols was elected as the Hall County Commissioner representing District 3. During her tenure, she worked to increase worker pay and benefits along with upgrading parks in the community.
Sen. Echols is active in her community, serving on the board of Choices Pregnancy Care Center in Gainesville as well as the Avita Community Partners Board of Directors. She is married to Drew Echols, local businessman and farmer. They have two children: Chloe and Cohen.
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Sen. Shelly Echols serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She represents the 49th Senate District which includes Hall County. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.1317 or by email at shelly.echols@senate.ga.gov.