FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 24, 2008

Rep. Kathy Ashe announces run for re-election

ATLANTA – State Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) has announced she will run for re-election to the House District 56 post in the 2008 Democratic primary.

“It is an honor and a privilege to represent the ‘heart of Atlanta’ as a member of the state House of Representatives,” Ashe said. “I now ask the voters to take advantage of my 18 years of experience so that we can keep working together for expanded access to affordable health care, excellence in public education and safety and security in our neighborhoods.”

A former Georgia public school educator, Ashe serves on the Education, Children and Youth, Higher Education and the Interstate Cooperation committees. She is active in the Women’s Caucus and is the Secretary of the 2007-2008 Georgia House Democratic Caucus.

During the 2008 legislative session, Ashe successfully authored property tax relief for Atlanta and Fulton County homeowners in the form of increased homestead exemptions. Phased in over three years beginning in 2009, the homestead exemption goes from 15,000 to 30,000 for properties in the City of Atlanta, Fulton County and the Atlanta City Schools.

She also introduced and passed legislation creating the House Study Committee on Prostitution and the Adult Entertainment Industry and co-sponsored a measure to create the Georgia Arts Alliance to foster a public-private partnership for support of the arts.

Kathy currently serves on the Boards of Agnes Scott College, the Central Presbyterian Church Outreach & Advocacy Center, Georgia Appleseed, Sisters By Choice, Georgia State University College of Law Board of Visitors, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute. She is a member of the Education Commission of the States and Weed & Seed. Kathy serves on the State Bar of Georgia Disciplinary Rules & Procedures and Professionalism Committee, and the Supreme Court Commission on Family, Children and Marriage.

She is a member of Leadership Atlanta, the Regional Leadership Institute and the Atlanta Urban League. Kathy has served in leadership roles in numerous community organizations, including the League of Women Voters, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the United Way of Atlanta, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, the Junior League of Atlanta and Vote Choice.

She and her husband Lawrence have two adult children. Kathy is an active member of Central Presbyterian Church.

The Democratic Primary is scheduled for July 15, and the General Election will be held November 4.

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