Representative Jerry Keen
HD 179 (R - St. Simons)
As a native and lifetime resident of Georgia, Jerry and his wife, Alice, reside on St. Simons Island, Georgia. They have been married 39 years and have two sons and six grandchildren.
Jerry just completed his fourth term in the Georgia House of Representatives and is running for his fifth term this year, representing House District 179 in Glynn County. During his time in the legislature, Jerry has authored legislation to eliminate state income tax on capital gains and provide state income tax credits for private donations of green space property to qualified land trusts. Jerry has also been a leader in the movement to reduce and reform ad valorem taxes to property owners in Georgia.
In his first term, he became the first Freshman Republican since reconstruction to pass a constitutional amendment. In 2006 Jerry authored a bill that cracks down on sex offenders by electronically monitoring sexual predators for life and establishing minimum mandatory sentences for those convicted of sex crimes, This law has become the standard for other states to use as a model. He also played a key role in passing legislation such as tort reform, the Voter ID bill and the Woman's Right to Know bill.
On November 2nd, 2004, Republicans won control of the Georgia House of Representatives by electing a Republican Majority for the first time in over 130 years. Jerry was unanimously selected by the Republican Caucus to be the next House Majority Leader.
Jerry currently serves on the Rules, Appropriations, Ethics, Insurance, and Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications committees.
Georgia Trend Magazine once again this year named Jerry Keen as one of their 100 Most Influential Georgians.