ATLANTA— The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) today honored state Representative Tom Graves (R-Ranger) as its “Legislator of the Year.”
The “Legislator of the Year” Award is given to state legislators who are ALEC members in good standing and 
have distinguished themselves by advancing, introducing and/or enacting policies based on the fundamental Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism and individual liberty.
Graves peers honored him with the award for his work on the Jobs, Opportunity and Business Success Act of 2009 (JOBS Act).
“It has been a pleasure to work with the leadership of the Georgia House and ALEC to formulate a true economic stimulus proposal for Georgia,” said Rep. Graves. “We recognize that sustainable job creation only results from the expansion of the private sector and not from the expansion of government. Hats off to ALEC for their tireless effort to advance sound public policy based on Jeffersonian principles.”
Graves received the award for his authorship and passage of The JOBS Act, HB 481 and 482, which received national attention. These bills were focused on helping small businesses and creating, expanding and attracting jobs through a series of tax credits, cuts, and incentives for businesses to hire Georgians.
ALEC’s 36th Annual Meeting, which began this past Wednesday and wraps up July 18, featured former U.S. Senator and Georgia Governor Zell Miller, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and others who addressed an audience of nearly 1,500 state legislators and business leaders in Atlanta.
* A picture of Representative Tom Graves receiving the ALEC “Legislator of the Year” Award is attached for your convenience. *
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Representative Tom Graves is in his fourth term representing House District 12, which includes portions of Bartow, Gordon, and Pickens counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, and currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Motor Vehicles Committee. He also serves on the Health & Human Services, Transportation, and Ways & Means Committees.
Graves grew up in White, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance. Graves is a small businessman, past member of the Gordon County Board of Elections and an active member of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Julie, a native of Marietta, and the couple has three children, JoAnn, J.T., and Janey. They attend the Belmont Baptist Church in Calhoun.