Alex Kaufman
Occupation: I am a partner at the business law firm of Kaufman & Forman in Sandy Springs, where I have been practicing corporate and business litigation on behalf of individuals and small and mid sized companies for nine years.
Previous elected offices held: None
Other community service experience: For the past five years, I have been the head coach of a high school mock trial team. I have served on the boards of The Star House Foundation (as President and Chairman of the Board; Star House serves nearly 300 North Fulton at risk-children through an after-school and summer camp program that emphasizes reading); The Roswell Rotary Club; Roswell 2030 Economic Development Plan; Roswell Inc.; The Roswell Arts Fund; The Westminster Schools Young Alumni Council; The Fulton County District Attorney’s Burglary Taskforce; The Georgia Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, and the Georgia Rotary Student Program for International College Students.
What is motivating you to run for this office?
I love and care about my home community. District 51 is where I was raised, where my family and I live and work, and where my wife and I bought a home to make our life and future. We are deeply invested in the fabric of this community. I was taught the importance of tikkun olam, meaning that I have a responsibility as a member of my community to make the world a better place by improving the opportunities for all people. I believe that the best way to accomplish this is with limited but compassionate common-sense government.
What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it?
There are numerous important issues facing our district, such as quality affordable healthcare and school safety concerns affecting our students and teachers. I will draft legislation creating new economic opportunity zones along Roswell and Holcomb Bridge roads, which will attract new business to these depressed shopping centers. I will advance legislation capping skyrocketing Fulton County property taxes. And I will support legislation allowing cities to have greater control and parents to have more choices over educational opportunities at the local level.
After the new “ATL” regional transit authority forms, what local transit priorities would you advocate, if any?
Thanks to the ATL, we now can coordinate and fund transit options to address our traffic problems. I will listen to the citizens and work with local elected and community leaders advocating for specific projects and transportation opportunities to meet these great challenges. We must address our traffic quagmire quickly, safely and effectively while also being a good steward of the taxpayer’s money. I will advocate for efficient new technologies – such as flex hour incentives, syncing traffic signals, and smart lanes. I will support 5G mobile network legislation, thereby increasing efficiency and lowering costs.
What is your position on reducing or eliminating the state income tax and why?
Recent history has shown that reducing the state income tax has increased tax receipts and improved our economy. I applaud the tax cut passed last session under Republican leadership – all the while fully funding education. Whenever responsible and feasible, I will always support limiting the size, scope and reach of government, lessening the burden placed upon our taxpayers; but I also will work to ensure that our education, transportation and healthcare needs are adequately and responsibly funded and that our promise to our state pension recipients will always be met.