Senator Steve Gooch is a Republican representing Georgia's 51st Senate District, which includes Fannin, Union, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Dawson, and Pickens counties, and portions of White and Forsyth counties. Elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2010, he currently serves as Senate Majority Leader , following roles as Majority Whip and chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Notable achievements include passage of the Transportation Funding Act of 2015, earning Georgia Chamber Legislator of the Year , and selection as one of Georgia Trend's Top 100 Influential Georgians for six years. He serves on committees including Transportation , Finance, Appropriations, Regulated Industries and Utilities, and Reapportionment and Redistricting, plus ex-officio roles on Rules, Insurance and Labor, Natural Resources and the Environment, Education and Youth, Ethics, Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security, and Judiciary. Previously, he was the sole Lumpkin County Commissioner and a Georgia Department of Transportation Board Member. He is Executive Director of the Development Authority of Lumpkin County, owns a private environmental services company, serves on the Advisory Board for the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia, and has been a Rotarian since 1989. Married to Shannon, with three sons: Samuel, Seth, and Sawyer.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Master's Degree in Public Administration from North Georgia College and State University .
• Political Experience:
  • Sole Lumpkin County Commissioner .
  • Elected to Georgia State Senate, District 51 .
  • Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus .
  • Chair, Senate Transportation Committee .
  • Senate Majority Whip .
  • Senate Majority Leader .