Years in office: 20 (10 in Senate)

Profession: Dentist

Committees*: Urban Affairs (chair); Finance; Health and Human Services; Higher Education

Email: lester.jackson@senate.ga.gov

Social media: Facebook

* 2018 session

Issues

Eliminate restriction that prevents law enforcement from destroying firearms and weapons seized from criminals

Strengthen Georgia’s hate crime statute

Mandate that lodging operators provide panic button devices for housekeeping staff

Strengthen statute prohibiting school system employees or volunteers who have sex with students

  • By law, law enforcement is required to turn seized weapons over to the GBI, who then resells them to third parties. Often times, those weapons end up back in the hands of criminals. Police and sheriff’s departments should be allowed to destroy those guns.