Partnering with Communities a Leadership Priority for Georgia Senator

State Senator Donzella James of Georgia believes that public leadership and partnership with the community are often synonymous. In the 1999 session, James (Flemming Fellow `95) led many bills working with and on behalf of her communities.

"The citizens are our employers," says James of her work in public service, which began as grassroots work with community food drives and union negotiations for postal workers.

SB 32 targets stronger community education, allowing all Georgia schools to offer preparatory courses for the SAT, a standard college entrance exam. "Even though there is evidence that the SAT doesn’t measure intelligence," says James, "the test still measures whether students get into college." Because the preparatory course can now be offered in public schools, James’s bill offers all students greater chances to get into college.

James’ commitment to communities shaped her bill encouraging "good neighbor" partnerships between communities to make sure responses to 911 calls are efficient.

The most important piece of legislation for James in the 1999 session is a culmination of her longtime work on stronger drunk driving penalties and prevention. James’ personal experience prompted her advocacy for stricter anti-DUI laws; she lost her son to a drunk driver. "Heidi’s Law" will strengthen sentencing for individuals convicted of multiple DUIs. The law would also require DUI offenders to have a device on their cars to stop them from driving while drunk.