Terry Cummings

Terry Cummings was born in the Bronx, New York. Cummings earned a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in 1982 and a J.D. from Georgetown University in 1991. Her career experience includes working as an attorney, a law enforcement officer, and a professor. Cummings has been affiliated with the ABA, the NBA, NOBLE, NABCJ, GABWA, Cobb Democrats, the Kiwanis Club, the Mableton Improvement Coalition, the Austell Community Task Force, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello, my name is Terry Cummings. I’m a retired law enforcement officer and Attorney with more than 30 years' experience in the criminal justice system. I’m a wife of a Marine Vet, mother, and caretaker, I’m a Cobb Democrat Post Seat holder and Treasurer of my HOA. I graduated from Rutgers University and Georgetown University Law. Following graduation, I was accepted into U.S. Department of Justice Honors Attorney Program, where I worked for 25 years in law enforcement.

For the past several years, I have coordinated job fairs focused on ex-offenders and those with criminal records. In 2020, I worked with DA Joyette Holmes to coordinate the first ex-offender job fair for Cobb. I’m currently working with groups exploring restoring rent control for apartment complexes and fighting the redistricting which has diluted black voting power in Cobb.

I bring transferrable experience, temperament and to represent you with the seriousness and sense of urgency these times deserve. Please visit my website at terry4ga.com.

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?

Voting is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. Today, our democracy remains under attack by Republicans who are doing everything to undermine future election results, including reducing early voting locations and other efforts to discourage voters. More disturbing is the practice of cracking; the discriminatory practice splitting communities into multiple districts to reduce their voting power. It is critical that during this election you VOTE EARLY to ensure your vote is appropriately counted. As your next representative, I will fight to ensure every eligible voter has fair access to the ballot.Health Care is a right, not a privilege. Georgia is one of 12 states in our country that has not expanded Medicaid. If COVID has taught us nothing else, it shows that the lack of affordable healthcare can have devastating and long-term effects on families and businesses. The high cost and availability of certain medications, driven by pharmaceutical companies, often force seniors and middle and low-income families to make difficult decisions on how to maintain their health. I'm also pro-choice. I believe the decisions we make about our bodies are between our God, Physician, and family. The government has no business in our bedrooms or doctor's office.I will vigorously fight to return to common-sense gun control laws which just got harder thanks to the “Constitutional Carry” law signed by Kemp in April. This new law allows residents to carry concealed handguns in public without a license or background check. As a retired federal law enforcement officer, I understand that citizens have a right to responsible gun ownership, but citizens also have the right to not live in fear of gun violence everywhere they turn. As your next representative, I will work to ensure guns do not fall in the hands of violent felons, individuals convicted of domestic abuse, and those with a history of serious mental health issues.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I grew up on the principle that America is a “melting pot” of different races, cultures, religions, nationalities working together to realize the “American Dream”. I believe all Georgians deserve the opportunity to achieve the dream. As your next state representative, I will work to: -Preserve the rights of all Georgian’s regardless of race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.

-Ensure all Georgians have access to affordable housing which includes bringing rent control back to Georgia, and livable wages.

-Ensure women and men receive appropriate sex education, are provided fertility options and birth control. I will also fight to ensure women retain the right to make decisions concerning their own bodies.

-Expand the Georgia Equal Pay Act which prohibits employer discrimination based on sex. This includes equal pay and protection of employees filing complaints about discriminatory practices.

-Protect in-state tuition to all state residents including those who are undocumented.

-Work with educators and parents to address the school-to-prison pipeline statewide.

-Enact meaningful reforms to our criminal justice system, including guaranteeing that restricted records can’t be used in employment determinations.

-Stop the expansion of inhumane immigration detention centers.

- Support efforts to decriminalize marijuana and ensure the release of incarcerated individuals on possession and minor distribution charges.

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

My mother, Dr. Mattie Collins one for the first African Americans to work with New York Visiting Nurse Service. She taught Pediatric nursing. She didn't believe in titles, was kind, loving and valued education.

My father, Rudy Collins a jazz drummer who played with Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann, Quincy Jones and many jazz greats. He was talented, gentle and kind.

My grandfather, Dr. Chancelor Williams who was a professor of African History at Howard University and wrote Destruction of the African Civilization.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was 8 years old in 1968, and I remember when Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy were murdered. I recall seeing my mother sitting in a chair and just crying.

