Rep. Pat Gardner announces candidacy for re-election

ATLANTA – State Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) has announced she will be a candidate for re-election to the House District 57 post in the 2008 Democratic primary.

“For eight years, it has been my honor and privilege to represent our district, which includes part of the city of Atlanta and unincorporated DeKalb County,” Gardner said. “I now ask the voters to take advantage of my experience so that together we can continue the fight for improved access to health care, support for our public schools and safer neighborhoods and communities.”

Gardner is a senior member of the influential, budget-writing House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Health. She also serves on the House Higher Education, Natural Resources & Environment and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees. For the past two years, Gardner has chaired the bi-partisan Georgia Women’s Legislative Caucus and the Health Policy Committee of the House Democratic Caucus.

During the 2008 session, Gardner co-sponsored and helped pass property tax relief for Atlanta and Fulton County homeowners in the form of an increased homestead exemption. She also authored successful legislation to create a Study Committee on the State Retirement System.

An advocate for universal access to health care initially for children, Pat has initiated efforts to expand the current PeachCare system to make it available to every Georgia family based on their ability to pay.

She has received commendations from the Georgia Conservation Voters, the Georgia Network of Mental Health Consumers, the National Mental Health Association of Georgia and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. The Women’s Policy Group awarded Pat their legislative award in 2004 and the Cobb County Democratic Women gave her a legislative award in 2007.

Gardner was the Executive Director of the Georgia Psychological Association since 1977 until her recent retirement and has been a tireless advocate for mental health services. As a Certified Association Executive (CAE), she has worked in leadership positions with the Georgia Association of Association Executives and as President of the American Psychological Association’s Council of State Executives.

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