The 2015-16 Legislative Term committee assignments were handed out in the Georgia legislature last week, and Newton County’s representatives are in key positions.

Andy Welch, who represents the southwest corner of Newton County in District 109, is Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development and Code Revision committees. He is also a member of the Judiciary and Regulated Industries committees.
Dave Belton, the first-year Rep. of District 112, serving the eastern part of Newton County, received his first committee assignments. Belton is tasked with the Economic Development and Tourism, Education, and Interstate Cooperation committees.

“My thanks to Speaker Ralston for his very insightful selections,” Rep. Belton said. “I am very grateful to be serving on the Interstate Cooperation and Economic Development committees. As a person who has resided in four different countries, and in many different states, I feel very well suited to serve on these committees. However, my first love is education, and I am thrilled to be a member on the Education Committee. We can either build good schools or good prisons, and we owe it to our children to provide each and every one of them a unique and individualized way to achieve the very best opportunities for their futures.”

Dale Rutledge of District 109 of part of the western end of Newton County, is a member of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Judiciary, Regulated Industries, Transportation and Ways and Means committees.

Pam Dickerson, representing District 113 in the northwestern section of Newton County, is assigned to Education, Game, Fish and Parks, Judiciary, Non-Civil, Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment and State Planning and Community Affairs committees.