Two Democrats square off in the July 20 primary election seeking their party’s nomination for the state Senate seat representing District 38, which includes a portion of Buckhead. A sole Republican seeks her party’s nomination for the seat.

Democrats

Michael Adams

Age: 30

Occupation: Small business owner/Consultant

Neighborhood: Southwest Atlanta

Political experience: 10 plus years

Education: Presbyterian College, Sociology; Morehouse College, Political Science

Reason for running: Too often elected officials lose touch with the community and in doing lose touch with the needs of the constituency. Georgia’s 38th District is vast in geography, extremely economically diverse and rich in culture, but no matter the ethnicity, socio-economic income, gender or orientation, access to government is essential.

Website: www.adams38.com

Horacena Tate (incumbent)

Age: 54

Occupation: President of Tate, Marsh and Associates, Inc., a software training, management training and technical writing firm

Political experience: First elected to the Georgia Senate from the 38th District in 1999, currently serves on the Appropriations, Education and Youth, Health and Human Services, Retirement, Rules and Urban Affairs committees and is the Chair of the Atlanta Fulton County Senate Delegation

Community involvement: Computer literacy advisor for the Butler Street YMCA, a volunteer software instructor for local churches, a delegate representing Clark-Atlanta University at the International Community Education Conference in Trinidad and a speak for several Metro Atlanta public school functions. Member, Cascade United Methodist church, the United Methodist Women and Alpha Kappa Alpha National sorority.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Georgia in 1977, Masters in Educational Administration from Atlanta University, EdD in Educational Administration from Clark-Atlanta University

Website: horacena.tate@senate.ga.gov

Republican

Beth Beskin

Age: 50

Occupation: Attorney

Neighborhood: Buckhead

Political experience: First time running for office.

Community involvement: Member of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta; board of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony Foundation ; member of Lovett’s Friends of the Arts.

Education: Newcomb College of Tulane University, B.S. Geology; M.S. in Geology; Paul M. Herbert Law Center at Louisiana State University, J.D.

Reason for running: I have been disappointed with the quality of representation from the incumbent. She has been in office for twelve years, yet has accomplished virtually nothing for this district or for the state at large. We need a Senator who can bring people together in a positive way to accomplish some key community objectives.

Website: www.bethbeskin.com

Two Democrats seek their party’s nomination in the July 20 primary election for the state Senate seat representing District 39, which includes a portion of Buckhead.

Graham Balch

Age: 36

Occupation: Biology teacher at Grady High School

Neighborhood: Midtown

Political experience: Post Seat Holder with the Fulton County Democratic Party

Community involvement: Founder and Chairman of the 21st Century Atlanta Scholars, Secretary of NPU-E, board member for the Midtown Neighborhood Association, LEAD Atlanta

Education: Middlebury College, MBA in Leadership from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania 2005

Reason for running: There is much we need to do to improve our public schools, get our economy back on track, protect our environment, solve our transportation challenges in Atlanta, and strengthen ethics and accountability for elected officials. I am running for the state Senate to help bring our communities together and make a difference on these issues that affect our lives.

Website: http://grahambalch.com

Vincent Fort (incumbent)

Age: 55

Occupation: Professor

Neighborhood:

East Point

Political experience: Elected to the state Senate from the 39th District in 1996 and has been reelected five times; serves on the Appropriations, Education and Youth, Judiciary, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committee, Reapportionment and Redistricting, State Institutions and Property and Urban Affairs committees

Education: Central Connecticut State College, Masters in African-American History from Atlanta University

Website: www.vincentfort.com/

Note: This material came from Sen. Fort’s website.

–Compiled by Amanda Wolkin