AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

LinkedIn

Lisa has a bachelor's degree in information technology from American InterContinental University, a master's degree in education from Mercer University, a PhD in Nonprofit/Public/Organizational Management from Capella University, and a master's degree of education from Georgia State University. Lisa is the current vice chair of the Georgia Black Republican Council and is the Georgia State Director for Virginia Women for Trump. She attends Free Chapel Church and has two adult children. 

Lisa works as a TEACH Gwinnett Supervisor for Gwinnett County Public Schools. She is also the Chairperson and creator of the non-profit organization Maranatha House Ministries, that fights against homelessness. She also works as an adjunct professor through Southeastern University and as a Life Coach for N destructible 7. Previously, she spent fifteen years teaching math and science in the public school system in Georgia, was a Training Administrator for Avery Dennison, and Associate Vice President for the Bank of America.

Lisa Babbage ran for U.S. House for Georgia District 7 in 2020 and 2022, but did not win. 

Opposes government funding for affordable housing, saying "if families made enough money to take care of themselves we wouldn’t be talking about affordable housing."

- Opposes government funding for affordable housing, saying "if families made enough money to take care of themselves we wouldn’t be talking about affordable housing."

Economy

As of July 25, 2024, Lisa Babbage’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Medium: Lisa Babbage

Healthcare

Supports measures to protect ballot drop boxes, and believes that Georgia elections are secure.  

Said "there is always more that can be done to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat."

- Supports measures to protect ballot drop boxes, and believes that Georgia elections are secure.  
- Said "there is always more that can be done to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat."

Voting & Elections

Alt. Candidate Website

Opposes gun control, and says "National security also means keeping its citizens armed... Legal gun ownership is an American principle and I support our second amendment."

Supports  “own recognizance” release for non-violent incarcerated individuals following a counseling session. These programs allow formerly incarcerated people to "maintain employment, housing, custody, as well as prepare defenses" without debt. 

Plans to decriminalize traffic offenses and reduce penalties for minor misdemeanors, including vandalism, public drunkenness, trespassing.

Supports decreasing police brutality, aggression, and profiling, through ongoing sensitivity training and evaluation. 

- Opposes gun control, and says "National security also means keeping its citizens armed... Legal gun ownership is an American principle and I support our second amendment."
- Supports  “own recognizance” release for non-violent incarcerated individuals following a counseling session. These programs allow formerly incarcerated people to "maintain employment, housing, custody, as well as prepare defenses" without debt. 
- Plans to decriminalize traffic offenses and reduce penalties for minor misdemeanors, including vandalism, public drunkenness, trespassing.
- Supports decreasing police brutality, aggression, and profiling, through ongoing sensitivity training and evaluation. 

Public Safety

Supports programs for grades 3 through 8 to prevent youth incarceration and end "the school-to-prison pipeline." These programs include mentoring, academic extensions, and sport and fitness opportunities. 

- Supports programs for grades 3 through 8 to prevent youth incarceration and end "the school-to-prison pipeline." These programs include mentoring, academic extensions, and sport and fitness opportunities. 

Education

Twitter

Facebook

Lisa Babbage

Sheikh grew up in Bangladesh, and moved to America in 1981 to attend Central Piedmont Community College. He completed his undergraduate degree in Economics & Global Studies at the University of Georgia. He is married and a father. Rahman is a practicing Muslim. 

Sheikh worked his way up in the restaurant industry, starting as a dishwasher and eventually becoming a corporate executive at Pizza Hut.

Sheikh Rahman was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2018, representing the 5th Senate District. He serves as the chairman of the Gwinnett Senate Delegation and the secretary of the Urban Affairs Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Economic Development and Tourism, Government Oversight, and Special Judiciary committees.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Georgia is one of the best places to do business, but the state’s workers are still facing low wages. The current federal minimum wage is set at $7.25/hr, but the state of Georgia’s minimum wage is still set at $5.15/hr."

The candidate's website says, "With more than 30,000 Indian Americans calling Gwinnett their home, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce recently signed a partnership agreement to collaborate and promote business opportunities between India and Gwinnett."

The candidate's website says, "With more than 30,000 Indian Americans calling Gwinnett their home, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce recently signed a partnership agreement to collaborate and..."

The candidate's website says, "The agreement includes partnering on at least two events per year that will help connect members of both chambers... The Georgia Indo-American Chamber has a seat on the Gwinnett Chamber’s board of directors..."

