The cost of living in Georgia has increased sharply in recent years, making it harder for families to keep up even when they are working full-time. Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach, due to rising rent prices and stagnant wages. 

As a state representative, I would support:

• Raising the minimum wage, which is currently set at $5.15 an hour. 

• Reevaluating housing policies that allow unchecked rent increases 

• Stopping tax and power bill breaks to corporations and the ultra wealthy

• Eliminating the flat tax and implementing a progressive tax

Housing costs should not consume the majority of a paycheck! Many Georgians say they cannot even afford to move within their own neighborhoods, while developers continue building housing that is out of reach for working families. Corporate investors are buying up homes, rent keeps climbing, and homeownership is becoming harder to achieve. In Georgia, more than 650,000 renters spend over 30% of their income on rent, while the state continues to face a major shortage of affordable housing units for low-income families.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Investing in affordable housing programs like housing assistance and property tax relief 

• Eliminating property tax for folks whose homes are valued at under $100,000. 

• Banning corporate investors buying up homes 

• Addressing the shortage of affordable rental units 

• Incentivizing home builders to build affordable homes

Childcare is one of the most expensive and unstable challenges faced by working families in Georgia. At least $1.75 billion in economic activity is lost due to childcare disruptions, along with over $100 million in tax revenue. When childcare falls through, jobs, income, and stability are affected for families across Georgia. Families in Georgia face some of the highest costs in the country, with infant care averaging around $11,000 per year, which is the second largest expense behind housing.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Universal childcare

• Strengthening state-level programs for early childhood programs like Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten

• Supporting childcare providers with higher pay and more resources 

Politicians keep protecting insurance companies and corporate interests while regular people pay more and get less. Families are paying more every year for insurance, prescriptions, and hospital bills while insurance companies and drug corporations rake in record profits. People want lower healthcare costs, access to rural hospitals, and maternity care. 

As a state representative, I would support: 

• Keeping federal tax dollars in Georgia. We are already paying for other states to have Medicaid; we should benefit, too! Expanding Medicaid means hundreds of thousands more Georgians would have coverage. 

• Requiring hospitals and insurance companies have price transparency so that you are not surprised by your bill

• Protecting and funding rural hospitals. No one should have to drive for hours to get health care. Our state’s priority should be ensuring folks are taken care of; not protecting the profits of hospital CEOs.

Georgia is 21st in teacher pay and teachers are leaving the profession at a time when students are in need. Many students can’t access mental health services, which can contribute to academic burnout, higher dropout rates, and substance abuse. Georgia public schools have faced serious complaints over failures to meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

As a state representative, I would support:

• Raising teacher and school staff salaries so Georgia can keep qualified educators in their classrooms

• Expanding school mental health resources and after school programs

• Making school lunch free for all students 

• Holding school districts accountable for special education services

• Investing in rural public schools so a student’s home address does not determine the quality of their education or the safety of their school buildings! 

• Expanding funding for the Georgia Department of Education so that all disabled students are protected

In 2024, there was a school shooting in my district. At Apalachee High School, a 14 year old killed two students and two teachers. In a typical school year, 35-40 shootings happen at US schools. Why have we not done anything to protect our children?

As a state representative, I would support:

• Strengthening efforts to prevent gang violence and violent crime 

• Investing in school safety measures so students are protected in their classrooms 

• Passing common sense gun reform and red flag laws

• Incentivizing gun owners to have proper gun storage 

• Implementing a voluntary buy back program

• Holding parents accountable if their child is a school shooter

• Closing loop holes for gun shows (selling guns to folks without background checks)

More than half a million Georgians are unemployed or unable to find full-time work, even though many are willing to work if given the chance. At the same time, employers find difficulty finding skilled workers quickly enough to meet demand. Workers also face barriers in the systems meant to support them, including weeks-long waits for unemployment checks that leave families without income during critical periods. Small businesses are also under pressure dealing with labor shortages and an unpredictable legal environment.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Modernizing workforce systems so job seekers can access support and unemployment benefits without worrisome delays

• Expanding job training and apprenticeship programs opportunities so programs can find skilled workers and Georgians can have stable jobs

• Supporting small businesses with more predictable policies and targeted relief 

• Raising taxes on corporations that are using AI to reduce their workforce

Georgia’s transportation system is inefficient for those who rely on it every day. Traffic congestion is wasting time and the air quality is worsening, contributing to health problems. Atlanta is among the most congested cities in the country. The state’s car-centered transportation system increases costs for families (gas and vehicle expenses) while worsening the environment. Transit systems operate far below their potential and are an unreliable alternative to driving.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Investing in modern, reliable public transit systems 

• Expanding infrastructure funding to reduce congestion

Georgia is facing growing concerns around environmental quality and access to clean water, especially near areas experiencing development. In Morgan County, residents have reported issues with drinking water quality, blaming the nearby data-center development as a possible contributing issue. Georgia ranks among the worst states for urban air quality, with pollution contributing to higher rates of chronic illness and making it harder for people to work and stay healthy.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Investing in clean air initiatives that reduce pollution and protect public health 

• Strengthening environmental regulation of large development projects so local resources are not strained or contaminated

• Stop data centers from being built, which are wasting water and public resources

In Georgia, the LIFE Act was signed into law in 2019, restricting abortion access once a human heartbeat is detected, with only narrow exceptions for medical emergencies. In cases of rape or incest, it is required to have filed a police report and there are strict gestational limits. Georgia is thus one of the most dangerous states for a pregnant woman, with a maternal mortality rate of 40.8 deaths per 100,000 live births.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Overturning the 6-week abortion ban and putting reproductive freedom on the ballot in Georgia 

• Reducing mandatory waiting periods and restrictive requirements that delay time-sensitive medical care

• Expanding access to quality prenatal and reproductive healthcare 

• Expanding sex education funding and incentivizing public schools to have curriculum on sex education

Recent changes in federal voting law have raised concerns about fair representation in Georgia and across the nation. A Supreme Court ruling weakened parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, making it more difficult to challenge congressional maps that may dilute minority power.

As a state representative, I would support:

• Overturning any gerrymandered maps that dilute the voting power of the Black community

• Reducing unnecessary barriers for people with past felony convictions who have completed their sentences 

• Removing voting barriers for students who go to Georgia Public Colleges and Universities 

• Expanding voting locations and drop boxes