A born leader steps down: Rep. Mack Jackson announces retirement from the state legislature

By Margaret Schell

S ince the 7th grade, Rep. Mack Jackson (D-128) ('79) knew he was born to serve others by fighting for their cause. This became clear as he watched in awe former President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address.

"Kennedy said, 'Ask not what this country can do for you, but ask what you can do for this country.' "That resonated with me as a kid," Jackson said.

It still does today. He's been serving in the Georgia House of Representatives for 18 years. In January 2027, he will step down. In the meantime, his good works continue.

"There are many needs for people in rural communities," he said. "Connecting them to essential resources will benefit them while making progress in these areas."

Jackson has served on a total of eight legislative committees, including:

Health Committee

He learned about healthcare needs in rural communities and Medicaid and Medicare, especially for the elderly, because they don't have private-pay insurance, which fully reimburses physicians. Rural hospitals and patients suffer, as patients drive miles to the nearest hospital only to be seen in the emergency room rather than by a primary care physician.

"We live in a healthcare desert in rural communities," he said. "So, we looked for ways to incentivize students who are finishing medical school to work in our rural communities."

Rural Development Committee

Jackson served as chair of the Rural Development Council. The council traveled to Georgia's rural communities and brought legislation to help rural areas have the same economic development prosperity that metro areas enjoy.

"That was one of the most interesting and inspiring committees I've served on," Jackson said. "The Rural Physician Tax Credit (HB 82) came out of this committee."

The credit puts $2 million in the budget annually to incentivize dentists and physicians to practice in rural communities by getting a break on their state income tax."

Transportation Committee

"I see how funds are allocated for new roads," he said. "We're making progress on our roads. GDOT is resurfacing them, and our interstates and bridges are safer."

Lessons learned from being a Bobcat

The principles Rep. Jackson learned from his criminal justice studies at Georgia College & State University served him well as a probation officer. Once he retired from the State of Georgia, his studies also helped him as a state legislator.

"We dealt with gun bills and safety," Jackson said. "We examined several pieces of legislation that my education in criminal justice helped me understand."

He found District Attorney Joseph Briley, former adjunct lecturer at Georgia College, interesting, as Briley discussed his prosecuted cases.

"We also talked a lot about juvenile justice," Jackson said. "I worked with the youth."

Jackson is involved with the Georgia Justice Project in Atlanta. The project has lawyers who volunteer to help people get their criminal records expunged, so they can vote, find housing and jobs.

"This is one of the greatest things I can do to help people get a second chance," he said.

"When people say, 'Look, I can't do this because of my record,' they'll know where and how to direct people to the resources they need," Jackson said.

"We can't look down on people especially in our rural communities," he said. "We need to serve them."

Jackson helped an elderly couple who were enticed by a scammer to switch their state insurance. They did and lost their insurance. After several calls, Jackson corrected the situation for them.

"Their smiles and gratitude have been on my mind since I've been a state representative," he said. "To know that I helped them at that stage of life when they had nobody else to turn to makes me happy."

Jackson enjoyed serving as a state representative but feels it's time to give the next generation a shot at success.

"Young people come along with so much energy and knowledge," he said. "I'm excited to see what they'll bring to the table - how they're going to change society and culture. These young people need a chance to exercise their skills. So, let's move out of the way, watch them and see what they're going to do in society."