Michael McPherson announces bid for state House seat
May 11, 2009 at 6:14 am by Thomas Wheatley in News
The vacant state House seat serving the Reynoldstown, Cabbagetown and West DeKalb neighborhoods has at least one name gunning for it — Cabbagetown resident Michael McPherson.
The 34-year-old candidate — Democrat, of course — serves on the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Development Corporation and Stacks/Fulton Cotton Mill HOA Advisory boards. He was a member of a recovery effort after the March 2008 tornado that slammed the neighborhood.
If elected, McPherson says he’d push for legislation to help community groups similar to those that assisted in the tornado recovery effort — especially those which aided senior citizens. He also says he’d analyze proposed tax breaks to ensure they don’t sap cities and counties’ abilities to fund public services.
He says in a press release: “I will weigh all the so-called tax relief initiatives against the effects they will produce, such as property tax breaks that produce nominal results for the individual, yet impact local governments so severely that services like Fire and Police are cut across the board.”
McPherson’s familiar with the Gold Dome. Prior to becoming vice president of research and administration at lobbying firm Cornerstone Communications Group, he served as chief of staff for two Democratic state senators. He also managed a campaign for state Sen. Doug Stoner, D-Smyrna. If elected, McPherson says, his job duties would shift to administration and not involve government relations.
Robbin Shipp, the district’s former representative, resigned after Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker raised concerns that her dual role as a Fulton County prosecutor and a state lawmaker violated Georgia law. No date has been set for the special election.
(Courtesy Michael McPherson campaign)
June 16th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I am definitly voting for Michael McPherson. He is an upstanding citizen and a great neighbor. Vote for Michael for district 58!
June 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
It’s good to see McPherson highlight developer tax breaks that cripple funding of public services.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Michale is a great guy with excellent credentials. He would be a great Rep!