CLARKESVILLE - Habersham County Commission Chairman Jim Butterworth announced his candidacy Tuesday for the 50th District Senate seat now held by Nancy Schaefer, who is giving the post up to run for Congress.
Butterworth will run as a Republican for the district which includes all of Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun, Stephens and Towns counties as well as a portion of White County.
His announcement came one day after former Cornelia City Commissioner Terry Rogers announced plans to seek the Senate seat.
Schaefer is giving up the post to run for the 10th District Congressional post now held by Paul Broun, who won a special election last year to replace the late Charlie Norwood.
Butterworth, 41, was born in Macon, but grew up in Habersham County. He graduated from Habersham Central High School in 1984 and received a bachelor of arts in political science from The University of Georgia in 1988. He was elected to the Habersham Board of Commisioners in 2004 and currently serves as the board's chairman.
Butterworth is a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Georgia Air National Guard. He was an Air Force pilot from 1988-2000 and has flown for Delta Air Lines since 1999. He and his wife of 12 years, Amy, reside in Demorest and have three children: Blake, Claire and Jack. They attend Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville.
Friday
April 25th, 2025
9:51PM