Said, "I am fighting to increase the minimum wage from $5.15/hr to $10.00/hr, and then eventually to $15.00/hr... Increasing the state’s minimum wage is past overdue... We need to have a conducive atmosphere in Gwinnett County to attract big businesses... we need to also make sure that workers are earning a livable wage."

Supports increasing the minimum wage from $5.15/hr to $10.00/hr, and then eventually to $15.00/hr

The candidate's website says, "The loss of NCR headquarters in Norcross to Midtown Atlanta, and the unwillingness of other major corporations to bring business to Gwinnett county shines a spotlight on our traffic congestion & lack of efficient mass transit... Gwinnett must invest in mass transit that connects our county with high-paying jobs throughout the metro area."

Supports investment in mass transit to connect Gwinnett county with the metro area.

- Supports increasing the minimum wage from $5.15/hr to $10.00/hr, and then eventually to $15.00/hr
- Supports investment in mass transit to connect Gwinnett county with the metro area.

As of July 25, 2024, Sheikh Rahman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The candidate's website says, "Healthcare is a human right."

Said, "Our healthcare system needs to work for ALL of us."

Said, "As your State Senator I have voted to expand Medicaid coverage for new mothers to one full year, expand mental health coverage for Georgians, and make it harder for insurance companies to deny emergency room care."

Supported expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers to one full year and expanded mental health coverage for Georgian

Said, "We must do more to guarantee healthcare as a right of citizenship by enacting a Medicare for all single-payer healthcare system, as well as lower the price for prescription drugs...by expanding Medicaid for as many people as are allowed under the current Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)."

Supports a Medicare for all single-payer healthcare system, as well as lowering the price for prescription drugs.

- Supported expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers to one full year and expanded mental health coverage for Georgian
- Supports a Medicare for all single-payer healthcare system, as well as lowering the price for prescription drugs.

Supports voter representation, celebrating recent diverse elections in Gwinnett. Opposes laws diminishing voting power of minorities. Advocates for Gwinnett's autonomy in election management for School Board and County Commission.

The candidate's website says, "Rahman announced the resolution during a Tuesday news conference at the Capitol, during which Democratic legislators and commissioners from across Georgia blasted Republicans for redrawing local maps over the objections of lawmakers representing Democratic-leaning areas."

The candidate's website says, "State Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville, plans to introduce a resolution this week that would prevent local bills — such as redistricting maps for county commissions and school boards — from..."

The candidate's website says, "State Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville, plans to introduce a resolution this week that would prevent local bills — such as redistricting maps for county commissions and school boards — from being sent to general committees in the Legislature without approval from a majority of the local legislative delegation."

Plans to introduce a resolution that would prevent local bills — such as redistricting maps for county commissions and school boards — from being sent to general committees in the Legislature without approval from a majority of the local legislative delegation."

The candidate's website says, "In the past four years, its commission has flipped from totally Republican to totally Democratic. Republican legislators redrew the map that the Democratic majority of the Gwinnett delegation introduced, creating a Republican-leaning district."

The candidate's website says, "The Legislature normally defers to local delegations in approving local maps, but this year Republicans redrew the maps of two suburban Atlanta county commissions that recently flipped to Democratic control — Gwinnett and Cobb — as well as Augusta-Richmond and Chatham County, which includes Savannah."

The candidate's website says, "As required by federal law, county commission maps and school board maps are being redrawn based on the latest census results. The maps will remain in effect until 2030."

Opposes restrictive voting measures in Georgia, supports reforms for smoother, secure elections, and advocates for automatic registration, extended hours, and vote verification.

- Opposes restrictive voting measures in Georgia, supports reforms for smoother, secure elections, and advocates for automatic registration, extended hours, and vote verification.

Supports educational opportunity as key to success; has worked to enhance education by advocating for public school funding, higher teacher pay, and proposes increased funding for schools with high poverty levels in Georgia.

Said, "As your State Senator, whether it is about funding or factual history, I will always stand up for students and teachers."

Said, "In the Senate, I fought efforts by those outside Gwinnett to interfere with our school board districts and elections. I also opposed efforts to limit teaching on issues surrounding race and diversity."

Supports local control of school board districts and elections.

Opposes efforts to limit teaching on issues surrounding race and diversity.

- Supports local control of school board districts and elections.
- Opposes efforts to limit teaching on issues surrounding race and diversity.

Instagram

Sheikh Rahman

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.

Georgia State Senator, District 5

Election results

Candidates (2)