Lester G. Jackson

Lester G. Jackson III is a state Senator from Chatham County.^[1] He is the 2009 Presidential Appointee to the Democratic National Committee—the first person from the coastal region of Georgia to serve in this capacity in over 19 years.

A Savannah family dentist, Dr. Jackson was first elected to the State Senate in 2008 following 10 years of service in the House of Representatives. He was named Georgia’s Freshman Legislator of the Year in 1999 by Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. He served as Assistant House Majority Whip. The Georgia Dental Association honored him as the Legislator of the Year in 2000 and 2002, and he received the 2001 Distinguished Service Award from the National Dental Association. In 2000, Dr. Jackson was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Boston; and again a delegate in Denver in 2008. He was selected by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus as its Legislator of the Year in 2008 and 2010 because of his ongoing efforts to improve access to health care, support our public schools and make our neighborhoods safer. He is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy Dental Society.

As of 2013, Dr. Jackson serves on the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, and Urban Affairs Committees.^[1] Among many other legislative accomplishments the past 11 years, he was instrumental in bringing property tax reform to Chatham County and its municipalities. He is a strong advocate for mental health funding to keep Georgia’s regional hospitals in operation and expanding access to the PeachCare for Kids program for working families. In the House of Representatives, he also authored the Voluntary Medicine Act, which opened the door for free health clinics throughout the state of Georgia.

A lifelong resident of Savannah and a product of Chatham County public schools, Jackson received the Savannah Community Service Award in 2009. He is also the recipient of the 2009 Savannah State University Alumni Association Legislator of the Year Award. He attended Paine College and in 1985 received his doctor of dental surgery degree from Meharry Medical College. He is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Medical College of Georgia and an Adjunct Professor at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

Senator Jackson is a U.S. Navy veteran and a life member of the NAACP, and a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He is a charter member of the Savannah Chapter of the 100 Black Men, and member of the American Legion, Post 500. He and his wife, Dr. Lorna Jackson, have four children, Charity, Leah, Lester IV and Jonathan.

See also

• List of state government committees (Georgia)

References

External links

• Georgia State Senate bio of Jackson