Georgia Women in Politics
Written by Mary Welch Wednesday, October 07 2009
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Even though Hillary Clinton did not become her party’s presidential nominee last year, she came close, and – largely thanks to her campaign – the idea of a woman in the White House no longer seems an unreachable dream.
Historically, women have been the vital organizers of grass-roots efforts behind candidates. Today, they are the candidates. All across the nation, women are claiming their positions of political leadership.
In Georgia, names of women familiar to those who follow the state’s politics begin with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Then, Eva Galambos was elected mayor of Sandy Springs, Ga., when that neighborhood became a city. Nancy Harris is mayor of Duluth, Ga., and Karen Handel is Georgia’s secretary of state.
But, as with business and philanthropy, new female names are emerging as movers and shakers in the world of Georgia politics. These four women have newly moved to the top echelons of women with political power in the state.
Georgia House of Representatives
HD 84
Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta) represents Georgia House District 84, which includes portions of the city of Atlanta, the city of Decatur, and unincorporated DeKalb County. She is also the CEO of Sage Works LLC, a consulting firm, and a partner in Insomnia, a business solutions company.
Abrams previously was the deputy city attorney for government counsel, development, and infrastructure for the city of Atlanta. She also served as special counsel and a tax associate at the law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta, where she focused on tax-exempt organizations but had an additional practice in health care matters.
Currently she serves as chair of the board of directors for Hands on Atlanta Inc. and is on the board of trustees for the Atlanta Girls School. She is chair of the Women’s Legacy Group for the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.
Abrams grew up one of six children in southern Mississippi. She received her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College and her law degree from Yale Law School. She also graduated from the LBJ School of Public Affairs. A fan of the television show Mission Impossible as a child, Abrams has written six suspense/romance novels under the pen name Selena Montgomery.
