The Lineage of Georgia House District 157: Honoring Our Heritage and the Sacred Trust of Public Service

In South Georgia, we understand the difference between temporary ownership and lasting stewardship.

When a farmer takes over a parcel of family land, he doesn’t treat the soil like something he invented. He knows the fathers and grandfathers who plowed those terraces before him. He knows the hard winters, the washouts, and the summer droughts they endured. And above all, he knows that one day, he will have to account for how he cared for that dirt before passing it on to the next generation.

Serving in the Georgia General Assembly is no different.

The seat in the House of Representatives does not belong to the person whose name is engraved on the brass desk in Atlanta. It does not belong to a political party, and it certainly does not belong to the lobbyists and corporate donors who crowd the Capitol hallways.

It belongs entirely to the people.

As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter for Georgia House District 157, I believe it is vital that we pause, look back, and honor those who sat in this seat before us. Understanding our history is how we keep ourselves grounded, humble, and accountable to the people who sent us there.

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The Four Leaders Who Held District 157

Since the modern 180-district system was established in Georgia, four public servants have taken the oath to represent House District 157. Each came from different backgrounds, served during different eras, and guided the district through major transitions:

Representative	Tenure	Party	Geography & Key Counties
Ray Holland	1993 - 2003 (10 Years)	Democrat	Ashburn, GA (Worth, Turner, Lee)
Jon G. Burns (Current House Speaker)	2005 - 2013 (8 Years)	Republican	Newington, GA (Effingham, Bulloch, Screven, Burke)
Delvis Dutton	2013 - 2015 (2 Years)	Republican	Glennville, GA (Tattnall, Wayne)
Bill Werkheiser	2015 - 2026 (11+ Years)	Republican	Glennville, GA (Tattnall, Evans, Jeff Davis, Appling)

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1. Ray Holland (1993 - 2003): The Foundational Era

Before 1993, the Georgia House used a confusing system of multi-member posts, where multiple representatives shared larger districts numbered 1 through 156.

Following the 1990 U.S. Census, Georgia transitioned under Speaker Tom Murphy to 180 single-member districts. For the very first time, the number “District 157” appeared on Georgia legislative ballots in the 1992 election.

The man chosen by voters to inaugurate that seat was Ray Holland, an attorney and native son of Ashburn in Turner County. A graduate of the University of Georgia and the UGA School of Law, Holland had represented District 136 under the old multi-member system before seamlessly transitioning to the newly created District 157.

During his ten years representing District 157, Holland became a pillar of institutional knowledge. He served on the House Appropriations Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and rose to Vice Chairman of the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee.

Holland understood the pressures facing rural family farms and small-town schools. His service concluded in 2003 when a statewide redistricting map temporarily eliminated the district number before court-ordered redistricting restored it.

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2. Jon G. Burns (2005 - 2013): From District 157 to the Speaker’s Gavel

Following federal court rulings in 2004 that restored single-member legislative balance across Georgia, District 157 was reinstated. In that redistricting shift, the district’s geography moved to east-central Georgia, covering Effingham, Bulloch, Screven, and Burke counties.

In November 2004, the voters of District 157 elected Jon G. Burns, an agribusinessman and timber grower from Newington in Effingham County.

Burns represented District 157 for four consecutive terms (2005 to 2013). Known for a consensus-building approach and a fierce dedication to rural infrastructure, Burns quickly gained the respect of his colleagues across the aisle.

When the 2011 redistricting cycle shifted Burns’s home base into House District 159, his legislative career continued to soar. He rose to House Majority Leader in 2015, and in January 2023, he was elected as the 75th Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, leading the entire 180-member chamber today.

Speaker Burns’s journey from freshman representative in District 157 to the highest legislative office in Georgia stands as a powerful reminder of the caliber of leadership that can rise from rural communities.

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3. Delvis Dutton (2013 - 2015): The Glennville Anchor Begins

In the 2011 redistricting plan, the footprint of District 157 relocated directly into southeast Georgia, anchoring in Tattnall and Wayne counties.

The voters selected Delvis Dutton, a local small business owner from Glennville. Dutton had previously served District 166 before being redistricted into District 157, where he was elected unopposed in 2012 with over 11,800 votes.

