Andy Garrison of Jefferson is running to represent District 50 in the Georgia Senate. 

Garrison, a Republican, is the principal managing partner of Inland Realty in Jefferson and president of The Garrison Company. He retired in 2011 as the director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Athens, formerly known as the Northeast Georgia Police Academy. He recently completed a year as chairman of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

“During my tenure at the Chamber and through my business, I have seen north Georgia change. Even though change is inevitable, I believe it can be managed in order to make the change beneficial to our communities,” Garrison said in a statement. “As your next Senator, I will bring a lifetime of commitment to ethics and common sense to Atlanta and will represent you by listening and being your voice in the Senate.”

He has also been involved with local community volunteer groups since the early 1980s. He has worked with the Hurricane Shoals Tumbling Water Society, Jefferson’s Community Theater, Sons of the American Legion and various local business associations. He has an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in public administration from Brenau University.

The district includes parts of Jackson, Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Rabun, Stephens and Towns counties.

John Wilkinson, who currently holds the seat, is running to represent Georgia’s 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.