Thursday, June 4, 2015

Catherine Bernard GA HD 80

Bernard makes bid for House District 80 official, qualifies for race, June 3, 2015.  Posted by: The Brookhaven Post

 

Brookhaven, GA, June 3, 2015 – The Post Reports – On Tuesday, June 2nd, Republican Candidate Catherine Bernard qualified for the Special Election for State House District 80.

The seat was vacated by Mike Jacobs after he was appointed to a state court judgeship in DeKalb County, resulting in call for a special election for District 80 that will be held on July 14, 2015.

In a Wednesday release, Ms. Bernard talks about her platform, her experience and a path forward.

Here is the release:

Catherine Bernard Qualifies for House District 80 Special Election. Constitutional Advocate Successfully Opposed Debt, Eminent Domain Expansion Pushed by Brookhaven City Government in 2014

“I am asking for the privilege to serve you as your next State Representative. House District 80 – encompassing parts of Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, and Chamblee – is one of the most vibrant areas of metro Atlanta, and needs representation focused on building strong communities through free enterprise and accountable, transparent government. I am committed to reading every bill, providing a public reason for every vote, and always listening to the people of our district – not outside interests attempting to drive the legislative process. I look forward to representing voters of House District 80 under the Gold Dome in the competent and principled manner that we deserve,” Bernard said.

Catherine Bernard is passionate and enthusiastic about public service to ensure that all citizens’ voices are fully represented. In 2014, she served as Chair of the Brookhaven Redevelopment Referendum Committee, which successfully defeated an effort by the City of Brookhaven to increase city government’s power to take on debt without voter approval and seize property through eminent domain. “When I read the Redevelopment Powers Law, I realized that Brookhaven voters weren’t being given the full financial and political picture of the impact it would have on their lives,” Bernard said.  “I was glad we were able to get the message out, but it’s time for government that looks out for our interests, not for how to increase its own power.”  

Ms. Bernard is a committed limited government conservative, with a strong emphasis on equality before the law and personal responsibility. She is a member of the DeKalb Republican Party County Committee and secretary of the Brookhaven precinct, and has previously served as president of the North DeKalb Republican Women and membership chair of the DeKalb Young Republicans. She was a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention and also served on the 12th District Georgia Republican Party Executive Committee. In June, she will be appearing on a panel “The Future of the Republican Party” at the annual statewide dinner hosted by the Glynn County GOP.

Ms. Bernard is a public defender and practices constitutional advocacy and criminal trial work throughout the state of Georgia, offering her a widely informed perspective on the way Georgia laws are executed and interpreted.  She is the founder of a legal defense nonprofit that brings law enforcement, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and activists together to advocate for principled, small government criminal justice reform, and testified before Georgia House and Senate committees in the 2015 legislative session on numerous pieces of justice-related legislation.  Her formation of an alliance between constitutional conservatives and civil liberties-oriented independents and liberals the key to defeating several bills that would have reduced Georgia citizens’ protections against police searches when they have not been charged with any crime.  “There is so much that we can all agree on, regardless of party affiliation,” Bernard said.  “It’s important to focus on the common ground of responsible, accountable government that effectively protects public safety and individual rights.  I’m looking forward to the candidate debate for this special election so that all of us can discuss our vision for representing HD80.”

Ms. Bernard graduated from Emory University with a degree in political science and philosophy, and from the University of Virginia Law School with a concentration in legislation and government law.  She worked as a litigation associate with Rogers & Hardin LLP in Atlanta before becoming a full-time public defender in Dublin, Georgia from 2009-2013. She and her husband Eric reside in Ashford Park.  She is a member of the North Atlanta Rotary Club and the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce.

To learn more about Catherine Bernard, visit her campaign website at votecatherine.com

Comments

The legislative scorecard on electtherightcandidate.us shows abysmal scores for Georgia legislators.  Catherine Bernard is a proven Constitutional Conservative and would get an A, with a 100% score.  We need to pack the Georgia legislature with principled conservatives like Catherine.  We will have a lot of corruption to clean out after 2016 and Catherine is “not for sale”.  Her mission includes protecting the voters from legislative scams that would ultimately damage what’s left of our free market economy.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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