State Rep. Mickey Channell, R-Greensboro, who heads the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has announced he is retiring from the Legislature.
Channell will fill out the remainder of his current term, which will end with the swearing-in of new legislative members on Jan. 12, according to the letter of resignation he sent to Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Channell won re-election on Nov. 4.
Kemp called Monday for a special election for Jan. 6 to replace Channell.
Qualifying will open Dec. 8 and end at noon Dec. 10. The qualifying fee is $400. Voters in Greene, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Taliaferro and Wilkes counties need to be registered by the close of business Dec. 8 to vote in the election.
Channell is a key figure on a special House-Senate committee on transportation funding that could recommend an increase in the state gas tax this month — a measure that could be taken up immediately when the Legislature convenes in January.
As chairman of the House committee in charge of tax policy, Channell was expected to play a key role in any discussion on the gas tax.
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