– Mark Baker –
New Leadership for a Brand New District 13
A few months ago, GA Republicans avoided creating a new court-mandated minority-majority congressional district by breaking up three existing districts. We can’t sit by while our voting rights continue to erode.
It’s time we elected a representative who will fight fire with fire. Mark Baker has a proven track record of passing legislation that levels the playing field and puts our neighbors and children first.
– Mark Baker –
New Leadership for a Brand New District 13
A few months ago, GA Republicans avoided creating a new court-mandated minority-majority congressional district by breaking up three existing districts. We can’t sit by while our voting rights continue to erode.
It’s time we elected a representative who will fight fire with fire. Mark Baker has a proven track record of passing legislation that levels the playing field and puts our neighbors and children first.
The NEW Congressional District 13
District 13 now includes parts of Gwinnett, Newton, Henry, Clayton, DeKalb and all of Rockdale.
DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton were previously represented by Rep. Hank Johnson (and a few DeKalb residents were represented by Rep. Nikema Williams.)
Gwinnett was previously represented by Rep. Lucy McBath.
Our new district deserves an effective leader who will drive economic development, protect our reproductive rights, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and fight the corporate greed driving inflation.
Successes
Legislation I’ve Passed
As councilman, I built strong relationships that enabled me to deliver for the residents of my city. Here is a partial list of legislative successes:
- BREONNA TAYLOR’S LAW (ENDS “NO KNOCK” WARRANTS)
- ABOLISHED COLUMBUS DAY (1ST IN GA!)
- DECRIMINALIZED CANNABIS
- $15 MINIMUM WAGE
- CROWN ACT (BANS NATURAL HAIRSTYLE DISCRIMINATION)
- JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY (BEFORE FEDERAL LAW)
- REPARATIONS LEGISLATION (*1ST IN GA!)
- GEORGE FLOYD POLICING ACT
- URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
- CRITICAL RACE THEORY RESOLUTION
- 8CANTWAIT (BANS 8 ABUSIVE POLICING TACTICS)
A History of Service and Action
Mark Baker is a retired Fulton County schools resource officer and certified instructor of FEMA’s first responders’ weapons of mass destruction training. He’s a graduate of Clark Atlanta University’s doctoral program and former professor of African American and Women studies.
In 2017, Mark was one of the first city councilors elected in the newly formed City of South Fulton, beating five other candidates to represent District 7. He moved quickly to enact progressive policies.
In his first two years in office, Councilman Baker was the first legislator in the entire state of Georgia to abolish Columbus Day in place of Indigenous People’s Day, worked to decriminalize marijuana within the city reducing it to a civil violation in order to avoid the damage caused to working families by unnecessary criminal charges, and set a $15 minimum wage for employees in the City of South Fulton.
Additionally, in light of nationwide 2020 protests from repeated instances of police brutality, Councilman Baker introduced and passed the Breonna Taylor law, outlawing “no knock” warrants within the city of South Fulton, as well as the ‘Eight that Can’t Wait’ resolution, which outlaws the eight ‘excessive force’ policing techniques which have caused the untimely death of many innocent civilians.
Baker also laid the groundwork for economic development for the city by sponsoring legislation to create the Development Authority for the City of South Fulton.
Core Issues
Our district faces a number of challenges of both local and national importance.
The legislation Mark passed was designed to level the playing field and remove the persistent barriers that our friends and neighbors are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.
Now Mark is taking that fight to Congress. Our rights have been under unprecedented attack yet our elected officials in Congress have been asleep at the wheel, refusing to adapt to the challenges we face.
We had 50 years to codify reproductive rights into law. Those rights are now gone.
We’ve had decades to implement enhanced voting rights, civil justice reform, and modernize environmental and economic policies, yet incumbents sat by and watched as our protections were chipped away, piece by piece.
It’s time we elected a real leader from the community who will fight for you.
Reproductive Rights
Our daughters and granddaughters are now in danger because our elected officials were asleep at the wheel.
An out-of-control Supreme Court and radical anti-abortion laws passed by Republicans have destroyed normal standards of medical care expected by women during pregnancy.
The result is that a wanted pregnancy can quickly turn into a life-threatening nightmare.
When mothers-to-be experience complications, in some cases doctors must now wait until the mother’s life is in immediate danger before attempting what was previously safe and routine medical care. No doctor should have to play roulette with a patient’s life because of the fear of legal consequences.
That legal fear is adding to the problem of a shortage of OB-GYNs. Over half of Georgia counties don’t have a single OB-GYN in residence and the problem is getting worse.
This is unacceptable. Our families deserve better. I will fight to codify reproductive rights into law.
Protect Medicare
Republicans are making a hard push to fully privatize Medicare. If they succeed, it would have a monumental impact on the health of America’s seniors and the future of one of America’s most popular social programs.
Privatized Medicare would be the end of patients choosing their own doctors. Healthcare would become even more expensive as private insurers create record profits off the backs of our seniors. And wrongful insurance denials of necessary care would be routine.
I will protect Medicare and the right of seniors to choose the doctor of their choice. I will also diligently work to expand the services offered to include dental, vision and hearing benefits.
Protect and Expand Voting Rights
In the wake of the 2020 election, an unprecedented wave of restrictive voting laws have been implemented nation-wide.
Our elected officials in congress have done nothing to stem the tide.
I will make sure voting rights are not put on the backburner. I’ll forcefully advocate and gather support to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the equally important Freedom to Vote Act.
Economic Development
Everyone wants to live, work and play in a nice community. The key to that happening is creating the conditions where robust economic growth can take place locally.
While on council, I passed legislation to create the Development Authority for the City of South Fulton, in order to bring revitalization projects to the city and keep development dollars in the community.
Small businesses drive 44% of the US economy. This number should be substantially higher, but structural barriers still stand in the way.
In Congress, I’ll focusing on aiding, assisting, counseling and protecting small businesses on a national level through smart legislation, and will work to direct development dollars back to communities in our district.
Safe & Clean Water for Everyone in our District
Safe, clean, affordable water should be fundamental right, not something we have to fight for.
A recent AJC article highlighted the fact that Clayton Co., Covington and Henry Co. are among the 11 water systems that reported contamination by toxic “forever chemicals” in excess of what the EPA deems safe.
New federal regulations will likely be in place later this year, and many water systems are voluntarily adding filtering equipment, but that equipment comes at a cost.
Clayton County is building a new water treatment facility for an estimated $450 million.
In Congress, I’ll work to increase infrastructure spending to finally remove all lead supply pipes once and for all, and to make sure our community has the equipment needed to provide safe, clean water for all of our residents.
Good Local Green Jobs
Just a few weeks ago, Rivian halted construction on their $5 Billion electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Stanton Springs — only 15 minutes from our district.
A robust, green economy creates good jobs here in GA. The faster we modernize our economy to take advantage of inexpensive renewables and drive demand for efficient electric vehicles, the better.
In Congress, I’ll help advance legislation to modernize our electrical grid, incentivize faster turnover to clean fuels and technology, increase wages, and create the economic environment which drives market demand for the products we can build here in and around our district.
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