He currently serves as Chairman of Juiciary (Non-Civil) Committee and Vice Chairman of Banking and Financial In-stitutions Committee. He is also a member of the Education and Youth, Ethics and Judiciary committees.

Before joining the State Senate, Sen. Stone was the Mayor of Waynesboro from 2003-2007. Since 2003, he has served on the Waynesboro Historic Preservation Commis-sion and the Downtown Development Authority.

His past leadership roles include- Chair of the State Bar's Agricultural Law Section, Secretary of the Middle Judicial Circuit Bar Association, Vice Chair of the East Ga. College Foundation, President of the Swainsboro Primary PTO, Ad-ministrative Board Chairman of Swainsboro First Methodist, President of Burke Co. Genealogical Society, Chairman of Burke Co. Republican Party, Vice Chairman of 12th Con-gressional Dist. Republican Committee, Georgia-Carolina Boy Scout Council, Burke County Health Dept. Board, and Central Savannah River Area RDC Board.

Professionally, Sen. Stone is managing partner at the law firm of Merrill and Stone with offices in Waynesboro and Swainsboro where he specializes in the practice of business reorganization and commercial litigation. He received a joint Masters in Business Administration and Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Georgia.

Sen. Stone and his wife, Amanda, are Episcopalian and they have three children together- Drew, Laura and Sarah.

January 2013 —Senate Press Office