Connie Stokes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Connie Stokes
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| DeKalb County Commissioner | |
| In office 2004–2010 |
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| Member of the Georgia Senate from the 43rd district |
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| In office 1994–2004 |
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| Succeeded by | Steen Miles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 3, 1953 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Lithonia, Georgia |
| Alma mater | Art Institute of Atlanta J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University |
| Occupation | real estate |
Connie Stokes (born September 3, 1953) is an American politician from the state of Georgia. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Connie Stokes used to be a DeKalb County Commissioner. She also served in the Georgia State Senate. In 2014, Stokes ran for lieutenant governor.
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Early Life and Work
Connie Stokes grew up in Atlanta. Her great-grandmother raised her in a part of the city called the Fourth Ward. As an adult, she started a business in real estate. This means she helped people buy and sell homes and land.
Political Journey
Starting in the State Senate
In 1994, Connie Stokes decided to run for a seat in the Georgia State Senate. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state. She ran for the 43rd district. A major newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, supported her. She won the election and was reelected five more times.
While she was a State Senator, the Governor of Georgia, Roy Barnes, chose her to be one of his main helpers. She also led an important group called the Health and Human Services committee. This committee worked on laws about health and people's well-being.
New Roles and Elections
In 2004, the Republican Party gained more power in the Georgia Senate. Because of this, Connie Stokes lost her leadership roles on committees. She then decided to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for the entire country.
She ran for the 4th district in Georgia. Former Governor Barnes supported her. However, she did not win the Democratic Party's nomination. That same year, she was elected as a DeKalb County Commissioner. A county commissioner helps manage the local government for a county. She was in charge of the budget committee for the county.
In 2010, she tried again to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She challenged Hank Johnson, who was already serving. Johnson won the nomination.
Running for Lieutenant Governor
In 2013, Connie Stokes announced she would run for governor in 2014. But then, another politician named Jason Carter joined the race. So, Stokes decided to run for lieutenant governor instead. The lieutenant governor is like the second-in-command for the state. She lost this election to the person who was already in office, Casey Cagle.
About Her Life
Connie Stokes studied at the Art Institute of Atlanta. She also earned a business degree from Georgia State University. Later, she received a master's degree in public administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. This degree helped her learn how to manage public services.
She lives in Lithonia, Georgia, with her husband and their three sons. Today, she works as a business management consultant. This means she advises businesses on how to run better.
