Conyers-based attorney Sherri Washington has officially announced her bid for newly drawn Georgia House District 92.

The district covers Conyers and parts of Rockdale County as well as Lithonia and the surrounding DeKalb County region along I-20. She will run against fellow Democrats Doreen Williams and Doreen Carter for the open seat this fall.

The Haddock, Ga. native looks to recapture the same community support after lessons learned from her 2010 campaign.

"I was very, very green at the time," she said. "This time I'll utilize more volunteers and have a more strategic game plan."

As a partner at Roseberry and Washington LLC, Washington plans to use her experience as an attorney to connect with her constituents and put her campaign platform of "fighting for our fair share" to go use for the residents of Rockdale and DeKalb.

"I'm not afraid to put up an argument and fight for things."

Washington wants to focus her efforts on transportation and public education issues as they affect both counties.

She is strongly opposed to the July transportation sales tax referendum and doesn't see anything in the plan that benefits the clogged I-20 corridor. If anything, Washington wants to see more emphasis on expanding MARTA rail lines up through Rockdale to ease transit woes.

"The stance has always been, ‘It'll be nice for you all to bring it to Stonecrest, but...' we're not eager to get light rail in Rockdale. I'd like to see it go to the Horse Park."

As of now, Washington does not support the TSPLOST project in its current form as it does not include I-20 as part of the project.

"The citizens of Rockdale and DeKalb aren't getting the best return on their investment."

In terms of education, she praises the work of Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Samuel King and would rather see more funding put toward improving public schools as an alternative to the push for charter education and school vouchers.

"I've always been against vouchers because they fundamentally dismantle the public school system," said Washington. "We have great examples of what people are doing with public schools in Rockdale County. The baccalaureate program at CJ Hicks is a shining example."

Washington's desire to get into public service began when she was 7-years-old and her maternal great-grandmother told her she needed to be a public servant.

She also believes that her paternal great-grandmother set the best example of giving back.

"My grandfather's mother was the epitome of service. If someone needed a grain of sugar, she would give it to them.

She was the chairwoman of her church's missionary board," she said.

"Between the two of them, I don't think I had any choice."

Washington received her J.D. from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, as well as a master's in public administration from Savannah State University. She has a 21-year-old daughter and has been a resident of Rockdale since 2004.

Washington will hold a kick-off event Monday, May 7, 7 p.m., at 2430 Wall Street, Suite B, Conyers.

For more information, email electsherrilwashington@gmail.com or go to www.electsherrilwashington.com