Georgia Legislative Update with Elena Parent and Mary Margaret Oliver
Wednesday, January 13, 6:30 p.m., Ward Fellowship Hall
All are welcome to join for this annual update from a couple of our local representatives. Come and learn what legislation is being currently discussed!
All are welcome to join for this annual update from a couple of our local representatives. Come and learn what legislation is being currently discussed!
Hello,
This is James Avery.
I'm definitely interested in attending this Georgia Legislative Update; hearing what Elena Parent and Mary Oliver having to say. I've already had the good fortune meeting, briefly, Elena Parent during one of Mason Mill Civic Association's twice yearly picnics. Was impressed with Elena and wanting to hear more from her. Even maybe the opportunity a chance asking her to expand on a comment she made in response to something I said while the three of us (me, Elena, and Mary Hinkel) where discussing politics in general.
During my meeting with Rev. Josh Amerson January 5th, 2015 at Ink and Elm, in addition to saying that...I AM ABLE...partaking in Glenn services/events/offerrings (no restraining order), Rev. Josh also took pain informing me; "But I have to tell you, you do make people uneasy!"
As this is not the same as saying I've done wrong, I'm perfectly okay with this.
Is this going to be a problem?
Sincerely your,
Simply Jim
P.S.
I can of my own self do nothing: as I sense, I judge: and my judgement is just; not because I seek my own will but the will of the collective unconsciousness which cometh before us.
As the individual is the smallest minority, the crucifixion of Jesus was a massacre!
And still is, everyday, as we continue living for all eternity in the present.
That's cheating!
;@)
***
Elena Parent
is running to be your State Senator to continue her work on the pressing issues facing our community today – helping rebuild our economy for working families, increasing educational opportunities, fighting for crucial investments in transportation, and standing up for a government that works for Georgians, not deep-pocketed special interests.
As a former Democratic State Representative, Elena has a proven record of accomplishment on these issues and was known for being one of the most effective progressive leaders at the State Capitol.
After being targeted by Republicans during the once-a-decade redistricting, Elena continued her public service as the Executive Director of Georgia Watch, the state’s leading consumer rights non-profit. Elena's mission at Georgia Watch is to be a voice for Georgians on the important health care, utility, personal finance and civil justice issues affecting our pocketbooks and quality of life each day.
Elena traces her core beliefs – the importance of family, making the community a better place for all and advocating for and providing help to people who are less fortunate – to her upbringing in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol where her parents stressed the importance of faith and public service.
Recently, Elena was listed in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who's Who Sustainability” feature for her leadership on energy and environmental policy issues. In 2011, Elena was the recipient of two prestigious awards in recognition of her legislative accomplishments: the Fulton County Daily Report’s “On the Rise” and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40.” She is a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2013.
Elena was presented the 2011 and 2012 Environmental Leadership Award from Georgia Conservation Voters, a non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life of all Georgians by making conservation issues a top priority with Georgia’s elected officials, political candidates and voters.
Elena is married to Briley Brisendine and they became proud parents with the birth of their son, Brooks, in February 2010. Their second son, Reid, was born in December 2012. They are members of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
As a former Democratic State Representative, Elena has a proven record of accomplishment on these issues and was known for being one of the most effective progressive leaders at the State Capitol.
After being targeted by Republicans during the once-a-decade redistricting, Elena continued her public service as the Executive Director of Georgia Watch, the state’s leading consumer rights non-profit. Elena's mission at Georgia Watch is to be a voice for Georgians on the important health care, utility, personal finance and civil justice issues affecting our pocketbooks and quality of life each day.
Elena traces her core beliefs – the importance of family, making the community a better place for all and advocating for and providing help to people who are less fortunate – to her upbringing in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol where her parents stressed the importance of faith and public service.
Recently, Elena was listed in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who's Who Sustainability” feature for her leadership on energy and environmental policy issues. In 2011, Elena was the recipient of two prestigious awards in recognition of her legislative accomplishments: the Fulton County Daily Report’s “On the Rise” and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40.” She is a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2013.
