Karla Drenner

Karla Drenner
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 85th district
Assumed office
January 8, 2001
Preceded by June Hegstrom
Personal details
Born (1961-09-10) September 10, 1961
Charleston, West Virginia
Political party Democratic
Residence Avondale Estates, Georgia

Dr Karla Lea Drenner (born September 10, 1961 in Charleston, West Virginia) is an American academic and politician from Georgia. A Democrat, she is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives representing the state's 85th district in Avondale Estates, DeKalb County.

Drenner has four degrees from four different universities. She obtained a Bachelor of Science from West Virginia State College, an MBA from Fontbonne College, a Master of Science from Southern Illinois University and a PhD from La Salle University.[1]

Drenner is an adjunct Professor at DeVry University where she teaches Environmental Science, Principles of Ethics and Leadership and Motivation. Drenner is also the owner and President of an environmental safety and health consulting firm.[1]

A lesbian, Drenner was the first ever openly gay member of the Georgia General Assembly.[2][3] Today, she is one of four LGBT members, alongside Reps. Simone Bell, Rashad Taylor and Keisha Waites, all Atlanta Democrats. Her campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.[4]

A resident of Avondale Estates, Drenner was first elected to the state house in 2000, defeating a four-term incumbent in what was then the 66th district.[5] In this heavily Democratic district, the primary election was the key contest and she won it by just 68 votes — 52% to 48%.[6] No Republican had filed for the seat so she won the general election unopposed. Due to redistricting, the seat was renumbered the 57th district in 2002 and the 85th in 2004 but she won re-election unopposed on both occasions.

The 85th district is 66% African American according to figures from the 2000 census.[7] There have therefore been moves by some black leaders to replace Drenner with an African American. Indeed, in 2006, she faced an aggressive primary challenge from Cynthia Tucker, a black medical professor. Drenner survived, winning the primary by 62% to 38% and going on to win the general election unopposed.[2] She faced no opposition in 2008 or 2010.

References

  1. 1 2 "Project Vote Smart: Rep. Karla Drenner". Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  2. 1 2 "Gay candidates win big in Southern votes". Washington Blade. 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  3. ↑ 'Lesbian wins historic race in Alabama', Out & About Newspaper, Vol. 5, No. 8, 2006, p. 8
  4. ↑ "Gay state rep re-elected". Southern Voice. 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  5. ↑ Jacobs, Andrew (2004-03-09). "Gay Legislator at the Center of a Storm in Georgia". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  6. ↑ "Veteran lawmakers fall or face runoffs after Georgia primary". Associated Press. 2000-07-19. Archived from the original on December 7, 2004. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  7. ↑ Census 2000: Population by Georgia House district (PDF)
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