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

Babysitting and McDonalds was my first job. I worked in a fabric factory the summer before college.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

During my career, I have learned to seek to understand others before being understood. I strongly believe that building relationships with other legislators is critical to becoming an effective legislator.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I favor using Non-partisan redistricting commissions that are transparent to inspire voter confidence, Members would be selected through an independent process to avoid conflicts of interests. Criteria would be established and followed to ensure federal laws and the Voting Rights Act are followed. Public hearings would be standard.

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

I believe in working with people with divergent interests. I believe it is important to work across the aisle, when possible, to achieve mutual goals that benefit all Georgians.

Note: Cummings submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on August 14, 2022.

Show past responsesHide past responses

May 24 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello, my name is Terry Cummings. I’m a retired law enforcement officer and Attorney with more than 30 years' experience in the criminal justice system. I’m a wife of a Marine Vet, mother, and caretaker, I’m a Democrat Post Seat holder and an active member on my HOA. I graduated from Rutgers University and Georgetown University Law. Following graduation, I was accepted into U.S. Department of Justice Honors Attorney Program, where I worked for 25 years in law enforcement.

For the past several years, I have coordinated job fairs focused on ex-offenders and those with criminal records. In 2020, I worked with DA Joyette Holmes to coordinate the first ex-offender job fair for Cobb. I’m currently working with groups exploring restoring rent control for apartment complexes and fighting the redistricting which has diluted black voting power in Cobb.

I bring transferrable experience, temperament and to represent you with the seriousness and sense of urgency these times deserve. Please visit my website at terry4ga.com.

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?

Voting is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. Today, our democracy remains under attack by Republicans who are doing everything to undermine future election results, including reducing early voting locations and other efforts to discourage voters. More disturbing is the practice of cracking; the discriminatory practice splitting communities into multiple districts to reduce their voting power. As your next representative, I will fight to ensure every eligible voter has fair access to the ballot.Health Care is a right, not a privilege. Georgia is one of 12 states in our country that has not expanded Medicaid. If COVID has taught us nothing else, it shows that the lack of affordable healthcare can have devastating and long-term effects on families and businesses. The high cost and availability of certain medications, driven by pharmaceutical companies, often force seniors and middle and low-income families to make difficult decisions on how to maintain their health. As your next Representative, I will diligently work to expand Medicare for all Georgians, require adequate caps on costly medications and therapies, and expand resources to ensure affordable healthcare for all.I will vigorously fight to return to common-sense gun control laws which just got harder thanks to the “Constitutional Carry” law signed by Kemp in April. This new law allows residents to carry concealed handguns in public without a license or background check. As a retired federal law enforcement officer, I understand that citizens have a right to responsible gun ownership, but citizens also have the right to not live in fear of gun violence everywhere they turn. As your next representative, I will work to ensure guns do not fall in the hands of violent felons, individuals convicted of domestic abuse, and those with a history of serious mental health issues.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I grew up on the principle that America is a “melting pot” of different races, cultures, religions, nationalities working together to realize the “American Dream”. I believe all Georgians deserve the opportunity to achieve the dream. As your next state representative, I will work to: -Preserve the rights of all Georgian’s regardless of race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.

-Ensure all Georgians have access to affordable housing and livable wages.

-Work with stakeholders to build and sustain

-Ensure women and men receive appropriate sex education, are provided fertility options and birth control. I will also fight to ensure women retain the right to make decisions concerning their own bodies.

-Expand the Georgia Equal Pay Act which prohibits employer discrimination based on sex. This includes equal pay and protection of employees filing complaints about discriminatory practices.

-Protect in-state tuition to all state residents including those who are undocumented.

-Work with educators and parents to address the school-to-prison pipeline statewide.

-Enact meaningful reforms to our criminal justice system, including guaranteeing that restricted records can’t be used in employment determinations.

-Stop the expansion of inhumane immigration detention centers.

- Support efforts to decriminalize marijuana and ensure the release of incarcerated individuals on possession and minor distribution charges.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was 8 years old in 1968, and I remember when Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy were murdered. I recall seeing my mother sitting in a chair and just crying.

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

My first job was working at McDonalds in high school. I worked in a fabric softener factory the summer prior to college.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I favor using Non-partisan redistricting commissions that are transparent to inspire voter confidence, Members would be selected through an independent process to avoid conflicts of interests. Criteria would be established and followed to ensure federal laws and the Voting Rights Act are followed. Public hearings would be standard.Note: [the profile publisher] reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by [the profile publisher] will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from [the profile publisher].org. [the profile publisher] does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.Note: Cummings submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on May 24, 2022.

Terry Cummings did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.