Rashad Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rashad Taylor
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Georgia House Minority Vice Chairman
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| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 55th district |
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| In office January 12, 2009 – January 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Mable Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Tyrone Brooks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 21, 1981 Washington, D.C. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Website | rashadtaylor.com |
Rashad Jamal Taylor (born March 21, 1981) is a political expert and former politician from Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013. He represented the City of Atlanta from the 55th House District.
He was first elected in November 2008. After being re-elected in 2010, he became the Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. This was the fourth highest leadership role in the House. At 31 years old, Taylor was the youngest leader in the Georgia General Assembly.
Early Life and Career
Rashad Taylor was born and grew up in Washington, D.C.. He went to D.C. Public Schools and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Rashad was the first high school student to get an internship through the Congressional Black Caucus College Internship Program. He worked for Representative John Lewis before moving to Atlanta for college.
He moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. As a student, he led a campaign to help the school's janitors get a better salary. This campaign was about a "living wage," which means enough money to live comfortably. He also helped start Atlanta Jobs with Justice, which led to higher pay for the janitors. Taylor also worked for US Senator Max Cleland.
After college, he worked as a political consultant. This means he advised politicians on their campaigns. He also managed campaigns for other people. He helped Alisha Thomas Morgan get elected to the Georgia House in 2002. He also helped Khaatim S. El get elected to the Atlanta Board of Education in 2003. Both Morgan and El were the youngest people to serve in their roles.
From 2003 to 2006, Taylor successfully managed many campaigns in the Atlanta area. These included campaigns for sheriff, judge, state house, state senate, city council, and county commission. In May 2006, Campaigns and Elections Magazine named Rashad Taylor one of ten Democratic "Rising Stars" in national politics. In June 2007, Taylor became the political director for the Democratic Party of Georgia. He held this job until he joined the Legislature in January 2009.
In 2009, Representative Taylor worked as a deputy campaign manager for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. He also helped Mayor Reed's team when he first took office. Taylor was in charge of the campaign's political, field, and communication efforts. In 2010, Taylor managed the successful re-election campaign for Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves.
Representative Taylor has served on the Board of Directors for the Youth Task Force and the Joseph Whitehead YMCA. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Kindezi School. Taylor is also a 2011 graduate of LEAD Atlanta, a program for community leaders.
In Politics
In 2008, state representative Mable Thomas decided not to run for re-election. She chose to run for a different office instead. This created an open spot in the Georgia House. Two candidates, both Democrats, ran for the seat, and Rashad Taylor was one of them.
In the primary election on July 15, 2008, Taylor won with 62.8% of the votes. This meant he won the Democratic nomination. He did not have any opponents in the general election. He officially took office on January 12, 2009.
He ran for re-election in 2010. He faced a challenge from Mable Thomas, who was the person he replaced. In the Democratic primary election on July 20, 2010, Taylor won with 56.1% of the votes. He won by 349 votes. Again, he ran unopposed in the general election. His second term ended in January 2013.
After being re-elected in 2010, Taylor was chosen as the Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. He won against three other colleagues without needing a second vote. Taylor was also made Chairman of the Atlanta-Fulton Legislative Delegation Subcommittee on Housing and Economic Development. Taylor supported a law for the City of Atlanta to use its hotel/motel tax. This money would help pay for building a new Georgia Dome.
