People in the state of GA can go to jail for something as minor as a traffic ticket

Supports the decriminalization of many of these smaller nonviolent small charges

Supports pre-trial diversion programs for people charged with nonviolent offenses

Would introduce legislation to address these criminal justice issues on both a state and local level

- People in the state of GA can go to jail for something as minor as a traffic ticket
- Supports the decriminalization of many of these smaller nonviolent small charges 
- Supports pre-trial diversion programs for people charged with nonviolent offenses
- Would introduce legislation to address these criminal justice issues on both a state and local level

- People in the state of GA can go to jail for something as minor as a traffic ticket
- Supports the decriminalization of many of these smaller nonviolent small charges 
- Supports pre-trial <pv key='diversion-program'>diversion programs</pv> for people charged with nonviolent offenses
- Would introduce legislation to address these criminal justice issues on both a state and local level

Criminal Justice

Has realized during this crisis that it is important for people to have access to affordable healthcare

- Supports Medicaid expansion
- Has realized during this crisis that it is important for people to have access to affordable healthcare

- Supports <pv key='medicaid-expansion'>Medicaid expansion</pv>
- Has realized during this crisis that it is important for people to have access to affordable healthcare

Healthcare

Must expand infrastructure for transit because we have a terrible problem with traffic in Atlanta

- Must expand infrastructure for transit because we have a terrible problem with traffic in Atlanta

Transportation & Infrastructure

Must support teachers and ensure they have the supplies they need

- Must support teachers and ensure they have the supplies they need
- Supports raising salaries for teachers

Education

There is a disparity of wealth in GA and in the 39th district

Must ensure people are receiving livable wages

- There is a disparity of wealth in GA and in the 39th district
- Must ensure people are receiving livable wages
- Supports a $15/hour minimum wage

Economy

Would support legislation or a study committee to look at how the way we are living affects our environment

- Would support legislation or a study committee to look at how the way we are living affects our environment
- Supports a bill for a cleaner Georgia

Environment

First-generation, Cuban-American; much of her family is still in Cuba

Has a history of engagement in her community trying to solve issues and has spent a lot of time at the Capitol and in local and state-level meetings

Has developed a strong understanding of how politics in GA functions and what difference she can make

Everyone has a voice and something to offer

Has formed strong relationships and friendships through her time as a candidate; met her husband through politics

- First-generation, Cuban-American; much of her family is still in Cuba
- Has a history of engagement in her community trying to solve issues and has spent a lot of time at the Capitol and in local and state-level meetings
- Has developed a strong understanding of how politics in GA functions and what difference she can make
- Everyone has a voice and something to offer
- Has formed strong relationships and friendships through her time as a candidate; met her husband through politics

Worldview

Nothing has changed in the district over the last 2 years

She has been involved and engaged in the community

Publishes a newsletter that goes out to thousands of people in the community

Will do the job and make sure she knows what the needs of the people are

- Nothing has changed in the district over the last 2 years
- She has been involved and engaged in the community
- Publishes a newsletter that goes out to thousands of people in the community
- Will do the job and make sure she knows what the needs of the people are

Why me?

Linda Pritchett

Economic opportunity is the bedrock and foundation of equality

Economic mobility is limited in the 39th District which is terrible

Everyone should be able to live up to their full potential

Must ensure that the success of businesses on the state level is shared with workers

- Economic opportunity is the bedrock and foundation of equality
- Economic mobility is limited in the 39th District which is terrible
- Everyone should be able to live up to their full potential
- Must ensure that the success of businesses on the state level is shared with workers

Expand Medicaid so everyone can have access to quality and affordable healthcare

Supports protecting a woman's right to choose

Must combat maternal mortality rates in GA

- Expand Medicaid so everyone can have access to quality and affordable healthcare
- Supports protecting a woman's right to choose
- Supports lowering drug costs
- Must combat maternal mortality rates in GA

