State Senator Jeff Mullis, a Republican from Chickamauga is seeking his fourth term in the Georgia State Senate representing Chattooga, Walker, Dade and a portion of Catoosa Counties.  Mullis is known to be a strong ally of Governor Sonny Perdue and is the Chairman of the influential Senate Transportation Committee. Mullis qualified to run on the Republican ticket earlier in the week. Sen. Jeff Mullis was first elected to the State Senate in 2000. 

There was some question if a Democratic challenger would be facing Senator Mullis.  On Friday, Walker County Sheriff’s deputy Bruce Coker qualified to run on the Democratic ballot against Mullis for the 53^rd Senate seat.  This is Coker’s second run for State Senate against Mullis having run in the last election against the incumbent state senator.  Coker stated in his last election that jobs and the methamphetamine epidemic were his primary concerns for Northwest Georgia.