What is your name?

Eric Castater

Tell us more about yourself.

I am a husband, a stepfather of three kids (including two at Pope High School in East Cobb), an assistant professor of political science at Kennesaw State University, and a local labor leader. I am also a proud Jew. In 2019, my wife and I moved our family to East Cobb from West Virginia to seek greater opportunities. However, since then, our state government has made policy after policy that have taken our opportunities away. These include eliminating a woman’s right to choose, gerrymandering our electoral districts, and hoarding billions of our taxpayer dollars despite chronic underinvestment in education, health care and transportation.

What office are you running for?

State Representative, District 45

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- B.A., Philosophy, Central Connecticut State University, 2004 - M.A., Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2006 - M.B.A., Webster University, Vienna, Austria - Ph.D., Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2015

Provide the link to your campaign website.

www.ericforgeorgia.com

What is your job/occupation?

Assistant professor of political science

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Unincorporated East Cobb/Mountain Creek

Is this your first time running for office?

Yes

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

Earning my doctorate in political science, teaching that subject for 12 years, and conducting research on the causes and consequences of economic inequality in the wealthy democracies has given me a deep understanding of how our state and country’s political system works, the types of state policies that would be most beneficial to Georgians and East Cobb families, and the importance of interacting and exchanging views with those of different backgrounds and political persuasions.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

Restoring a woman’s right to choose in Georgia and strengthening our democracy.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

I will: 1. Work to restore a woman’s right to choose in Georgia. 2. Adopt tax and investment policies that benefit the working and retired many rather than just the wealthy, well-connected few. 3. Promote campaign finance reform to take big money out of our state politics. 4. Not accept campaign contributions from any political action committees (PACs) that represent for-profit interests. 5. Work to ban gerrymandering in our state, expand access to voting, and protect the sanctity of the vote counting and certification process. 6. Hold regular town halls with voters in East Cobb to hear and address their concerns and answer questions.

Do you believe Georgia elections are secure and what additional security measures can be taken?

Multiple recounts and investigations into the 2020 election have shown Georgia’s elections are secure from voter fraud. However, former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overthrow the election results in our state, recent changes to our electoral system by the Republican majority in Atlanta, and insufficient investment in our election infrastructure have made the vote counting and certification process vulnerable to political interference. I will work to repeal and replace laws that have made it easier for politicians to overturn election results and lead efforts to increase investments in our state election infrastructure.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

I believe free markets can provide for most, but not all, of the housing our state and communities require. Since markets are driven by profit, there is a tendency to underproduce housing for those with less wealth and income. Furthermore, the drive for profits that come with market dominance has led to the consolidation of residential units in a small number of large, for-profit companies. Thus, government has a responsibility to enact policies that ensure an adequate amount of quality housing units are available, including through tax incentives and appropriate regulations that ensure ample competition in the residential housing market.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

If people know exactly where to look and exactly what to look for, then public records are relatively accessible in Cobb County. However, it is unclear how well the public is informed about what records are available and how to file an Open Records Request (ORR). Relatedly, the online portal to submit an ORR lacks specificity in terms of what information is required. I support more outreach efforts to inform residents about what types of records are available, why such records might be of interest, and how to access such records. Furthermore, the online portal could provide live or virtual assistants to help filers through the process.