The Parent Press: Remembering John Lewis, Runoff Elections

Remembering John Lewis

Georgia, the United States, and the world are mourning the passing of civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis at age 80 from complications from pancreatic cancer. Lewis' legacy and words will live in perpetuity, but we have lost a giant, a moral compass, and a powerful voice for dignity, equality and the advancement of civil society.  

No one can replace him, but it is a certainty that my State Senate colleague, Nikema Williams, who is also the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, will succeed him in the next two-year Congressional term that will begin in January.  Under state law, because Congressman Lewis died after the primary and before the general election, the state Party's Executive Committee was tasked with choosing a nominee immediately after his death.  The Committee voted overwhelmingly for Sen. Williams.  There will be a special election, which Gov. Kemp has set for September 29th, to fill the remainder of this two-year term.  I expect that Sen. Williams will win it, but the winner will only be in office for a matter of weeks.  

Today, at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the funeral for Congressman Lewis is taking place, attended by three former Presidents as well as many other dignitaries.  Today, staff for Congressman Lewis released his final good-bye, his final words for the rest of us to carry forward.  I urge you to read them and reflect upon them.  

Congressman John Lewis: 1940-2020

Run-off Elections August 11!

In our district, we have three run-off elections to vote on in the Democratic Primary.  We will miss our fantastic Super District 6 County Commissioner Kathie Gannon.  The two candidates in the runoff for her seat are former Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry and Maryam Ahmad.  Decaturish has Q&A's with both candidates - click forAhmad and Terry.

There is a runoff for State Representative for some of you between long-time incumbent Michele Henson and Zulma Lopez.

There are also run-offs for Sheriff between Melody Maddox and Ruth Stringer (though Melody Maddox, the incumbent, won the next 4-year term without a runoff, so this is just for the remainder of this term) and for Superior Court Judge between Mindy Pillow and Yolanda Parker-Smith. 

Early voting is already underway.  Find your early voting locations here.  You can check your voter status, review a sample ballot, and see  your precinct for day-of voting at mvp.sos.ga.gov. 

Coronavirus Updates: It’s Not Good 

COVID-19 cases in Georgia continue to climb.  Infuriatingly, Governor Kemp has sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and City Council to stop the Mayor’s mask mandate and other public health orders issued to try to bring the pandemic under control.  Today, we received the news that Herman Cain has died from COVID-19.  I remain unsure what political and policy motivations underlie the Governor’s moves, especially because he has encouraged mask-wearing. Needless to say, the lawsuit is a waste of taxpayer money and sends an extremely unhelpful message to the public.  The two sides are in mediation and if any common sense prevails from the Governor’s administration we will hopefully be rowing in the same direction soon.  

The Georgia Department of Public Health has updated some of its charts on its website and they are a more helpful depiction of the extent of the outbreak, so I urge you to check them out.  In DeKalb County, we have had 11,679 cases reported, with 2,462 in the past 2 weeks and 213 total deaths. 

The AJC reported that, in Athens and in Tifton, there are no remaining hospital beds for critical care patients as those ill with COVID-19 choke the system.  Meanwhile, another regional hospital, Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Randolph County, near Albany,  has announced that it will close in 90 days.  There are others in our rural communities that remain on the brink.  The causes are myriad, but one huge issue is that our state leaders have refused to expand Medicaid in Georgia.  I feel that the terrible toll the pandemic is taking on Georgia, and the suffering of our hospital systems, are indicative of failures of leadership by Georgia’s government - both the Governor’s office and the Legislature.  I, and members of my Caucus, have been yelling into the wind on this for years, but there is only one way to change it: VOTE!

Internet Access is a Must for Every Student

The economy across the world is more knowledge-based than ever before, and the learning gaps and regression brought on by missed and virtual schooling due to the pandemic are very concerning.  We can't let COVID19destroy opportunities for millions of America's schoolchildren. In this Op-Ed in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, I argue with West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon that the United States must think big, as we did with the Rural Electrification Act in the 1930s, and invest in broadband internet access for every student. Virtual learning cannot happen without reliable internet access.  We know that millions of children did not have reliable internet access when schooling moved to internet-based in the spring. An alarming number of children did not log on at all and were not heard from again by their school systems.  Virtual schooling is no schooling at all without reliable internet access.  Georgia has been grappling with the need to expand broadband service to rural areas for years now, and it was already a priority.  (Maps showing where broadband access is limited can be viewed at broadband.georgia.gov.  You will be surprised at how much of the state is without good access.)  It goes without saying that the need is now far more urgent. Mayor Cabaldon and I call upon the federal government to make this a priority.  The future success of America's kids, and therefore our country, is in the balance.

Yesterday, Governor Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced some movement on this topic: Georgia is allocating $6 million of its CARES Act funding to K-12 student internet connectivity.  Equipment will be purchased to help connect households without sufficient internet access at home, including WiFi transmitters for school buses that may move around to different neighborhoods, or be affixed to multi-family residential housing if a district chooses. Per the press release, the distribution of equipment to school districts is based on the number of student households in school districts that do not have access to adequate connections at home, districts’ ability to match a small portion of their own funds for internet-enabled remote learning options, and publication of a simple WiFi transmitter deployment plan on the district’s website.

Stay safe, stay well, and please stay home if you can. 

Thank you for the honor of serving as your State Senator!