Don Cheeks of Augusta was first elected to the Georgia Senate from the 23rd District in 1992.

Cheeks, a Democrat, is chairman of the Banking and Financial Institutions committee and vice-chairman of both the Finance and Public Utilities and Transportation committees. He also serves on the prestigious Appropriations committee, as well as the Ethics and Reapportionment committees.

In addition to his standing committee assignments, Cheeks also served on the Senate Defense Conversion Strategies Study Committee which was created to recommend new uses for Georgia military bases which might be closed as a part of defense cutbacks.

He currently represents Georgia on the Transportation Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) and is a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus' Policy Committee.

Senator Cheeks has authored numerous pieces of legislation such as:

Requiring criminal background checks and fingerprinting for principals, teachers, and other certificated professionals. Requiring sanctions against students for the loss or destruction of textbooks or library books. Prohibiting the sale of drug paraphernalia. Requiring HIV testing of people who commit crimes which could lead to the transmittal of AIDS. Requiring sexual offenders to be chemically castrated before being eligible for parole. Prohibiting telephone companies from charging more for touch tone service. Making it illegal for checks to be written as collateral for a greater amount than the loan itself. Changing numerous provisions relating to victim compensation by raising the maximum award to victims. Making partial birth abortions illegal. Prohibiting unfunded mandates from being passed onto local governments. Prior to his election to the Senate, Cheeks served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 18 years. He was also a member of the Augusta City Council for six years.

Cheeks, a retired businessman, is an active community leader. He is a former chairman of the Jaycees, a past-president and district lieutenant governor of the Civitan Club, and a former director of the Augusta Richmond County Public Library. He has also been active in the March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the United Fund and the Elks Club Charity Committee.

He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Young Men's Library Association and is an honorary member of the Richmond County Retired Teachers Association. He sponsored Little League Baseball teams for 30 years.

Born May 1, 1931 in Richmond County, Cheeks attended the Citadel, the University of Georgia, and Augusta Law School. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Cheeks and his wife, the former Betty Horne, are the parents of two grown daughters. He is a member of the Curtis Baptist Church where he has served on the finance committee and as chairman of the Curtis Baptist Church School. The school gymnasium was named in his honor. His wife Betty is a member of the First Baptist Church where they attend. Senator Cheeks is president of the Crusade Sunday School Class at the First Baptist Church.

The 23rd District which Cheeks represents includes Burke, Glascock, Warren and portions of Richmond and Jefferson Counties.

July 1999