ATLANTA (February 4, 2014) | Sen. Cecil Staton (R- Macon) has decided not to seek re-election in 2014. Staton was elected to serve the 18th Senate District in 2004, which represents Crawford, Monroe, Peach and Upson Counties and portions of Bibb and Houston Counties. Prior to the 2011 redistricting, the district also included Jones County.“It has truly been one of greatest honors of my life to serve the people of the 18th Senate District over the past ten years,” said Sen. Staton. “Public service is a high calling, and one I have never taken lightly. I am incredibly thankful for the continued support of my constituents who have entrusted me to represent their values under the Gold Dome. Central Georgia is my home, and I will always work to strengthen the region’s reputation as one of the state’s best places to live, work and raise a family.”
Sen. Staton has served as vice-chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus and currently serves as Majority Whip, a position he has held for four of his ten years in the Senate. The Majority Whip is the third highest-ranking leadership position in the Senate. Sen. Staton is a member of the Appropriations, Banking and Financial Institutions, Higher Education and the Reapportionment and Redistricting committees. Additionally, he serves as a member on the Rules, Assignments and the Regulated Industries committees. Previously he served as Vice-Chairman of the Transportation Committee and Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, appropriating nearly $2 billion dollars, or 11 percent of the state’s budget, annually for higher education across Georgia.
“During his time in the State Senate, Senator Staton has been a tireless advocate and influential voice for his constituents in the 18th District. He led the charge on critical issues like protecting the integrity of the ballot box with his historic Voter ID legislation, saved lives by fighting to strengthen Georgia’s trauma care network, and raised the bar at our public universities with his leadership on higher education issues. All of us will miss his thoughtful and deliberative approach to public policy and his diligent work as the Senate Majority Whip. While Nita and I will miss him and Catherine being a part of the Senate, we wish them the very best,” said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.
Since being elected to public office in 2004, Sen. Staton has gained recognition statewide as a champion of improving Georgia’s economic climate, providing funding for Georgia’s Higher Education programs and working to strengthen Georgia’s extensive health care network. In addition, Sen. Staton also led the effort to reform Georgia’s Voter Identification laws.
Voter ID Laws
In his first term as a state senator, Sen. Staton’s very first bill was legislation to reform Georgia’s voter identification laws through the passage of SB 84.
Adopted by the General Assembly in 2005, SB 84 encountered its fair share of legal challenges. To resolve these legal issues, Sen. Staton worked with the Georgia Secretary of State and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, which led to the eventual overturn of all challenges and to its final implementation in Georgia. This important piece of legislation became a precedent for election reform, leading many other states to follow suit.
Shortly thereafter, Sen. Staton filed a proof of citizenship law in 2009, seeking to enhance the integrity of Georgia’s elections process. This legislation represents one of Sen. Staton’s crowning achievements and highlights his ongoing commitment to improving election security and voter confidence.
Economic Development
During Sen. Staton’s tenure, the Georgia General Assembly also produced ten consecutive years of balanced, fiscally responsible state budgets. This judicious approach to state spending has resulted in billions in tax cuts over the past ten years. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Staton collaborated with his colleagues in the Georgia General Assembly to adopt meaningful tax reform and responsible state spending measures.
In 2012, Sen. Staton served as one of the key proponents of HB 386, a landmark tax reform package aimed at cutting taxes and increasing Georgia’s competitive business climate. Major features of the measure included a three-year sales tax holiday for school supplies and energy efficient products, significant reduction of the marriage penalty, elimination of the “birthday” tax and sales tax on motor vehicles, a tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing and construction materials, as well as an E-Fairness measure which will aid in the growth of local businesses.
Education
Sen. Staton has continuously fought for additional funding for Georgia’s higher education programs, including Georgia’s HOPE scholarship. From FY2005 to FY2014, approximately $5.3 billion in funding has been allocated to the HOPE Scholarship Program.
“Senator Staton has provided extraordinary leadership over the past 10 years in addressing important issues affecting higher education in Georgia,” said University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead. “I have appreciated his wise counsel and believe that the University of Georgia is much better off because of his efforts at the Capitol.”
Sen. Staton also led the charge in providing funding for the Mercer University School of Medicine. The total appropriations for the Mercer University School of Medicine for the FY 2005 amended budget until today is approximately $206.9 million. This represents ten years of continuous funding for the Mercer University School of Medicine from the time Sen. Staton took office in 2004.
“Senator Staton has rendered extraordinary service to the people of Georgia. I am especially grateful for his tireless commitment to higher education and to improving rural healthcare, both causes that are vitally important to our work at Mercer,” said William Underwood, President of Mercer University.
In 2009, Sen. Staton was a chief architect behind the relocation of the Georgia Department of Corrections Headquarters and Training Academy to the campus of Tift College in Forsyth. As part of the deal, Sen. Staton worked to secure over $11 million in bonds to assist in relocation efforts while supporting additional appropriations that have totally revitalized the Tift Campus in Forsyth.
Health Care
In 2007, the Georgia Trauma Care Network was created through the passage of Senate Bill 60. Prior to the bill’s adoption, Sen. Staton chaired the Comprehensive State Trauma Services Joint Study Committee to analyze the need for additional trauma care resources and funding. Based upon the committee’s findings, the committee recommended the creation of the Georgia Trauma Care Network, which has extended trauma care funds to districts throughout the state and supported the expansion of trauma care facilities statewide.
The Georgia Trauma Care Network has received $138.9 million in total state appropriations since the FY07 amended budget largely due to Senator Staton’s advocacy.
Local Bills
In 2013, Sen. Staton secured the passage of a series of bills that led to the consolidation of Macon and Bibb County. His leadership established non-partisan municipal elections for the newly created Macon-Bibb consolidated government. The first new non-partisan elections were held in 2013 and the consolidated government began January 1, 2014. His insistence that a consolidated government must save taxpayers money led to a requirement that the new consolidated government reduced overall expenses by 20 percent over five years. Sen. Staton is recognized as one of the primary architects of consolidation.
“It has been an honor to serve with Senator Staton. He has been not only a good friend, but a mentor to me. Middle Georgia and our state will miss his invaluable leadership, and strong conservative conviction. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for serving with honor,” said Rep. Allen Peake.
During his tenure, Sen. Staton served as one of the leading strategists behind the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame’s decision to name Macon as its ongoing headquarters. From FY2006 to FY2011, the state allocated approximately $35 million in funding to support the Macon Sports Hall of Fame, which was considered to be a positive economic investment into the local community, and in 2013, Staton worked to transfer title for the Sports Hall of Fame building, valued at more than 10 million dollars, from the State to the local community.
Over the past several years, there has been growing concern regarding the ongoing encroachment issues surrounding Warner Robins Air Force Base. To begin the process of resolving these issues, Sen. Staton worked with state and local officials to secure over $7 million in funding while the residents of Bibb and Houston County approved a special purpose local-option sales tax referendum, appropriating an additional $ 6million for the project. The federal government also contributed approximately $3 million in supplemental funds.
Sen. Staton’s efforts helped secure the funding to purchase parcels of land that were encroaching upon the base’s runway, which is expected to ensure the safety of those living around the base and the future of the base itself.
Senator Staton commented, “I have to say a special word of thanks to my wife Catherine, and sons Trey and William. They have sacrificed much for my ten years of service. Without their love and support I could never have done this. While most never understand the costs of service and leadership, they certainly do. I love them with all my heart and thank them for supporting my service.”
Please see the attached PDF. to view Sen. Staton’s achievements and awards.
For Immediate Release:
February 4, 2014
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Shawna Mercer, Sr. Communications Specialist
shawna.mercer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028