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Sen. Ed Harbison to Celebrate Naming of Honorable Richard H. Smith Memorial Interchange

ATLANTA (October 3, 2024) — On October 8, Chairman of the Senate Committee on State Institutions and Property, Sen. Ed Harbison (D–Columbus), will participate in the designation of the interchange of Interstate 185 at US-27-Alternate/Manchester Expressway as the Honorable Richard H. Smith Memorial Interchange in Columbus, Georgia.

Richard Smith was born in Wrightsville, Georgia in 1945. He served the public in numerous capacities, including as interim city manager for the Columbus Consolidated Government before serving as a city councilor from 1999 to 2002 and, later, as a state representative for Georgia House District 139. During his remarkable career as a legislator, Smith served as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee and, in 2020, was appointed Chair of the esteemed House Rules Committee.

Sen. Harbison spoke about the significance of the newly named intersection, stating, “I had the distinct honor of working alongside Richard Smith for many years, and his commitment to public service, unwavering integrity and profound commitment to serving this region left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He was a dear friend and a pillar of the city of Columbus. The dedication of this interchange in his name is a tribute to his tireless work for the people of Columbus and a reminder of the high standards he set for leadership and service.”

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Location: Cunningham Center, Columbus State University; 3100 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907

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Sen. Ed Harbison serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on State Institutions and Property. He represents the 15th Senate District, which includes Chattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Talbot and Taylor counties, as well as a portion of Muscogee County. He may be reached at 404.656.0074 or via email at ed.harbison@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Randy Robertson to Attend Naming of Honorable Richard H. Smith Memorial Interchange

ATLANTA (October 1, 2024) — On October 8, Senate Majority Whip Sen. Randy Robertson (R–Cataula) will participate in the designation of the interchange of Interstate 185 at US-27-Alternate/Manchester Expressway as the Honorable Richard H. Smith Memorial Interchange in Columbus, Georgia.

Richard Smith was born in Wrightsville, Georgia in 1945. He served the public in numerous capacities, including as interim city manager for the Columbus Consolidated Government before serving as a city councilor from 1999 to 2002 and, later, as a State Representative for Georgia House District 139. During his remarkable career as a legislator, Smith served as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee and, in 2020, was appointed Chair of the esteemed House Rules Committee.

Sen. Robertson spoke about the significance of his friend and the impact he made on the Columbus area, stating, “To many throughout our state, Richard was a man to be respected and a legislative force. To me, Richard was also a close friend that I loved. Richard was both at my wedding and present through numerous moments of my life. I’m grateful that we are designating this interchange in Richard’s name. He’s eternally impacted Columbus for the better, just as he has eternally impacted me.”

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Location: Cunningham Center, Columbus State University; 3100 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907

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Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Majority Whip of Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 29, which includes Harris, Meriwether, and Troup Counties and a portion of Muscogee County. He can be reached at 404.656.0045 or at randy.robertson@senate.ga.gov

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes Celebrates Legal Victory as Georgia’s Six-Week Abortion Ban is Struck Down

ATLANTA (October 1, 2024) — Today, Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D–Duluth) applauded the recent ruling by Fulton County Superior Judge Robert McBurney striking down the State’s six-week abortion ban. The ruling declared Georgia’s six-week abortion law unconstitutional, stating that the law violates the protections in the state’s constitution regarding privacy and bodily autonomy. According to Georgia law, the statutory limit to have an abortion is within a 22-week time period.

Sen. Islam Parkes has been an outspoken critic of the State’s six-week abortion ban since its inception, stating, “This is a huge win for women seeking the reproductive healthcare they need. The six-week abortion ban was a deeply harmful law that stripped women of their autonomy and disproportionately impacted marginalized communities. With this ruling, we take a critical step toward protecting women’s right to choose in Georgia. Women’s healthcare continues to be under attack at both the state and national levels. I will keep fighting to ensure that every woman in Georgia has the right to make decisions about her body without interference from politicians.”

More information on the full court case is available here.

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Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes represents the 7th Senate District, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5263 or by email at NabilahIslamParkes@senate.ga.gov.

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Senator Gail Davenport Provides Statement Following Hurricane Helene

ATLANTA (September 27, 2024) — On the evening of September 26 and into the early morning hours of September 27, Hurricane Helene moved northward through the State of Georgia. The storm delivered impacts to nearly all of Georgia’s 159 counties, including Senate District 44, which encompasses portions of Clayton County, south of Atlanta.

Sen. Gail Davenport (D–Jonesboro) spoke today regarding the impacts of Hurricane Helene: “This morning, Clayton County experienced flooding rain and strong winds from Hurricane Helene. I am currently working with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and Clayton County leaders to assess the damage and begin moving forward. Please continue to listen to local officials and practice caution as conditions begin to improve.”

The entire State of Georgia remains under a State of Emergency through October 2. The order instructs all state resources to be made available to assist affected areas and charges the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency for activating the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan. Additional information regarding Hurricane Helene, including county-by-county local emergency management agency contact information, can be found on GEMA’s website. For regular updates, please follow GEMA on Instagram (@georgiaemahs), X (@georgiaemahs) and Facebook (Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency).

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Sen. Gail Davenport represents the 44th Senate District which includes portions of Clayton and DeKalb County.  She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5260 or by email at gail.davenport@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov

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Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes Shares Resources Following Hurricane Helene

ATLANTA (September 27, 2024) — On the evening of September 26 and into the early morning hours of September 27, Hurricane Helene moved northward through the State of Georgia. The storm delivered impacts to nearly all of Georgia’s 159 counties, including Senate District 7, which encompasses portions of Gwinnett County northeast of Atlanta.

Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D–Duluth) spoke today regarding the impacts of Hurricane Helene, stating, “Early this morning, a powerful storm moved through our state and Gwinnett County. High winds and heavy rains throughout our community have caused widespread damage to trees, power lines and broken power poles. As of 11 a.m., I learned that over 10,000 people were without power across Gwinnett County. I am working around the clock with local officials and community leaders to share resources and want to extend my appreciation for state and local law enforcement.”

Sen. Islam Parkes went on to provide additional information for district residents. “Gwinnett residents are reminded to call the Gwinnett Local Emergency Management Agency at (770) 513-5600 to report damage. For non-damage-related inquiries, you may call 211 for assistance, or you can contact the Northeast Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross at (706) 353-1645. Please do not hesitate to directly contact my office at (404) 463-5263.”

The entire State of Georgia remains under a State of Emergency through October 2. The order instructs all state resources to be made available to assist affected areas and charges the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency for activating the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan. Additional information regarding Hurricane Helene, including county-by-county local emergency management agency contact information, can be found on GEMA’s website. For regular updates, please follow GEMA on Instagram (@georgiaemahs), X (@georgiaemahs) and Facebook (Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency).

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Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes represents the 7th Senate District, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5263 or by email at NabilahIslamParkes@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov