Sen. Tonya Anderson
SD 43
Senator Tonya P. Anderson was elected in 2016 represent SD 43, which includes parts of DeKalb, Rockdale, and Newton counties.
Sen. Anderson serves as the Vice Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) and as Secretary of the Retirement Committee. She is also a member of the Public Safety, Special Judiciary, and Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committees.
In 2012, she was elected to serve as the first representative for a newly drawn House District 92, which covers portions of DeKalb and Rockdale counties. During her House service, she was Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan organization which advocates for issues affecting Georgia women and families. She also served on Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee and with the Working Families Caucus.
Sen. Anderson retired from the United States Air Force Reserve in 2012 after 21 years of service and continues to volunteer and advocate for veterans’ services. Additionally, she volunteers in her community through local Senior Centers, NCNW, the NAACP, NCBW 100 and several non-profit boards.
She is the recipient of many service awards including a 2016 citation by the National DAV President for her immaculate efforts in serving and advocating for the Veteran Community. She received the Woman of Influence Award from Women Veterans for Social Justice, Inc. in 2015 and the Woman of Excellence Award from the National Foundation of Women Legislators in 2014. The Georgia Municipal Association honored her as a ‘Champion of Cities’ in 2018 for her strong support of local government.
Sen. Anderson began her elected public service as a City Council member for the City of Lithonia from 2006 to 2008, followed by service as Mayor from 2008 to 2011. During her tenure as Mayor, she secured funding for an amphi-theater renovation project and completed installation of a $1.2 million federally funded streetscape improvement plan. She also supervised completion of “The Terraces at Parkview,” a housing complex for 94 low and moderate income families. She brought the city into compliance with EPA/EPD Standards for storm water improvements and received stellar ratings for city financial audits during her tenure.
Senator Anderson is a member of several national and local governmental organizations including Women in Government, NBCSL, GLBC, NOBEL Women, Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute and Leadership DeKalb. A former board member, she continues to serve as a volunteer for the DeKalb County Board of Health through the Live Healthy DeKalb Initiative.
Senator Anderson is an ordained minister and is very active in her church. She holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Alabama State University as well as a Masters of Divinity from Luther Rice University.
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