What is your name?

Robert Dawson

Tell us more about yourself.

My life and education have been dedicated to service and community. I became engaged and involved in community service at a young age. I got my start in public service as the chairman of Youth for Mothers Against Violence. During this time, we were instrumental in raising funds for area youth to attend political rallies around the country. I published articles early on warning of the threat of gun violence that now haunts our communities. In a professional capacity, I have experience working in the public and private sectors, including the U.S. House of Representatives as a staff writer.

What office are you running for?

State Representative, District 65

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

I earned my M.F.A. from Bennington College in 2014. I also hold degrees from Sarah Lawrence College (1994) and Harvard University (2010).

Provide the link to your campaign website.

https://www.electdawson.com/

What is your job/occupation?

Cybersecurity consultant

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

South Fulton

Is this your first time running for office?

No

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

In District 65, I continue to mentor youth, support local schools, and recently served on the City of South Fulton Zoning Board of Appeals where I was a watchdog protecting the best interests of our neighbors. I am a 2024 Post Seat holder for the Fulton County Democrats and I serve on the Executive Committee of the South Fulton Democrats.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

My top priority is building an equitable public health framework in Georgia. I will fight to fix the broken process for building new hospitals in Georgia. I will advocate to use Georgia’s surplus to bring quality healthcare back to our region after recent attrition. I will take practical steps like allowing physician-owned, university-owned, and HBCU-owned surgery centers that feature multiple specialists.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

I support citizen reviews of transparency and accountablity.

Do you believe Georgia elections are secure and what additional security measures can be taken?

I will fight to protect the integrity of our elections and lobby for technologies to enhance security, accessibility and efficient administration.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

While government and public efforts are good baby steps, the entire community must shoulder the responsibility for improving its own housing landscape. Communities and cities must leverage home rule to enact public policy that creates housing security. With a new generation of leadership occupying the top political and judicial positions in many major cities, there is no excuse for the lack of necessary focus to correcting the issues causing housing instability.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

No, Georgia's open records laws must be followed and enforced vigorously in all jurisdictions. Consistency of access to public records should be regulated closely.