James Jan-Feb 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 36
cut measure on the ballot countywide in Gwinnett County for the first
time in 35 years. The May 2024 Gwinnett referendum proposes to double
the homestead exemption and provide additional homeowner tax relief
to law enforcement, school, hospital
and military personnel. This measure allows voters to incentivize the
American dream of home ownership
for one million Gwinnett residents in
the home of the state’s largest school
system. It is my hope that property
tax relief for homeowners is the kind
of common ground that Democrats,
Independents and Republicans can
work together on.
I am deeply grateful to House Majority Republican Leadership, Republican Caucus Officers, and Committee
Chairs for spending time to help my
freshmen colleagues and me to learn
the ropes.
In speaking with freshmen colleagues, some noteworthy remarks are
36
JAMES
JANUA RY/F E B RUA RY 2024
the following: Reps. Chas Cannon attended West Point, and Rep. Lehman
Franklin attended The Citadel, and
they inform me that freshman year is
a piece of cake in the Georgia House
in comparison to their alma maters.
House Republican
freshmen are committed
to public service and
keeping Georgia No. 1
in good things.
Rep. Ken Vance has designated
himself as our elder statesman and,
as a longtime Milledgeville City
Council member and longtime Peace
Officers leader, he is impressed with
the level of “preparation, enthusiasm,
and dedication to their districts”
that our freshman class exhibited.
Longtime north Georgia banker Rep.
Johnny Chastain considers service
in the House as “the honor of a
lifetime, which has produced future
lifelong friendships.” Rep. Kimberly
New said “it is a new day in Georgia,
and serving our communities and
Georgia is an unparalleled privilege.”
Rep. Bethany Ballard, sponsor of
important literacy legislation, considers serving her community as “an
awesome responsibility.” Finally, Rep.
Rey Martinez remarked how touched
he was to sit near Rep. Lauren Daniel
who was with her newborn son Zane
during the Special Session.
Indeed, House Republican freshmen are committed to public service
and keeping Georgia No. 1 in good
things, which make people continue
to want to move to Georgia.
Americus native and lawyer Matt Reeves represents
the 99th House District in Gwinnett County, where
he and his wife Suzette have lived for 20 years and
raised their three teenage children.