House District 83
All statements, answers, and information found within the 159 Georgia Together voter guide were collected via an electronic survey. Due to the sheer volume of information collected and the number of candidates that submitted survey data, all of the information presented in the guide is verbatim per the input from the survey participants (including any spelling or grammatical errors).
Becky Evans (D)
Top 3 Priorities If Elected
Strong public education — Our district is home to three of the schools listed as "failing" according to the Governor's Office of Student Achievement. We must fully fund our schools every single year, as well as adjust the QBE funding formula to account for poverty's effect on student performance. I will also fight for increased teacher pay, and for the inclusion of wrap-around services like extra funding for meal programs or mental health counselling. Environmental protection & transit options - I am proud to be the clean energy & pro-transit candidate in this race, because I believe that an investment in our planet is also an investment in our economy and in our people. I will be the strongest possible ally for clean energy, especially wind and solar, at the Gold Dome; one of the reasons I first got into the race was because the incumbent voted for nuclear power plant, Plant Vogtle, for which consumers are still paying and have not ever received services, while Georgia Power shareholders have lined their pockets. I will also fight for stronger public transit, which includes provisions for rail, light rail, cyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities. One of the biggest reasons we are having trouble seeing the growth we deserve in South DeKalb is because of a lack of transit options, especially rail. DeKalb has been paying into MARTA for the last 40 years; now that we will finally receive some capital funds from the state for transit, as our next State Rep, I will fight to ensure that we get our fair share first. Economic opportunity for all - Metro Atlanta has the largest income gap in the country, and closing that gap will be my #1 priority as our next State Representative. Atlanta has grown a lot but that growth has not been evenly distributed, especially in DeKalb. I will fight for a $15/hr minimum wage as a start to providing a real living wage for our hardworking families. I will also fight for investments in clean energy jobs, and the creation of Opportunity Zones, which give tax credits to small businesses for hiring full-time employees in underserved areas. The reason these are my top three together is simple: We must have an economy that values equally the worker and the investor, and creates jobs at fair wages for everyone. But we can't talk about jobs if we aren't educating people for those jobs. And, we also can't talk about jobs if we can't transport people to those jobs.
DO YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYERS FROM DENYING SERVICES TO LGBTQ PEOPLE AND OTHERS BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS?
Yes. I believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every person, and do not believe that anyone should have the right to discriminate based on sexual preference or gender expression. I am a life-long supporter of LGBTQIA rights.
DO YOU SUPPORT ENDING CASH BAIL FOR LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES?
Yes. I support ending cash bail for all nonviolent misdemeanors.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A NON-PARTISAN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION?
Yes. Absolutely. Gerrymandering is one of the most pressing issues facing our state. We can't have fair elections if we don't have fair district lines.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN ENGLISH-ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IF IT WERE ON THE BALLOT?
No. I would never support any legislation that would limit people's access to essential government services, especially as this one discriminates along racial lines. In fact, I would push for legislation that would make more of our state's resources available in Spanish as well as other languages as needed.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO FORM A UNION AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY?
Yes. I fully support unions and the right of all workers to organize for fair wages, safe working conditions, and good benefits.
DID YOU/DO YOU SUPPORT GUNS ON CAMPUS?
No. I do not support campus carry, and do not believe that guns belong in schools.
DO YOU SUPPORT ELECTRICITY RATE INCREASES TO COMPLETE TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS AT PLANT VOGTLE?
No. I am in complete opposition to Plant Vogtle. My opponent, Rep. Mosby, voted for the plant back in 2009, and Georgia consumers have been paying for it without ever receiving service. This is extremely hurtful to our hardworking families and small business owners. Instead, we should invest in clean energy technology, especially solar, so families can focus on providing a bulk of their own energy needs instead of relying solely on Georgia Power.
DO YOU SUPPORT CHANGING GEORGIA'S VOTING SYSTEM TO A VOTER-MARKED (PEN OR PENCIL) PAPER BALLOT WITH OPTICAL SCANNERS?
Yes. I think that paper ballots are overall a good idea and are more transparent than the current system we have in place. However, we must make sure that any new system doesn't allow for errors involving misread marks by voters.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING?
Yes. Absolutely. We must expand early voting times as well as locations, especially weekend locations.
DO YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC VOUCHERS BEING USED FOR PRIVATE AND/OR CHARTER SCHOOLS?
No. Because of the phrasing of this question, I am forced to answer solely whether we support public tax dollars going into either public or private charters. While I personally am okay with vouchers being used at public charters, because I am a strong supporter of parental choice, I vehemently oppose public funds going into private, for-profit charter schools.
DO YOU SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION OR ANOTHER GEORGIA-SPECIFIC PLAN TO EXTEND HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOW-INCOME GEORGIANS?
Yes. Access to high-quality healthcare is a basic human right. I will fight for a single payer system of healthcare, and ensure that extends to coverage for mental health and addiction issues as well.
WILL YOU SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, AND OPPOSE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT LIMIT OR REDUCE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION?
Yes. A person's right to choose when to have a baby must not be infringed. I will fight to make sure that people in Georgia have access to safe, legal abortions and reproductive healthcare.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES AND PUT THE PROGRAM ON A MORE STABLE FISCAL PATH?
Yes, we have all been paying into social security, and million of hardworking Americans rely on it for all of their retirement income; it is an American institution we can't afford to dismantle.
DO YOU SUPPORT A LIVABLE WAGE OF A MINIMUM OF $15 PER HOUR?
Yes, a minimum wage of at least $15/hr is essential if we want to see real economic mobility. With skyrocketing costs of living, and the ever-increasing need for a college degree to make a living, we must fight now more than ever for a true living wage for our families.