APN Candidate Questionnaire, State Rep. Rahn Mayo, HD 84
(APN) ATLANTA — In our continuing coverage of the upcoming May 2016 Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election, this article presents the responses to the Atlanta Progressive News Candidate Questionnaire by State Rep. Rahn Mayo (D-Decatur), the incumbent in House District 84.
State Rep. Mayo has a grade of B on the APN Legislature Combined Scorecard for 2014 and 2015. To be sure, this is a comparatively high grade, even for the DeKalb and Fulton County Senate and House delegations. However, Mayo lost points for supporting a measure to disband Georgia’s soil and water conservation agency; and for supporting a measure to allow raccoon trapping.
He has served in the State House since 2009.
He is facing a challenge from a progressive Democrat, Renitta Shannon, who has received the support of State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta).
Shannon has taken issue with Mayo’s support for charter schools and school privatization. Mayo did not participate in the vote on the charter school commission referendum and, as noted below, opposed the Opportunity School District.
However, he expresses his full support for “school choice,” criticizing institutions that oppose education reform in favor of what he calls the “status quo,” in an interview with the American Federation for Children, a pro-privatization group, posted on Youtube.
Shannon’s responses to the APN questionnaire were published in late March 2016.
http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/03/27/apn-candidate-qa-renitta-shannon-hd-84/
Rep. Mayo’s responses are as follows:
DO YOU BELIEVE ALL HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES SHOULD KEEP MINUTES INCLUDING A RECORD OF ALL VOTES, YEAS, NAYS, AND ABSTENTIONS; AND THAT THOSE MINUTES SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?
Yes
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON NUCLEAR POWER?
Nuclear power should be highly regulated and managed responsibly
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, IF ANY, TO EXPAND WIND AND SOLAR IN GEORGIA?
I support exploring all forms of renewable energy
WOULD YOU SUPPORT REDUCING PETITION REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT AND POLITICAL BODY (MINOR PARTY) CANDIDATES FROM THE CURRENT ONE PERCENT STATEWIDE, FIVE PERCENT NON-STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT? IF SO, WHAT SHOULD THE NEW REQUIREMENT BE, IF ANY?
Yes.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT ADDING A VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL TO ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS IN GEORGIA?
Yes.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE REFERENDUM TO CREATE A STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TAKE OVER SO-CALLED “FAILING” SCHOOLS?
I voted no and remain opposed to the proposed Opportunity School District.
DO YOU SUPPORT AN EXPANDED MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM (IN-STATE CULTIVATION, FULL PLANT MEDICINE, EXPANDED LIST OF CONDITIONS)? DO YOU SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION (NON-MEDICAL)? DO YOU SUPPORT LEGALIZATION (NON-MEDICAL)?
Yes, I support an expanded medical cannabis program. Yes, I support decriminalization of non-medical. I am cautious and undecided on legalization of non-medical.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CITYHOOD AND ANNEXATION IN GENERAL? DO YOU BELIEVE GEORGIA’S CITYHOOD AND ANNEXATION LAWS SHOULD BE CHANGED? IF SO, HOW?
I am open to considering cityhood proposals but remain very cautious about the impact and tax burden created by new cities.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE PROPOSALS FOR NEW CITIES IN DEKALB COUNTY, SUCH AS STONECREST AND GREENHAVEN?
Same as response about Cityhood in general.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE PROPOSED CITY OF SOUTH FULTON?
Same as response about city hood in general
DO YOU SUPPORT GMO LABELING?
[No response provided.]
DO YOU SUPPORT ANY OF THE RECENT PROPOSALS REDUCING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, OR ALLOWING LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FLEXIBILITY TO REDUCE EARLY VOTING?
No.
DO YOU SUPPORT A U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE CITIZENS UNITED RULING, CLARIFYING THE ABILITY OF CONGRESS TO REGULATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS? (THE STATE COULD EITHER CALL FOR SUCH AN AMENDMENT BY RESOLUTION OR CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.)
I would be willing to consider.
(END/2016)