Newton County resident Sharon Sawyer has qualified for the newly drawn District 113 for the Georgia House of Representatives.

According to a press release from Sawyer, she has lived in the new district for the past 25 years.

"I am no stranger to this neighborhood," she said, adding that she made the decision to run after speaking with her husband of 26 years, family and friends. She also said her heart was a deciding factor as well.

Sawyer attended DeKalb Technical College in the 70s. She worked with Dun & Broadstreet for 15 years, then with Bel-Tronics for seven before moving to her current position in Conyers where she has worked for more than 13 years as a finance coordinator in the accounting department.

In addition to her career, Sawyer is a mother of five and a grandmother of eight. She and her husband are former foster parents in Covington and they have hosted a local radio show, My Brother & Sister's Keeper, for over five years. She is the co-founder of the African-American Historical Association of Newton County, a member of the Early Hope Baptist Church and she holds an elective position in the Newton County Democratic Party.

"I am the only person from Newton County in this race," she said. "I am the hometown candidate. I have been here, in this community, all my married life. I'm active in civic affairs and I serve on several volunteer boards.

"My family and I, along with our many, many friends, need and deserve representation at the state level in this newly formed district. I can and will provide that representation with the help of my neighbors and friends. I will be accountable and I won't forget about Harristown or the Almon communities, or Porterdale, Springhill or the Lower River Road communities."

Sawyer pledged to listen to the people in the communities and to be accessible by phone and email and hold regular committee meetings.

She can be reached at (770) 788-0792, (404) 693-4992 or by email at sharon.sawyer@charter.net.