By Senator-Elect John Albers
ROSWELL (November 23, 2010) – I am honored to have been chosen to serve the people of the 56th Senate District in the Georgia General Assembly as their next State Senator. While Georgia has a storied past, I’m committed to ensuring that our state has an even brighter future.
As the holidays approach, so does a very important time for every Georgia citizen. The Georgia General Assembly begins its annual Legislative Session on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, where lawmakers will work to find solutions to the challenges facing our state. The work we do at the state level affects the every day lives of its citizens, from balancing the budget and shrinking unemployment to improving transportation and ensuring excellence in public education.
I will work tirelessly with my colleagues this session to put the future of the GA 400 toll back in the voters’ hands. The recent decision by the State Road and Tollway Authority to extend the GA 400 toll another 10 years was a mistake and an inappropriate choice by appointed officials. Voters trusted that the toll would be removed after a certain time, and the extension of the toll is a violation of that trust. Those who live and work along Highway 400 should be the ones to decide the toll’s fate.
Our education system has made some positive strides with the news that Georgia’s graduation rate rose to an all-time high of over 80 percent in 2010. This represents an increase of two percentage points over last year, and more than 17 percentage points since 2003. We should be proud to see the graduation rate increase and more determined than ever to see it reach 100 percent in the future.
I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to further improve these areas of our state while representing the interests of my constituents. An open dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives is crucial to an empowered democracy. In an effort to give the people of the 56th Senate District a platform to learn more about the issues facing our state and to share their ideas and concerns, I’m hosting a town hall meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the William Cobb VFW Post 7583, located at 140 Dobbs Drive, Roswell, GA 30075. This is an opportunity for me to share the issues the legislature will tackle this session and for the audience to ask questions.
Our community also faces a very important election on Tuesday, Nov. 30. This runoff election includes three races for judges that can impact our daily lives. I strongly encourage everyone to make their voices heard by going out to the polls and voting.
Before moving ahead with Senate business, I’m first looking forward to spending some quality time with my wife and children this Thanksgiving. This has been a very exciting year for the Albers household, and requires us to give more than a moment or two of thanks. I’m grateful to those who help keep our community safe and inviting, including the soldiers who risk their lives to defend our freedom, the first responders such as firefighters, police officers and EMS professionals, and our teachers, principals, PTA’s, parents and school volunteers.
I look forward to serving on your behalf in the State Senate, and I wish you and your family a safe and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
Senator-Elect John Albers represents the 56th Senate District, which includes parts of Fulton County and North Fulton County. He can be reached at 678.667.3656 or by email at info@senatoralbers.com.
COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
November 23, 2010
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028