Gov. Nathan Deal today named Rick Jeffares (R-Locust Grove) and Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) as new state Senate floor leaders. Jeffares and Bethel will join Sen. Bill Jackson (R-Appling) and serve as liaisons between Deal and the state Senate when lawmakers return Jan. 14 to manage bills favored by the governor.

Jeffares represents state senate District 17, which includes the Honey Creek, Magnet, Lorraine, and Barksdale precincts in Rockdale, and parts of Newton and Henry counties.

Rick Jeffares
Jeffares serves as vice chairman to the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. He is also a member of the Government Oversight; Natural Resources and the Environment; Regulated Industries and Utilities; and Veteran, Military and Homeland Security committees. Jeffares previously served as city manager to Locust Grove and on Henry County Commission. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Management from Clayton College and State University. Jaffares is currently the owner of J&T Environmental Services and vice president of the Georgia Rural Water Association. He and his wife, Leslie, have four children and reside in Locust Grove.

Charlie Bethel
Bethel is a Human Resources executive with J&J Industries in Dalton. He also serves on the Judiciary; Special Judiciary; Insurance and Labor; Retirement; and Reapportionment and Redistricting committees. Prior to his service in the Senate, Bethel was elected twice to the Dalton City Council. Bethel earned a bachelor’s degree in Management from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and a juris doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law. He and his wife, Lynsey, have three children and reside in Dalton.