Mercer University alumni and legislators Rep. Soo Hong (LAW ’08), Rep. Chuck Efstration (LAW ’08) and Sen. John F. Kennedy (CLAS ’87, LAW ’90) were featured in the Spring 2024 issue of The Mercercian in the article, “Under the Gold Dome: Mercerians leading in the Legislature.” Additional Mercerians serving in the state Legislature during the 2024 legislative session include:
Rep. Clint Crowe (BUS ’12)
- Represents House District 110, portions of Butts, Henry and Newton counties
- Elected in 2020
“It was a rigorous curriculum, but you get to dive deeper into issues and really take ownership of what you’re studying. The things we did at Mercer enabled me to take on a leadership role. It wasn’t just lectures, it was interactive, so you got used to being in a collaborating role. That was a real big benefit for me.”
Sen. David Lucas (Hon. LAW ’02)
- Member of the Senate Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, Regulated Industries and Utilities, Transportation and Urban Affairs Committees
- Represents Senate District 26, Hancock, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson counties and portions of Bibb, Houston and Jones counties
- Elected in 2012
“Mercer has lived up to why we started the School of Medicine, and that was to try and get doctors into rural areas and get health care to the people who need it. The state Legislature has the funds to do what the School of Medicine was started to do, and we get to do the work to change those health outcomes.”
Rep. Farooq Mughal (CLAS ’00)
- Vice Chair of the Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, Public Safety Sub-Committee Chair of the Gwinnett Legislative Caucus, Member of the Georgia Black Legislative Caucus
- Represents House District 105, Buford, Dacula and Lawrenceville
- Elected in 2022
“The Mercer University experience is defined by the value of tradition, academic rigor and excellence. My experience at Mercer gave me the confidence to continue my personal and academic journey in pursuit of a public service career in the legislative and government affairs field.”
Rep. Larry J. “Butch” Parrish (Hon. LAW)
- Chair of the House Rules Committee and serves on the following committees: Banks & Banking, Economic Development & Tourism, Health, Human Relations & Aging, Public Health, Rules, Technology & Infrastructure Innovation. He also serves on the OneGeorgia Authority Overview Committee and the Georgia World Congress Center Overview Committee
- Represents House District 158, Candler, Emanuel and Jenkins counties and portions of Bulloch County
- Elected in 1985
“Being awarded an honorary degree is one of my most proud and honored moments as a legislator. Mercer continues to make a difference in the lives of all Georgians, and I am grateful to be their partner.”
Rep. Matt Reeves (CLAS ’00)
- Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy House Majority Whip, Secretary of the House Redistricting Committee, Judiciary Non-Civil (Criminal Law) Committee
- Gwinnett County House Republican Liaison with the Gwinnett County Public Schools
- Represents House District 99, Suwanee, Sugar Hill and Duluth
- Elected in 2022
“I am proud that my alma mater, Mercer, has been a leader in solving Georgia’s health care primary care access problems. Keep Georgia number one in good things. State government should do a few things and do them well, and leave the rest of the money and authority to hardworking Georgians and local elected officials.”
Rep. Ron Stephens (PHA ’78)
- Chairman of the House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, Member of the Appropriations, Rules, and Ways and Means committees
- Represents House District 164
- Elected in 1997
“Once I entered Mercer, every opportunity that was given to me over and above what I would have gotten anywhere else, in pharmacy, in business and in politics, stems from Mercer. Mercer creates leaders, no question. And we all take pride in going to the Capitol and having Mercer Day, wearing our Mercer ties, the other schools don’t do that. There’s not a person among us who doesn’t puff out their chest proudly saying they’re a graduate of Mercer University. We say it with reverence.”
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of The Mercerian. Read more from the magazine: Mercer University alumni lead state as governor.
