This is part of a week-long series of posts on East Cobb News about candidates in the May 22 primaries where there are contested party races. In the East Cobb area, there are five such contested races. This post includes information about those vying for Georgia State House District 44.
There are two Republicans and one Democrat on the May 22 primary ballot. District 44 includes a major portion of Northeast Cobb (see map above) and areas around and including Town Center Mall.
Incumbent Republican State Rep. Don Parsons is running to retain the seat he has held since 1995. A long-time Bell South employee, and now a consultant in the telecommunications industry, Parsons is chairman of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee, and is a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Health & Human Services Committee and the Ways & Means Committee.
He has been a vocal advocate for expanding 5G wireless technology across the state, and has said on his Facebook page that if re-elected “in the 2019 Georgia General Assembly, it is imperative that we eliminate barriers put in place by many Georgia municipalities and counties.”
He also has supported cutting personal and business income tax rates, additional funding for public K-12 education in Georgia and a proposed constitutional amendment on the November general election ballot for victims’ rights.
Parsons has not taken a formal position on transit options currently facing the Cobb Board of Commissioners following the passage of a metro-wide transit bill, HB 930, in the legislature this year. Here’s more on his campaign website.
His Republican opponent is Homer Crothers, a retired consultant in the manufacturing industry who considers himself a strong conservative. He supports full funding of the Quality Basic Education Act and reducing the state income tax.
Crothers does not have a campaign website but he does have a Facebook page outlining some of his positions, including being pro-life and espousing many other traditionally conservative views.
Crothers, who says he is running to be a “citizen legislator,” also has been active in his community association, and is current president of the Ebenezer Farms Homeowners Association.
Awaiting either Parsons or Crothers in November is Democrat Chinita Allen, a longtime school teacher in Cobb County, currently at Chalker Elementary School. She is unopposed in the primary.
According to her campaign website, her top priorities would be economic development, education, health and civil rights.
Allen advocates increased education spending for K-12. A member of the Georgia Science Teachers Association and a Georgia STEM Laureate, she said the state needs to establish more “science, STEM and career pathways.”
Related coverage
- Candidates on the Issues: House District 37
- Advance voting in East Cobb all this week
- See what’s on your sample ballot
- Who’s running for office in East Cobb
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