Elena was presented the 2011 and 2012 Environmental Leadership Award from Georgia Conservation Voters, a non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life of all Georgians by making conservation issues a top priority with Georgia’s elected officials, political candidates and voters.
Elena is married to Briley Brisendine and they became proud parents with the birth of their son, Brooks, in February 2010. Their second son, Reid, was born in December 2012. They are members of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
More Experience
- State Representative serving DeKalb County, elected in 2010 – one of only 12 Democratic officials to unseat an incumbent Republican that year nationwide.
- Chief of Staff to State Senator David Adelman (D-District 42), also former Ambassador to Singapore.
- Director of Development for HOPE Atlanta (Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta), a not-for-profit dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
- Litigator at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta.
- Co-founder and co-chair of women attorneys' affinity group;
- Ambassador for the firm’s annual United Way campaign.
Community
- Member, All Saints’ Episcopal Church
- Volunteer with the Atlanta affiliate of Everybody Wins!, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting children’s literacy.
- Board of Directors:
- It's the Journey Inc., which produces the 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer and has raised more than $6 million dollars for Atlanta-area breast cancer organizations.
- Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) Foundation Board, which oversees community service for GAWL.
- Women and Minorities in the Profession Committee of the State Bar of Georgia
Education
- University of Virginia. Graduated with Highest Distinction and was admitted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key National Honor Society.
- University of Virginia School of Law. Top 10 percent of her class.
***
Mary Margaret Oliver,
a native Georgian from DeKalb County, served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1987-1992 and was then elected to the State Senate, where she served three terms. In July, 1998, Oliver left the Senate to run for Lieutenant Governor and finished first, ahead of six Democratic challengers. She lost in a runoff to the second place finisher. In 2003, Oliver was elected to the House where she continues to serve, representing the 82nd District.
When Oliver was elected to the Senate, she was appointed to chair the Judiciary Committee during her freshman term, a rare legislative distinction. The appointment was also notable in that it marked the first time in 40 years that a woman had been named to chair a standing Senate committee. During the 2004 session, she was appointed Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, becoming the first person to serve as Chair of both House and Senate Judiciary Committees and the first woman to ever serve as Chair of either committee.
Oliver currently sits on the House Appropriations, Judiciary, Governmental Affairs, Juvenile Justice and Science and Technology Committees. She was appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court to the Committee on Justice for Children and by Speaker David Ralston to the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform.
Oliver's legislative accomplishments have included authoring and passing significant legislation for the protection of children and consumers, including Georgia's anti-stalking law, along with legislation to protect neighborhood activists from intimidation. In recent years, she successfully sponsored a bill expanding the definition of mandated reporters of child abuse and legal recognition of post adoption custody agreements.
She has been honored for her legislative work, being named Woman of Achievement by the Atlanta YWCA and Legislator of the Year by the Garden Club of Georgia. In 2011, she was given the Common Cause Democracy Award and the Georgia Conservation Voters Legacy Award. In 2013, she won the Big Voices for Children Award given by Voices for Georgia's Children.
Oliver is a former long time member of the Decatur Rotary and continues to attend All Saints Episcopal Church, where she teaches Sunday school.
She earned a BA from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from Emory University. She served as a visiting professor at the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory and prior to her Legislative service was a Magistrate Court Judge in DeKalb County. In 2011, in honor of the 175th anniversary of Emory, Oliver was one of 35 women out of 175 or so Emory History Makers - those individuals who have shown courageous and ethical leadership on behalf of the greater community and a legacy of imparting knowledge to others and making significant contributions to the life at Emory.
Oliver continues to practice law in Decatur.
| State Office: |
Coverdell Legislative Office Building
18 Capitol Square, Suite 604
Atlanta, GA 30334
|
| Email: | mmo@mmolaw.com |
| Phone: | 404-656-0265 |
| Fax: | 404-463-2634 |
***
The new District 82 was created by the Georgia General Assembly in the 2011 Special Session in response to the 2010 census data. Our new district includes the middle DeKalb county neighborhoods of Druid Hills, Decatur, Emory, Sagamore Hills, Leafmore Estates, Oakgrove and the Hawthorne Elementary School area, as well as parts of the new City of Brookhaven, north of I-85.
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