David Ralston was a Republican politician and an American attorney who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2003 until his death. He was also the 73rd Speaker of the House beginning in 2010.
Ralston was the state’s longest-serving Republican Speaker and the Georgia General Assembly’s longest-serving Speaker since Tom Murphy.
At the age of 68, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston passed away.
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston died Wednesday at the age of 68, according to his spokeswoman Kaleb McMichen, less than two weeks after announcing his retirement due to health issues. McMichen’s statement merely said that Ralston died after “a lengthy illness.”
Democrat Calvin Smyre of Columbus, the longest-serving member of the House and a friend of Ralston’s said,
“A great pine tree has fallen in the Georgia House of Representatives,”.
Scott Holcomb tweeted,
“In a toxic political environment, his friendship meant the world to me,” “We forged progress where we could, and did not hold grudges when we went in different directions.”
At the time of his passing, the state house speaker with the longest term in the United States.
In 1992, while Democrats had the majority, David Ralston won his first election to the Georgia Senate. Before being chosen for the House of Representatives in 2002, he lost the campaign for attorney general in 1998 to Democrat Thurbert Baker.
Failed Suicide Attempt and Allegations of an extramarital affair
Ralston was modeled after Tom Murphy, a west Georgia Democrat who presided over the House from 1973 to 2003 and held the record for the longest tenure as a state house speaker in the United States at the time of his death.
After a turbulent period during which Glenn Richardson, the first Republican speaker in more than 130 years, resigned due to a failed suicide attempt and allegations of an extramarital affair with a lobbyist, Ralston was elected. In 2008, Ralston ran against Richardson for speaker but lost.
When Ralston announced his resignation earlier this month, Terry England, the outgoing chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and an Auburn Republican, said, “He brought a calm and steady hand to the House when it needed a calm and steady hand.
“When Ralston announced his resignation earlier this month, Terry England, the outgoing chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and an Auburn Republican, said, “He brought a calm and steady hand to the House when it needed a calm and steady hand.”
Ralston was viewed by some Republicans as being too amenable to Democrats. Ralston was in charge of a broad variety of Republican initiatives and was always willing to lower taxes.
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He boasted of a state income tax decrease that was enacted this year and may eventually save $2 billion in taxes. However, with the passing of Ahmaud Arbery in 2020, he assisted in saving a hate crimes law from legislative limbo. One of Ralston’s closest friends in the General Assembly, Mary Margaret Oliver of Decatur, was his co-sponsor on this year’s mental health legislation.
Because of their tight relationship, Ralston would give Democrats a courteous hearing and sometimes grant some of their legislative requests.
Personal Life, Wife and Early Life
David Ralston was born in Ellijay, Georgia, on March 14, 1954 (68 years old). He holds an American nationality and he belongs to the white ethnicity. His Zodiac sign is Pisces.
David Ralston was married to Sheree and has two adult children.
David Ralston attended Young Harris College, North Georgia College and State University, and the University of Georgia School of Law.
