Back Button
Branch Politics Logo

Don't waste hours Googling candidates.
Branch has information on all of your candidates, in one place.

Photo of Karen I. Mathiak

Karen I. Mathiak

REPUBLICAN

Karen I. Mathiak is running for Georgia State Representative, District 82.

Personal background

Karen graduated from Life University in 1984. She lives in Spalding County with her husband Marty and their son, Michael. She also serves as Chair of GCA’s Education Committee, Treasurer of the GCA-PAC, and chairwoman of State Planning and Community Affairs. She attends Open Range Church in Griffin.

Professional background

Karen is a chiropractor and has served as Chairwoman of the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners. She owns the Mathiak Chiropractic Center.

Political background

Karen I. Mathiak was elected in 2016 to represent Georgia District 73 in the Georgia House of Representatives. She has served 4 terms in this role.

Economy

As a State Representative, she passed Senate Bill 366, which prevents companies that receive "economic development incentives" from recognizing unions without the use of secret ballot, sharing an employee's contact information without their consent, or forcing subcontractors to do these activities.

Supports economic growth through a $37.9 billion amended budget with investments in infrastructure, technology, education, housing, and healthcare, including an increase in funds for retirees, the local road assistance program, and improvements to the buildings on Capitol Hill.

Supports economic growth and wants to fund workforce housing, infrastructure, and development programs to attract and retain businesses, with significant investments in rural areas and low-interest loans for water projects.

Read more...

Suggest an edit

Energy & the Environment

Plans to require solar power facility agreements to provide procedures for the decommissioning of a solar power facility

Supports House Bill 409, which would authorize specified local authorities that operate public water or sewer systems in specified instances.

Suggest an edit

Healthcare

Supports the right for patients to have a designated essential caregiver present during their stay in hospitals or long-term care facilities, except in restricted areas, through the "No Patient Left Alone Act."

Supports Senate Bill 455, which would remove the requirement of the "step therapy protocol" for the treatment of mental illness.

As State Representative, passed SB 480 offering student loan repayment to mental health and substance use professionals serving underserved areas in Georgia.

Read more...

Suggest an edit

Voting & Elections

Supports Senate Bill 368 to ban foreign nationals from donating to political entities and mandates registration and disclosure for agents of foreign principals engaging with government officials

Supports HB 986 which criminalizes the creation and distribution of AI-generated deep fakes intended to disrupt elections, with penalties including fines and imprisonment, while permitting AI content with proper disclosure.

Supports enhancing election security by mandating visible watermark features on official Georgia ballots

Read more...

Suggest an edit

Public Safety

Supports increased public safety funding, including raises for law enforcement, re-entry programs for inmates, and resources for domestic violence and sexual assault centers, emphasizing crime prevention, victim support, and professional retention in policing.

Supports House Bill 993 which criminalizes online grooming with felony charges with up to five years' felony imprisonment.

Supports Senate Bill 395, "Wesley’s Law," to exempt opioid antagonists like Narcan from being classified as dangerous drugs for overdose prevention, allowing possession and administration on school property and requiring public schools to maintain a supply.

Read more...

Suggest an edit

Education

Plans to support Georgia's K-12 education with a $14.1 billion budget for Quality Basic Education (QBE), raises for educators and staff, meal subsidies, literacy programs, school safety grants, and increased funding for student transportation in FY 2025.

Supports an additional $1 million for Communities in Schools and $57.5 million in lottery funds for early education improvements, including smaller class sizes and better pay for Pre-K teachers in Georgia.

Supports Senate Bill 464 to enhance student literacy and provide educators with funds for classroom supplies, including free reading screeners and a program for purchasing school materials in Georgia.

Read more...

Suggest an edit