Antwan Lang, youngest person to ever hold office in Chatham, is running for Georgia House

“I'm basically doing a listening tour. I'm listening to what is truly concerning to the citizens of my district,” Lang said

Lang will have to be fast. The special election is on Nov. 2, and there are three other candidates who have qualified for the position.

Clinton Young, a retired Army specialist and vending machine businessman who mounted unsuccessful runs for Savannah City Council in 2007, 2011 and 2015, and former Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson both qualified last Wednesday. Sabrina Greene-Kent, who works part-time as a payroll specialist for ILA 141, filed her qualifying paperwork Friday.

Lang is a graduate of Savannah State University with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts and social sciences and holds a Master of Public Administration degree. Lang also serves as a member of the Georgia National Guard.

Throughout school, he was always interested in leading. He was president of the Future Business Leaders of America, and president of his class for three years. When he went to Savannah State University, he ran for and won his class presidency again.

Professionally, Lang is a licensed life, accident and health insurance broker. He has served as a legislative aid to Rep. Stephens, Sen. Lester Jackson and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

Lang is young, 27 years old, and the county's youngest elected office-holder, but he says he wishes people wouldn’t dwell on his age.

“When it comes to people doubting my ability or my experience because they see a number, they don't see all the things that I've been able to accomplish in these 27 years,” Lang said. “They don't take into account all the experiences I've had in these 27 years.”

Lang also noted that for the last 11 years, he has been working under the gold dome in various capacities.

“I understand the legislative process. I understand how to get bills passed. I've drafted bills for legislators... I've had to do that for over a decade. I have relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle and in both houses, the General Assembly and the House of Representatives,” Lang said.

So far, Lang says, one of the biggest concerns he’s hearing from District 165 residents is COVID.

"My position has always been: health always comes first. And I think we have to continue to put guidelines in place that protect the citizens from others, and protect them from spreading what they may have to someone else.," Lang said.

Additionally, Lang says he’s taking into consideration the effect of COVID in the public school system. He’s concerned about the knowledge retention of students who have spent more than a year learning in a virtual setting, and whether they'll be prepared for college or entering the workforce.

He also hopes to walk the delicate tightrope that is Savannah’s tourism business. Lang says the hospitality industry is the number one employer for residents in District 165, and he says the balance between protecting the industry and protecting the workers is something he’ll strive for if elected.

Lang also said he will be an advocate for women’s rights.

“I do not believe that men should have the right to regulate or tell a woman what to do with their body,” Lang said. “That is a main point that I will continue to drive home, because we should not be making laws that regulate whether a woman can decide what to do with her body. That's between her and her doctor.”

Credit: Will Peebles

Credit: Will Peebles

Voting rights are also high on Lang’s list. In May, he was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against certain provisions in S.B. 202, Georgia’s recent sweeping election reform bill. In August, a federal judge blocked a provision of S.B. 202 prohibiting photographing a completed ballot as a result of the lawsuit.

And with this race comes an almost unavoidable wrinkle: the comparison to Mickey Stephens. His legacy in the district is a towering one, and Lang says that’s partially due to Stephens’ ability to “serve in his own way.”

Lang said he looks up to Stephens' beliefs: education as a vehicle for upward mobility, and economic development through bipartisan lawmaking. He says that’s what he’ll set out to do as well.

“The same way he may make the seat his own, he served in his own way, that's what I've got to do,” Lang said. “I've gotta serve in my own way. And be reminded that the principles that we serve on is what's going to guide us: having integrity, working across the aisle, and working with the people of District 165.”

Will Peebles is the enterprise reporter for Savannah Morning News. He can be reached at wpeebles@gannett.com and @willpeeblessmn on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Antwan Lang, youngest person to ever hold office in Chatham, is running for Georgia House