SAVANNAH — Rep. Bill Hitchens has announced that he is seeking reelection to the Georgia House District 161 seat.

Hitchens serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he chairs the Public Safety Sub-Committee. He also serves on the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee, the Economic Development and Tourism Committee, the Rules Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Hitchens was elected in 2012 and has been an important member of the state leadership in dealing with public safety issues. He had served 28 years on the Georgia State Patrol before retiring in 1997. In January 2003, he was selected to be the first director of the Georgia Office of Homeland Security. In December 2004, he was nominated and confirmed to be the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the colonel of the Georgia State Patrol.

Reporting directly to the governor, Hitchens was placed in charge of all state efforts to coordinate law enforcement and public safety operations for the Group of Eight Summit (G-8) held June 8-10, 2004, on Sea Island. The state effort included more than 11,000 public safety and Georgia National Guard personnel from across the state in an effort to protect and secure more than 20 foreign presidents and prime ministers.