Betsy Holland
Occupation: Director, Culture & Engagement for Turner
Previous experience holding elected offices: None.
Other community service experience: I served on the boards of Atlanta Community ToolBank, ToolBank USA, Communities in Schools and Fugees Family, a nonprofit serving child survivors of war. For three years, I sat on the Board of Governors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Creative Economy Committee. I currently serve on the ChooseATL committee with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. I’m an active member at Morningside Presbyterian Church where I teach Sunday school, served as a deacon and lead a women’s group focused on community issues. I also volunteer at Garden Hills Elementary School, where my son is a first-grader.
Why should voters choose you for this position?
I bring years of business and community experience to the role of representing House District 54. More importantly, I am a collaborative leader who has spent my career bringing people of diverse backgrounds and positions together to develop solutions to problems facing our company and our community. My familiarity with policy, my experiences of living in the district and my commitment to a forward-thinking legislative agenda contribute to my ability to shape the Georgia of the future. The district needs someone committed to economic development and quality of life for all Georgians.
What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it?
When the I-85 bridge collapsed, my district felt the impact every day until it reopened. Traffic was already difficult in Buckhead, and it became unbearable. My district needs modern infrastructure improvements as well as innovative transit solutions. It’s not enough to widen roads; Georgia must invest in light rail, in bike lanes, in work-live-play communities and in progressive work policies that take commuters off the roads at peak times. The General Assembly approved a significant expansion of transit during the last session; the work that lies ahead is investing those funds in effective, innovative and inclusive solutions.