Editor’s note: This is a post from one of Midtown Patch’s Local Voices bloggers and does not reflect the views and opinions of Patch, which does not nor ever will endorse election candidates.
A portion of Midtown might be getting a history maker as our advocate and State Representative at the State Capitol. In August the General Assembly completed the redistricting process. As a result Midtown has been chopped up and will be represented by multiple legislators at the Gold Dome.
Long time Reynldstown resident, Representative Simone Bell currently represents House District 58, which includes portions of unincorporated DeKalb and Fulton Counties. Besides being the first openly gay African American lesbian elected to a State General Assembly in the entire country, she is the Deputy Whip for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus and was chairperson for the DeKalb Board of Commissioners & Board of Education redistricting process. Prior to joining the State House, Rep. Bell worked as a community educator and activist and many years in health care.
Representative Simone Bell currently sits on the committees of Children & Youth, Human Relations & Aging, and State Planning & Community Affairs. She is also an active vocal member of the Working Families Caucus and Women's Caucus. The "NEW" District 58 will include the neighborhoods of Adams Park, Baker Hills, Cabbagetown, Campbellton Road, Capitol View, Mechanicsville, Midtown, MLK Memorial, Old Fourth Ward, Perkerson Park, Poncey-Highland, Renaissance Park, Reynoldstown, Summerhill, Sylvan Hills, Venetian Hills, Virginia-Highland, and Wheat Street.
Visit her website to read more about Rep. Bell. Check out her legislation. See if your street is part of the "NEW" district 58.
You are correct in noting that I have posted content regarding TIA and the looming T-SPLOST vote in July, and I reasonably expect Patch to consider its editorial guidelines with that type of user-generated, multimedia content. I firmly believe these issues merit conversation, especially as new practices emerge with the evolution of digital media tools, and the emergence of new news outlets, such as Patch. I know I did my best to identify the source of the content and to ensure that it was properly branded. I also hoped that the content - by virtue of being attached to existing articles - provided appropriate context, or at least created an opportunity to establish some context that could lead to a broad conversation about that particular issue. At the outset, I can re-assure you I was very much curious to see what sort of conversation my user-generated content would create regarding editorial guidelines. As for the blog piece, the timing of it has made me feel rather uncomfortable, just because it is related to an upcoming election that is just a few weeks away. If it had been offered shortly after re-districting, then I may very well have had a different reaction to it because it would've been informational in a way that made sense at the time. Quickly running out of room... Thanks, Hunt.