Kathy Cox, R-Peachtree City, is "proud to be a Georgian" following her first week as state representative from the 105th District.

"It's just been a great week," Cox told The Citizen Monday as she relaxed during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. "I think the next few years are going to continue to be very positive."

Cox, a teacher at Sandy Creek High School elected to public office for the first time this fall, was placed on three committees: Education; Industry; and Health and Ecology. On Education, she was appointed to the Curriculum and Instruction Subcommittee; on Industry, the Small Business and Economic Development subcommittees, and on Health and Ecology the Health Care Facilities and the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse subcommittees.

Georgia's new governor, Democrat Roy Barnes, set the tone for the 1999 legislative session in the traditional Eggs and Issues Breakfast recently, Cox said. "He talked about an independent state audit" and other issues that were popular with Republicans running for state office last year, she said.

"He's the type of individual that is willing to look at an idea and take it on, and it doesn't make any difference whether it comes from a Democrat or a Republican," Cox added. "A lot of people believe he's going to do a good job."

The atmosphere in the House of Representatives is one of cooperation, Cox said. "The minority leader, Bob Irvin, sent a memo saying that clearly Georgia is a two-party state... and it's up to everyone to look for two-party solutions," she said.

"With the leadership setting that tone before we even get started, it's very beneficial," she added.

Her early impression of colleagues in the House, she said, is that there are "an awful lot of hard-working, very capable, effective people." Civic-mindedness and concern for the public interest are "the rule, not the exception," she said. As for those in the other party, "My impression is that they're interested in good government," she said.

There was very little time for orientation before she waded into her first hot issues as a state representatives, Cox said.

The Industry Committee is embroiled in controversy over the recent deregulation of the natural gas industry, she said. "The first Industry Committee meeting was packed solid. Everybody is just real concerned about what's going on. The rates have just skyrocketed."

Customers are reporting bills that have gone up 200 percent or more, Cox said, adding, "We've got a mess."

An Atlanta Gas Light Company representative reported about 900,000 phone calls, Cox said, adding that Fayette's Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-104th, pointed out, "If you've got 900,000 phone calls and you only have a million and a half customers, then something is very wrong."

Coming up with solutions to that problem will be the committee's top priority this session, Cox said.

On the Health and Ecology Committee, Fayette's new representative also is dealing with the state's employee health care plan. "It will be bankrupt in a few years if something isn't done," she said.

"I'm definitely on the hot-button committees," Cox laughed.

On education, Cox said she is encouraged that Gov. Barnes mentioned the need for more funding for alternative schools, one of her campaign issues, in his budget address. "We have to do something to get these disruptive students out of the regular classroom and yet keep them on the educational track," she said.

"He seems to be open to some things other than just the traditional alternative school model," she added. "In Fayette, we're not a run-of-the-mill school system, and I got the impression that if it works, we're going to get support for that."

Cox said she is keeping an open mind on Rep. Westmoreland's contention that the method of giving raises to Fayette County commissioners should be changed. Commissioners' salaries are tied to those of superior court judges, and Westmoreland contends the commissioners have received windfall salary hikes recently as the state has worked to improve judges' pay.

"I generally agree with the notion that if any group of government officials believe they should be compensated, they ought to stand on their own and convince the taxpayers that they deserve more money," said Cox, adding that she feels Fayette commissioners have deserved the raises they've gotten.

"They do an awful lot of hard work," she said.

She also is pondering carefully the governor's plan to increase homestead exemptions, which will have the effect of reducing local property taxes. "The county commissioners, with good reason, are concerned about the increase in the homestead exemption," she said. "I want to make sure the state budget makes up for what they will lose in local taxes," she said.

On the other hand, she added, "We've got to do something to reduce the burden on homeowners, especially the elderly."

The pace of work in her first legislative session is going to be breathtaking, Cox said.