by Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Another Georgia lawmaker is stepping down, bringing to four the number of vacancies in the House and Senate.
Rep. Marcus Wiedower, R-Watkinsville, announced Tuesday that he is resigning after six years in the House because the company he works for is growing rapidly. The expansion will require more travel and would take him away from the Capitol during the legislative session, he said in a statement.
“While I’m stepping away from elected office, I look forward to remaining actively involved in our community and continuing to help tackle Georgia’s most pressing challenges, especially attainable housing through my work at Hillpointe,” he said.
The real estate development and investment management firm, headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., was operating in one state six years ago, when Wiedower joined the company as the lone external affairs employee, Wiedower said. It has since expanded to 13 states, and he said he now oversees dozens of employees, consultants and contractors.
Wiedower served as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, among other assignments.
House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, said a special election will be called to elect a successor for House District 121 in Clarke and Oconee counties. Voters must also appoint a successor for Shelly Hutchinson, a Democrat from Snellville, who resigned from House District 106 in September, and for Mandi Ballinger, a Canton Republican who died earlier this month, leaving House District 23 unrepresented.
The Senate also has a vacancy after Atlanta Democrat Jason Esteves resigned from Senate District 35 last month to focus on his campaign for governor.
Voters just filled another Senate vacancy, electing Jason Dickerson to succeed Republican Brandon Beach in District 21 after Beach left office to become U.S. Treasurer. Dickerson, R-Canton, swore his oath of office Oct. 14.