Dutton brought a staunchly independent, grassroots perspective to Atlanta, championing constitutional rights, fiscal restraint, and local community autonomy during his tenure from 2013 through 2015.

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4. Bill Werkheiser (2015 - 2026): A Decade of Steadfast Service

In 2014, Bill Werkheiser, also of Glennville, was elected to represent District 157. For more than a decade, Representative Werkheiser served as the steady voice for our communities under the Gold Dome.

Werkheiser’s legislative impact was substantial. He rose to become Chairman of the prestigious House Industry and Labor Committee, where he held oversight over statewide employment regulations, workforce pipelines, and commerce.

Throughout his five terms, Werkheiser guided District 157 through major regional transformations, including the 2021 redistricting that established the current four-county footprint linking Appling, Evans, Jeff Davis, and Tattnall counties.

Whether working on emergency storm relief after hurricane seasons, advocating for rural hospitals, or navigating the complex economic demands of Plant Hatch and local agriculture, Bill Werkheiser conducted himself with gentlemanly composure and deep loyalty to Southeast Georgia.

In the May 19, 2026 primary election, after ten years of faithful service, Representative Werkheiser was defeated in the Republican primary by challenger Bradley Anderson.

Regardless of party lines, our campaign extends sincere gratitude to Bill Werkheiser and his family for their ten-plus years of personal sacrifice and dedicated service on behalf of our hometowns.

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The Lessons of History: A Lease, Not a Title

Studying this roster teaches us two fundamental truths:

First, districts are not static lines on a map; they are living communities of real families.

Over thirty years, the number 157 has traveled from the peanut fields of Turner and Worth, through the timber stands of Effingham, to the onion fields and river valleys of Tattnall, Evans, Appling, and Jeff Davis. While mapmakers in Atlanta draw lines every ten years, the fundamental needs of rural Georgians remain constant: good-paying local jobs, accessible healthcare, reliable infrastructure, and strong public schools.

Second, public office is a lease that must be renewed by the voters every two years.

Ray Holland, Jon Burns, Delvis Dutton, and Bill Werkheiser all understood that no one inherits a seat in the Georgia House. You have to earn it. And you earn it not by hiding behind mail pieces or staying silent, but by standing in front of your neighbors and answering to them.

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Why Showing Up Matters: October 17 in Glennville

That deep respect for heritage brings us to the present moment.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM, we are continuing this tradition of democratic accountability. Our campaign reserved the South Tattnall Middle School Gym in Glennville - the very hometown of both Delvis Dutton and Bill Werkheiser - for a community forum.

Weeks ago, we extended a respectful, open invitation to Republican nominee Bradley Anderson to join me on stage for an open debate. We believed the voters of District 157 deserved to hear both candidates discuss their visions for healthcare, utility bills, Smith State Prison, agricultural taxes, and local job growth.

Recently, Mr. Anderson’s campaign informed us that he has declined to participate.

I respect his personal decision, and our campaign will not engage in petty rhetoric. But I want to make one thing unmistakably clear:

Our invitation to Bradley Anderson remains open until the second we take the stage at 6:00 PM.

An empty podium, a working microphone, and half the stage will be waiting for him. If he changes his mind, he is warmly welcomed to take his place.

And if he chooses not to attend, the doors of South Tattnall Middle School Gym will still be wide open.

We will not cancel on the people of this district. Instead, the evening will be an Open District 157 Community Town Hall & Unfiltered Public Q&A.

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Event Details

District 157 Candidate Town Hall & Community Forum

• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
• Time: Starting at 6:00 PM
• Location: South Tattnall Middle School Gym
• Address: 721 E Barnard St, Glennville, GA 30427 (Tattnall County)
• Admission: 100% Free | Families & All Political Affiliations Welcome
• Format: Open Floor Microphone | No Screened Cards | Unfiltered Constituent Q&A

Whether you are a lifelong conservative, an independent, a Democrat, or someone voting for the first time, you have a right to question the people who ask to represent you.

Every leader who came before us understood that accountability is not optional in rural Georgia.

I look forward to seeing you in Glennville on October 17. Bring your neighbors, bring your family, and bring your questions.

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To RSVP, add the event to your calendar, or submit a question ahead of time, visit votega157.com/get-involved/.