Howard Maxwell To Retire From House At End Of Term

Republican Paulding County House Member Howard Maxwell will not seek re-election, but will instead retire after three decades of public service, including his eight terms in the Georgia House. While not the kind of Chairman that seeks headlines, Maxwell has a reputation of a steady force under the gold dome. The Dallas based district will be looking for a new member for the first time since the 2002 election, seeking to fill big and productive shoes.

Updated: We’ve received word that local businessman Martin Momtahan is assembling a campaign team and will enter the race to succeed Maxwell very soon.

The press release announcing Maxwell’s retirement is below:

ATLANTA – Today, State Representative Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) announced that he will not seek re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives. After thirty years of public service, he will depart the General Assembly at the conclusion of his current term. He has represented portions of Paulding County since his election to the House of Representatives in 2003.

“I’ve been blessed to serve my neighbors, my community and this state as a member of the House,” said Representative Maxwell. “It has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am tremendously grateful to the residents of Paulding County who trusted me to represent them.”

“Howard Maxwell is as good a man as you can find,” said Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “While I’m sad to see him leave the General Assembly, he has certainly earned the pleasure of spending more time with his friends and family. He is a trusted member of our House leadership team, and he will leave some big shoes to fill.”

Representative Maxwell currently serves as Chairman of the House Regulated Industries Committee. He previously served as Chairman of the Retirement Committee as well as Chairman of the Information and Audits Committee.

Representative Maxwell has been honored for his legislative services and received the Policy Maker of the Year award in 2010 from the Georgia Association for Career & Technical Education and Legislator of the Year 2009-2010 from the Georgia Branch of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).

Before being elected to represent District 17, Representative Maxwell served as the
Chairman of the Paulding County School Board for five years and as Vice Chairman for four years. His ten year involvement with the Georgia School Board Workers’ Compensation Fund included five years as Chairman.

Representative Maxwell has been an active part of several community and civic organizations including the Dallas Rotary Club, WellStar Paulding Hospital Board, the Georgia Association of Insurance Agents and Financial Advisors, American Legislators Exchange Council, Leadership Paulding 20 and the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce.

After graduating from Dallas High School, Representative Maxwell went on to attend Georgia State University, where he earned his B.B.A. in accounting. He served in the United States Army and did a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam from 1969-1970.

Representative Maxwell owned and operated the Howard Maxwell Insurance Agency in Cartersville, Ga. from 1984 until his retirement earlier this year. He spent a total of 40 years in the insurance industry with Allstate Insurance.