- <pv key='medicaid-expansion'>Expand Medicaid</pv> so everyone can have access to quality and affordable healthcare
- Supports protecting a woman's right to choose
- Supports lowering drug costs
- Must combat maternal mortality rates in GA

Must ensure that minority businesses are part of the process and contracting for these public works jobs (tying back to economic opportunity)

GA is the only state in the nation where the state does not subsidize our public transit like MARTA

Must figure out ways to support the expansion of public transportation at the state level by making investments in it

- Must ensure that minority businesses are part of the process and contracting for these public works jobs (tying back to economic opportunity)
- GA is the only state in the nation where the state does not subsidize our public transit like MARTA
- Must figure out ways to support the expansion of public transportation at the state level by making investments in it

Supports fully funding our public K-12 education system ($1 billion were cut)

Must increase opportunities for training in vocational and technical schools

Expand and restore the original promise of the HOPE Scholarship that college is in reach for all families whether they choose it or not

- Supports fully funding our public K-12 education system ($1 billion were cut)
- Must increase opportunities for training in vocational and technical schools
- Expand and restore the original promise of the HOPE Scholarship that college is in reach for all families whether they choose it or not
- Supports increased pay for teachers

Need better air quality and better water protection

Must ensure that decisions about the environment protect families, individuals, and their health

- Need better air quality and better water protection
- Must ensure that decisions about the environment protect families, individuals, and their health

Georgians get trapped in our criminal justice system for twice as long as the national average; must find ways to decrease that time through better policies

- End cash bail
- Must reform the broken probation system
- Georgians get trapped in our criminal justice system for twice as long as the national average; must find ways to decrease that time through better policies

- End <pv key='cash-bail'>cash bail</pv>
- Must reform the broken probation system
- Georgians get trapped in our criminal justice system for twice as long as the national average; must find ways to decrease that time through better policies

Over the past 20 years, she has worked at the intersection between business, community service and the nonprofit world

Leadership matters, good public policy matters

Though Atlanta has a history of great philanthropy, there is not enough philanthropy in the world to solve systemic issues; they must be solved by policy at the state level

She wants to do more and have a bigger impact

3 things that have always been true about projects and organizations she has worked on: impact around equity, access, and opportunity for everybody

- Over the past 20 years, she has worked at the intersection between business, community service and the nonprofit world
- Leadership matters, good public policy matters
- Though Atlanta has a history of great philanthropy, there is not enough philanthropy in the world to solve systemic issues; they must be solved by policy at the state level
- She wants to do more and have a bigger impact
- 3 things that have always been true about projects and organizations she has worked on: impact around equity, access, and opportunity for everybody

She brings strategic thinking, the ability to execute tactically, creative problem-solving, and coalition-building

"A vote for me is a vote for strong and experienced leadership that is guided by common sense, ethics, smart decision-making, and a dedication to service"

- She brings strategic thinking, the ability to execute tactically, creative problem-solving, and coalition-building
- "A vote for me is a vote for strong and experienced leadership that is guided by common sense, ethics, smart decision-making, and a dedication to service"

Sonya Halpern

A Georgia State Senator serves as part of the Georgia State Senate, where they can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. The Georgia State Senate, along with the Georgia House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly. The General Assembly is structured very similarly to the US Congress. Unlike in Congress, Georgia State Senators only serve in this position part-time, most of which is spent at the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta during the state legislative session. Georgia has 56 state senate districts, each of which elects one state senator.

There are some policy areas in which state laws have a lot more impact, such as education. For example, Senate Bill 48 (SB48) was passed in the latest legislative session, and outlined special terms for students with dyslexia in Georgia’s public school system. SB48 began in the Senate with six co-sponsors, who championed this bill through relevant committees within the Senate. SB48 ultimately passed the Senate with a vote in which every state senator could be involved. It then moved to the Georgia House of Representatives, where they repeated the process, passed the bill, and went to the Governor for final approval to become a law.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Georgia Senate

Georgia

2020 General Election, State Runoff

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- 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.

State Senator (Special Election)

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