COMMUNITY
Bennett: ‘I’m up to the task’ Taylor Bennett won the District 80 seat in the state House of Representatives in a special runoff election Aug. 11. He will represent Brookhaven and portions of Sandy Springs, Chamblee and Dunwoody when the Legislature reconvenes in January. The Sandy Springs Reporter asked him five questions about his legislative plans. Here are his answers.
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How are you preparing for the upcoming legislative session?
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“how” I’ll approach my responsibilities as a representative for House District 80. Judge [Mike] Jacobs was a strong and responsible representative who served our district well regardless of his own affiliation, and I’ll be looking to do the same. Being open, transparent and accountable doesn’t have anything to do with my being a Democrat or another representative being a Republican, it’s just the way elected officials ought to conduct themselves.
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Well, first and Your election foremost, I’m gives Demofinalizing a community crats numerical conoutreach plan. We made trol of the Fulton a point during our camCounty delegation. paign of trying to touch Very little of the camand connect with every paign centered on Sanvoter we could regarddy Springs, the porTaylor Bennett less of party or any othtion of your district in er characteristic, and I Fulton, and relatively intend to carry that approach forward as few Sandy Springs voters turned out. a state representative. In order for me to What do you think you’ll be able to be the best representative I can be for the add to the discussion in the Fulton people of Brookhaven, Sandy Springs delegation? and Chamblee, I’m going to have to be I’m looking forward to workaccessible, open, and listen and solicit ing with my colleagues in the input on all decisions. I’m really looking Fulton County delegation regardless of forward to that dialogue, and we’re gowhat party they belong to. Even with ing to roll out our community schedule the shift in numbers brought on by my very soon, so stay tuned. election, it’s still nearly even and we’re What do you plan to do as going to have to work together to make your first action in the the best decisions for Fulton County House? that we can. For all of the partisan talk brought on by this election and the nuI’m not sure there is a singular merical ramifications of my seat, I’m first action, but there’s a lot to truly just committed to being the best be done between now and the start of representative I can be and bringing an session. First and foremost, I’m looking open, cooperative, and forward-thinkforward to establishing relationships ing attitude and approach to the Generwith my new colleagues on both sides of al Assembly in January. the aisle. There are a number of bipartiYou’ve said publicly that san bills already in the works that I think your family and your objecwould improve the lives of people in our tion to the “Georgia Religious Freedistrict and in our state, and I’m anxious dom Restoration Act” were among the to see how I can support those ideas and things that originally interested you in hopefully move them along. I’ve also got running for a seat in the House. Do several ideas of my own I’d like to subyou expect similar legislation to come mit for consideration, which will mean up again next session? If so, what do meeting with party leadership on both you see as your role in the debate? sides of the aisle and working closely with legislative counsel to craft strong I do see RFRA coming up legislation. As soon as I get my commitagain this session, and I will tee assignments I’ll immediately get towithhold any specific comment until we gether with the respective chairpersons have its most recent iteration in print and other members so I can learn as and in the House or Senate hopper. I’m quickly as I can and be the best represennot going to speculate as to the specifics tative I can be for my constituents. of what exists currently as a hypothetiThere’s a lot to do, but I believe I’m up cal, however likely it may be to arise. As to the task. I’ve said many times before, however, The House District 80 seat there are no shades of gray in discrimihas been held for many years nation, and I’m always going to oppose by a Republican. What will you do any legislation that allows for any indidifferently as a Democrat? vidual group to be discriminated against on the basis of their race, gender, sexual I don’t think that my party aforientation, ethnicity, religion or any filiation has much to do with other such characteristic.
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AUG. 21 – SEPT. 3, 2015 | 5