Tommie Williams

The Honorable
Tommie Williams
Member of the Georgia Senate
from the 19th district
Assumed office
January 1999
Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore
Assumed office
January 12, 2009
Preceded by Eric Johnson
Georgia Senate Majority Leader
In office
2005 – January 12, 2009
Preceded by Bill Stephens
Succeeded by Chip Rogers
Personal details
Political party Georgia Republican Party
Spouse(s) Stephanie
Children 3
Residence Lyons, Georgia
Alma mater University of Georgia
Profession Farmer, Businessman, legislator
Committees Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
Appropriations
Religion Southern Baptist

Tommie Williams is an American politician from the state of Georgia. He is a member of the Republican Party and was first elected to the Georgia Senate in 1998. Williams represents the 19th district, which encompasses Appling, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Toombs, Wayne, Wheeler, and parts of Liberty and Tattnall Counties.[1][2] He was selected as Senate Majority Leader in 2005, and was voted President Pro Tempore of the Senate in 2009.[3]

Biography

Tommie Williams began his career as an onion farmer in Toombs county, was a public school teacher, and is currently a tree farmer.

He received a bachelor's degree at the University of Georgia, and a master's degree in Education at Georgia Southern University.[1]

Senate career

Williams was first elected to the State Senate in 1998, after winning a three-way primary. Beginning in 2006, he has had no opposition.

In 2005, Williams was chosen as Senate Majority Leader. He served in that role until 2009, when he was voted President Pro Tempore, the second highest position in the Senate, behind Lieutenant Governor. He is also Chairman of the Administrative Affairs Committee.[4]

In August 2011, Senator Williams was asked by members of the press if he was interested in running against U.S.Congressman John Barrow, in whose district he resides. Williams indicated that it did interest him, however, he would still be running for re-election to his Senate seat.[5]

Senator Williams endorsed Newt Gingrich for President in the 2012 Republican presidential primaries.[6]

On June 4, 2012, Senator Williams sent an open letter to the Senate Republican Caucus and to members of the press in which he stated his intentions to forgo seeking re-election for the position of President Pro Tempore. His reasons included spending more time with his family, as inspired by the movie Courageous, and his belief that leadership positions should be rotated or term-limited.[7]

Election history

1998

Georgia Senate District 6 Primary Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 5,189 48.6
Republican Willou Smith 3,017 28.2
Republican Ed Boshears 2,481 23.2
Georgia Senate District 6 General Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 20,622 65.5
Democratic Kathy Keith 10,838 34.5

2000

Georgia Senate District 6 General Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 30,683 72.9
Democratic Eric Wilson 11,426 27.1

2002

Georgia Senate District 19 General Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 20,580 65.0
Democratic Van Streat Jr. 11,060 35.0

2004

Georgia Senate District 19 General Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 27,695 62.7
Democratic Hugh McCullough 16,449 37.3

2006

Georgia Senate District 19 General Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 23,938 100.0

2008

Georgia Senate District 19 General Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 39,766 100.0

2010

Georgia Senate District 19 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Tommie Williams 26,774 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 "Meet Tommie - Bio". tommiewilliams.com. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  2. ↑ "Senate District Map". legis.ga.gov. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Senator Williams Elected President Pro Tem". Southeast Georgia Today. January 12, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Senator Tommie Williams Official Page". senate.ga.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  5. ↑ Galloway, Jim (August 30, 2011). "Tommie Williams says no to a run against John Barrow". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Sen Williams Endorses Gingrich". Southeast Georgia Today. December 14, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Senator Williams' Letter to the Senate". Southeast Georgia Today. June 5, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
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