Robert Dawson

Robert Dawson was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Dawson earned a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1994, a graduate degree from Harvard University in 2010, and a graduate degree from Bennington College in 2014. His career experience includes working in financial technology, cybersecurity, and software development and compliance.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My life and education have been dedicated to service and community. Born and raised next door in Birmingham, Alabama, I grew up in the battleground city of the Civil Rights Movement. Surrounded by this legacy, 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.

In a professional capacity, I have experience working in the public and private sectors, including the United States House of Representatives as a Staff Writer. I work as a consultant and subject-matter expert in the finance and information technology fields. As a consultant, I have used my experience to consult major entities, including BCD Travel, Xerox, Time, Inc., The New York City Department of Health, and The University of Alabama.

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.

Beyond my professional obligations, I have strived to stay active in the communities I call home.

I earned my MFA from Bennington College. I also hold degrees from Sarah Lawrence College and Harvard University.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

A Public Health Framework

I have a plan for hospitals in our region:

-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 stand up to Georgia’s hospital industry and lobbyists. I’m calling the industry out right now and bringing light to the disgraced lack of healthcare in our region

-I will take practical steps like allowing physician-owned, university-owned, and HBCU-owned surgery centers that feature multiple specialists

-I will work to expand medicaid in Georgia and demand that all Georgians have access to adequate healthcareEconomic Development

The state must do more to bring quality development and jobs to our region. We must guard our residential neighborhoods from improper zoning, predatory rental properties and misguided development. I have heard from our neighbors, and we all want smart, safe, clean communities.

District 65 must use future-forward technologies like electric vehicles, solar energy, blockchain technology and cybersecurity to upgrade the state’s grid and capabilities. Let’s become an information technology hub! Computer Science, STEM, IT and Skilled Trade training programs are also needed.Education

As a proud product of public schools, I am an advocate for quality of education in our district. I’ve had the opportunity to attend some of the premiere colleges and universities in the country. I want all our children to have the same opportunity:

-I oppose special interests groups who want to take money from public schools and send it to private schools and charter schools that don't have proper oversight and that rally even open their doors in our communities

-It’s time to prioritized public education and equip our students with forward-facing skills. We can enrich our students in the classroom and beyond

-We need to hire more public school teachers and pay them better.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Voting Rights, Redistricting and Voter Suppression

I will continue to stand against attacks on civil rights and voting rights in Georgia and beyond:

-I am calling for the repeal of Georgia's restrictive voting laws and attempts to block fair access to the ballot

I support third-party redistricting as a way to prevent the partisan maps we are witnessing this year

-I am calling for Election Day to be a state holiday in Georgia

-I will fight to protect the integrity of our elections and combat attempts to disproportionately prevent minority applicants from registering to vote

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Accountability, Transparency, Accessibility and Integrity

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at our local grocery store. I was working hard to afford my first car and my college tour. The work ethic I built then with support I had from the coworkers, management and community is still with me.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud resident of District 61. I live in the Regency Oaks neighborhood. I have over twenty years of experience working in the public and private sectors, including the United States House of Representatives.

My life has been dedicated to service and development. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, I grew up in one of the primary battleground cities of the Civil Rights Movement. Growing up surrounded by this legacy caused me to become engaged and involved in community service and development activities at a young age. I got my start in the community serving as the Chairman of Youth for Mothers Against Violence. During this time, I worked raising funds for Birmingham area youth to attend political rallies and functions in the region.

Upon receiving my high school diploma from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, I attended Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester County, New York. I graduated from Sarah Lawrence with my Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to earn two Master’s degrees. I earned a Master’s Degree in Writing from Bennington College and one in Finance from Harvard University.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The best interest of the community comes first. The neighbors deserve the head seat at the table.In addition to getting illegal guns off the street, we must focus on strengthening the relationship between the community and police.Let’s be honest, no one wants to make a big money bet in a district where the politics are full of drama. If we continue to have political bickering, most businesses that we are longing for will see us as too big of a risk.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’ve heard from our neighbors, and I see the vision you are demanding. We need a masterplan for the District that delivers the future growth and prosperity you know we deserve. We need entertainment venues, upscale retail, fine dining options, Class A office space, quality grocers, plus an end to the food desert we are all living in

To get all this done we need leaders who are collaborators and facilitators. We don’t need any more drama. Our future is not served by divisive politics, dysfunction, and stubborn public policy. I’m deeply concerned that without proper planning, spending and policies we will continue to hit roadblocks and dead ends as a rising region

Despite negative sentiment and news coverage, Georgia is a great place to live. District 61 offers many value propositions (proximity to the airport, affordability, and undeveloped land) that we must showcase to our citizens and neighbors. Our reputation must reflect the strong families that make District 61 a quality community. We are not the Douglas and Fulton County you hear about on the news. Let’s build the community we deserve and make these amenities a reality. It’s easier than you think!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father and my grandfather are really the two people I look up to the most. They made me the man I am and provided great examples for me to live up to in business, family, spiritual life and working to be a servant in the community!

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I see the vision that the neighbors are demanding and that we deserve. Instead of runaway construction of warehouses, subdivisions and apartments in the region, we need visionary developments like hospitals, swimming centers, fitness centers, multipurpose spaces and learning academies.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Patience, Listener, Collaborator, Peacemaker, Watchdog, Connector

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I'm a big fan of jazz music and I was recently listening to Thelonius Monk and his tunes always get stuck in my head!

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Let’s be honest, no one wants to make a big money bet in a state district where the politics are full of drama. If we continue to have political bickering, most businesses that we are longing for will see us as too big of a risk. No one wants to work with a district that is divided. The national brands and desirable products you want must be courted by a functional government, streamlined processes and by inspiring confidence that big deals won’t become political footballs. Experience is the key!

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise and diplomacy are the core to policymaking. No one "wins" a negotiation. To create successful policy, I have no problem compromising and meeting my counterparties halfway.