by Clarence W. Thomas, Jr.
MGI Contributor
thomasjr63@gmail.com
Half a century is a long time to be in politics. It requires a big commitment. Georgia State Senator David E. Lucas would know. That’s because this month marks 50 years the Macon based Legislator of District 26 has been a public servant.
Lucas became the youngest State Representative in the state of Georgia elected to serve in the House of Representatives in 1974. Over time, he became a voice for the voiceless and gatekeeper of his constituents’ interests, verbally boxing during debates with the best and beating them at their own games, for all the right reasons according to many.
He serves on several committees including Appropriations, Transportation, Insurance, Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications. Lucas has a special interest in services for seniors and health care delivery for rural areas. His work on initiatives and successes related to these areas is extensive.
When not on the hill (State Capital in Atlanta) Lucas can be found spending time with family, working his businesses or volunteering for numerous organizations – including 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia and the Coalition for Political Awareness.
Helping youth is a priority as well and Lucas has a good history of impacting young lives through his time as a teacher, football, basketball, and tennis coach and owner/coach of the semi-professional Macon Chiefs football team.
For forty-eight years he has been married to former Macon-Bibb Commissioner and current Macon Water Authority board member Elaine Lucas. They share four children, fifteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Lucas and wife are proud members of Steward Chapel AME Church. “I’m dedicated to my family, church, businesses, and all citizens of the state,” says the Bryron born son of the late David Lucas and retired educator Beatrice Poole Lucas.
During the recent opening legislative session and swearing in of new and returning civil servants this year in Atlanta, Lucas received special recognition for five decades of service and described being a Georgia State Legislator for 50 years in this way. “It’s been my pleasure to serve. I never thought I’d be here this long,” he said as his voice cracked and tears flowed down his cheeks. “This is the place where you get real lessons about Georgia and what it’s about and what it means to do the best we can for our Georgia citizens.”
Lucas looks forward to his future work as a State Senator and shared where his focus will be regarding the continuation of representing his constituents well. “While we have this budget surplus. We need to keep our economic base, which is agriculture going,” he added during the new legislative session. “It’s been a good 50 years. I hope I can do another.”
