Dale Washburn

Roy Dale Washburn was born on December 13, 1950, in Macon, Georgia. He is a Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives representing District 144, which includes Jasper County as well as portions of Bibb, Jones, Monroe, and Putnam counties. He was first elected in 2018 to District 141 and began his service in January 2019. He was re-elected in 2020 with no opposition and currently represents the reconfigured District 144.

Washburn is a lifelong resident of Macon and describes himself as a family man. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Donna, for 49 years and has four adult children and five grandchildren. He is a member of Ingleside Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon.

Education

Washburn was educated in the Jones County Public School System and attended Macon State College, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1989. Throughout his real estate career, he pursued additional professional education, obtaining a Georgia Real Estate Broker's License and a Georgia Real Estate Licensing Instructor's License. He has taught real estate licensing and continuing education courses for several years and authored two textbooks and several continuing education courses.

Political Experience

Washburn's career in real estate began in 1975. He founded The Dale Washburn School of Real Estate in 1980 and established his own firm, Washburn and Associates, in 1999, where he continues to serve as principal broker and founder. He was named Georgia Realtor of the Year in 2004 and is a member of the Georgia Realtor Hall of Fame.

Before entering the Georgia House, Washburn served as Vice Chairman of the Jones County Commission, where he focused on modernizing the county land use plan and expanding the county water system.

In the Georgia House, Washburn has successfully passed legislation focused on business and private property rights. He has sponsored bills that passed both the House and Senate and were signed into law by the Governor, including House Bills 270 and 280 in 2021, and House Bills 476 and 342 in 2022. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Regulated Industries Committee and Vice Chair of the Public Health Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Banks and Banking, Creative Arts and Entertainment, Higher Education, Small Business Development, Urban Affairs, and Ways and Means committees.

Washburn has been active in the REALTOR organization and has worked extensively on governmental affairs related to real estate issues and private property rights at local, state, and federal levels. He has chaired study committees on housing and the Georgia Ad Valorem taxation system, areas he continues to prioritize in his legislative work.