Ga. Sen. Cecil Staton will not seek re-election

ATLANTA — Sen. Cecil Staton, R- Macon, will not 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.

00.statonheadshotbig-217x300“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,” Staton said in a statement. “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.”

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 state Senate. Staton is a member of the Appropriations, Banking and Financial Institutions, Higher Education and the Reapportionment and Redistricting committees.

“During his time in the State Senate, Senator Staton has been a tireless advocate and influential voice for his constituents in the 18th District,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said in a statement. “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.”

Added Cagle: “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.”