As a Georgia State Senator, I am often tasked with making decisions that affect citizens across our great state. However, as a resident and citizen, I understand that cities and local governments are often best attuned to the needs of their districts. That is why in order to impact meaningful change, it is critical that our localities have the authority and control to make decisions that will have a direct effect on their own communities. I am a strong advocate for local control, as I believe that the well-being of a community often results from a healthy partnership between state and local government, and that is exactly what I aim to work toward each legislative session.
It is a common refrain among elected officials that, “All politics is local.” A prime example of this occurred during the 2018 Legislative Session when I worked extensively on House Bill 419, which allows local governments to regulate firework usage through their own noise ordinances. This issue affects local municipalities, and it was important to ensure they had the power to effectively regulate fireworks. There are countless other examples of opportunities where local governments should be allowed to exercise control. There is also a current bill to diminish local zoning laws, which I adamantly oppose. Our community is thriving, and I will work tirelessly to make sure we preserve our charm and positive environment.
For efforts on these bills and others, I was honored with the “Champion of Georgia’s Cities” legislative service award by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) in 2018. This was an honor, as GMA works hard to provide strong leadership under the Gold Dome for its over 500 member cities.
Since then, I have continued to work with GMA on measures that bring additional economic development, jobs, and improvements to existing infrastructure in our cities. Moving forward, I am excited to continue to support the outstanding work done by GMA. It is important for our elected officials to have a collaborative relationship to ensure we remain the No. 1 state for business, and a state our citizens are proud to call home.
Putting trust into our local governments has led to many successes in our district. In a recent report published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV, six out of 10 of the best cities to live in Georgia are in Senate District 56 (Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Milton). Measuring criteria included safety, cost of living, commute time, and population density. This serves as a testament to the people in those cities as well as how support from the state of Georgia in exercising local control can pay dividends to these communities.
As we move forward, it is important to notice the essential work done by our local governments that can sometimes go overlooked. Without them, many of the things we take for granted wouldn’t exist. Next time you see an employee of your local government, whether he/she is a first responder, sanitation worker, or a city councilmember, take the opportunity express your gratitude for his/her contribution to your community. These individuals are key players in ensuring an outstanding quality of life for all of us.
to your business!