State Rep. Pam Dickerson, D-Conyers, is seeking re-election to a third term in the Georgia General Assembly because she wants to continue working to improve education.

Dickerson, 61, said she believes she’ll have enough support next year to pass the cyberbullying bill she’s been proposing for the past couple years, and she also wants to continue to be an advocate for improving education and reforming the state’s juvenile justice system.

Dickerson is facing Democratic challenger Sharon Sawyer in the May 20 Primary; the race will be decided that date as no Republican qualified for the seat.

Platform

“There are a lot of issues I’m passionate about, and I’d like to continue working on those issues,” Dickerson said.

One of the issues she’s most passionately supported is an effort to make cyberbullying illegal, focusing on situations where a person Photoshops another person’s photo to make it appear that other person engaging in sexual acts or are posing nude. Dickerson submitted H.B. 39 this past term, but it didn’t pass out of the house, though she said she believes she’ll have the votes needed to pass the bill next term.

“Anything that will help our children; they need to be safe online as well, just as they are in school,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson, who sits on the house’s education committee, said she’d like to see the governor, no matter who is elected, put funding back into education, “so teachers have the tools they need and children have the teachers they need in school without furlough days, so they can continue to be educated.

“We just need a better educated community so our workforce will be ready when they come out of high school,” she said.

Dickerson said she also supports juvenile justice reform, including limiting the sentences of some offenses.

Dickerson said she has worked closely with local governments in her district, including the city of Porterdale and Newton and Rockdale counties, and has built up relationships in state government.

“I’ve been able to have the ear of the speaker (of the house and) the ear of the governor whenever I’ve needed to speak to them about issues that are of concern to my community,” she said.

Response to opponent

When asked about her opponent’s stance that District 113 needs a representative from Newton County, Dickerson said “it’s not where you live, but who’s leading you, and I think I’ve been a good leader for House District 113. Let’s keep working for effective leadership.

“I live in House District 113 and I am representing House District 113.”

Professional experience

Dickerson has been a full-time flight attendant with Delta Airlines for multiple decades and is also a part-time real estate agent, though she doesn’t market many properties given her legislative work schedule, she said.

Education

Dickerson is a native of New Orleans and graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Community involvement

Dickerson is a member of the Rotary Club of Rockdale County, the United Way of Rockdale County advisory board, Leadership Rockdale and is a board member of the Rolling Ridge Homeowners Association. She also works with the homeless ministry at her church, Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur.

As a state representative, Dickerson is also asked to attend and speak at many events.

Contact

Dickerson can be reached by phone at (678) 207-6043 or by email at pam.dickerson@house.ga.gov.