Rep. Greg Morris Resigns from Legislature, Gov. Kemp to Set Date for Special Election

District 156 Rep. Greg Morris of Vidalia submitted a letter of resignation from his seat in the State House of Representatives to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday, April 13. The resignation follows his election to the State Board of Transportation as a representative of the 12th Congressional District.

Morris was elected to his new post on March 24 by members of the General Assembly whose areas of representation are wholly or partially in Georgia’s 12th Congressional District. Morris served as District 156 Representative until the end of the Legislative session, at which time his election was certified by the Speaker of the House David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. In accordance with Georgia Code, Governor Brian Kemp will set the qualifying period and the date for a special election to fill Morris’s vacancy. According to the Code, these dates are to be no sooner than 30 days and no more than 60 days following Morris’s resignation.

Morris was elected to his 11th term in the House in 2020. This term ends on the second Monday in January, 2022.

The State Transportation Board is composed of 14 members, one for each Congressional District. The District which Morris represents includes counties in east central and east southern Georgia and is comprised of Appling, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Coffee, Columbia, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Laurens, Montgomery, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen and, Wheeler counties. It also includes parts of Columbia and Effingham counties.

Morris replaces State Transportation Board Member Don Grantham, who served on the Board for nine years. Grantham recently stepped down after being appointed by Governor Kemp to the board of the Georgia Ports Authority. Morris will serve out the remainder Grantham’s term that expires in 2024.

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Morris said of his decision to seek election to the State Transportation Board, “I had served 22 sessions and I knew I was nearing the end of my career on the House but had no scenario I had prepared for leaving suddenly. I intended to fill out this term and possibly one more. It was as sudden for me as anyone else.” He noted, “I would not have left Legislature in the middle of a term for anything other than a seat on the Transportation Board because of its importance in terms of economic development and public safety for the state and our community.” During his tenure in the state Legislature, which began in 1998, Morris served under five governors, five speakers, three state flags and as a member of two political parties. “It was a consequential time in Georgia’s political history and an indescribable honor to serve,” he said.