Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Chambers announces bid for state House Peachtree City resident and Republican Alison Chambers has announced her intention to run for State House seat 72, a newly-created district that includes most of Peachtree City and some of Fayetteville. Chambers ran her first political campaign for a seat on the Peachtree City Council in 2001 when she was 24 years old and garnered 22 percent of the vote. “Running for City Council was one of the most exciting and invigorating times of my life,” said Chambers. “I learned so many things I will carry with me forever, and I grew immensely as a person. Being in the State Legislature has always been a dream of mine, and I am truly excited about this election. This new district is a great opportunity for Fayette County, and I look forward to a chance to serve my constituents at the state level.” Chambers is a Fayette County native and the seventh generation of her family to live in Fayette County. Her family has a long legacy of public service. Her grandfather, Crawford Hewell, Jr., served on the Fayette County Commission, as mayor of Fayetteville, and was the first president of the Chamber of Commerce. Her grandmother, Ada Ballard Hewell, who retired from the Fayette County Board of Education several years ago, once ran for Fayette County Tax Commissioner. Alison’s great-grandfather, Crawford Hewell, Sr., was a banker who also served on the Fayetteville City Council, and her other great-grandfather, William Ballard, served as Fayette County Sheriff. “I am proud of my heritage,” she said. “My roots run deep here in Fayette County, and I feel I would be an excellent representative for my neighbors and fellow citizens.” After graduating from Woodward Academy, Chambers was awarded the Presidential Scholarship at Queen’s College in Charlotte, N.C. She transferred to Florida State University, where she pursued a major in music and international affairs until leaving to accept a job in the legal support section of Alston & Bird, a law firm in Atlanta. In 2001 Alison left to become a self-employed insurance agent and has recently joined her mother at Keepsake Biographical Services, LLC, where they preserve family stories and legends. Chambers plans to campaign to cut wasteful spending, keep crime levels low, taxes down, and improve education. “We are very fortunate here in Fayette County to have some of the best schools in the state, but there are still improvements that can be made. We need to give teachers the resources that they need to do their jobs and give parents greater control over their children’s education. Our children are of utmost importance, and we need to make sure we are doing all that we can to give them the tools they need to succeed.” She intends to be accessible to constituents. “It is a state representative’s job to vote the way her 45,000 constituents would if they had a vote. The only way I will know what’s important to you, the residents of Fayette County, is to hear your concerns, your thoughts, your questions. Please feel free to contact me as often as possible. You can e-mail me at Alison@AlisonChambers.com. I’m in the process of designing my web site, www.AlisonChambers.com, so please visit often because once it’s up and running, I’ll be adding to it on a regular basis, keeping you informed of what’s going on and asking for your input.” Active in the community, Chambers has been chairman of the Fayette County Young Republicans, a member of Kiwanis, a member of the Fayette County Republican Women, a youth soccer coach, and a Board Member of the Heart Association. She is also very active in local theatres and is a member of Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, where she is in the choir and directs the 8-10 year-old children’s choir.