A runoff election Tuesday will determine state representation for the region surrounding Brookhaven, and it could have statewide implications as well.
Former Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis, a Republican, and former Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett, a Democrat, are running for the Georgia House of Representatives. The winner will replace former Rep. Mike Jacobs, whom Gov. Nathan Deal appointed to become a DeKalb State Court judge.
The race is important beyond the borders of House District 80 because if Bennett wins, Republicans could lose their effective supermajority in the House. That would empower Democrats to be able to block constitutional amendments, which require support from two-thirds of representatives. There are currently 60 Democrats out of 180 House seats.
In addition, Republicans supporting Davis are trying to hold onto a 13-12 majority in the Fulton County House delegation. The district covers parts of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.
Davis has campaigned against tax increases, and he hosted a town hall for residents about how they could appeal sharp increases in their annual property assessments, resulting in higher tax bills. Across DeKalb, residential real properties gained 17 percent in assessed value compared to last year.
“As your state representative, I will work hard every day to make certain the government serves the taxpayer and not vice versa,” Davis wrote on his website.
Bennett, who like Davis is an attorney, said he supports an expansion of MARTA and would fight against “religious liberty” proposals. Supporters of the legislation, which didn’t pass in this year’s legislative session, say it would protect people of any religion from government interference, but opponents say it would lead to discrimination against gays and lesbians.
“Georgia cannot, must not and will not stand for inequality. Even with the progress that has been made over the last few decades, the discrimination that persists today is a stark reminder of how far from many of our societal goals we actually are,” Bennett’s website says.
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