Karla Drenner | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theGeorgia House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | June Hegstrom |
| Constituency | 66th district (2001–2003) 57th district (2003–2005) 86th district (2005–2013) 85th district (2013–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1961-09-10)September 10, 1961 (age 64) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Avondale Estates, Georgia, U.S. |
Karla Lea Drenner (born September 10, 1961) is an American academic andpolitician fromGeorgia. ADemocrat, she is a member of theGeorgia House of Representatives representing the state's 85th district inAvondale Estates,DeKalb County.
Drenner has four degrees from four different universities. She obtained aBachelor of Science fromWest Virginia State College, anMBA fromFontbonne College, aMaster of Science fromSouthern Illinois University and aPhD fromLa Salle University.[1] In 2011, Drenner completed Harvard University'sJohn F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as aDavid Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.
Drenner is an adjunct Professor atDeVry University where she teaches Environmental Science, Principles of Ethics and Leadership and Motivation. Drenner is also the owner and President of an environmental safety and health consulting firm.[1]
Alesbian, Drenner was thefirst ever openly gay member of theGeorgia General Assembly.[2][3] Today, she is one of sixLGBT members, alongside Democratic RepresentativesPark Cannon,Sam Park,Renitta Shannon,Keisha Waites, andMatthew Wilson. Her campaigns have won the backing of theGay & Lesbian Victory Fund.[4]
A resident ofAvondale Estates, Drenner was first elected to the state house in 2000, defeating a four-term incumbent in what was then the 66th district.[5] In this heavily Democratic district, the primary election was the key contest and she won it by just 68 votes — 52% to 48%.[6] NoRepublican had filed for the seat so she won the general election unopposed. Due toredistricting, the seat was renumbered the 57th district in 2002 and the 85th in 2004 but she won re-election unopposed on both occasions.
The 85th district is 66%African American according to figures from the2000 census.[7] There have therefore been moves by some black leaders to replace Drenner with an African American. Indeed, in 2006, she faced an aggressive primary challenge from Cynthia Tucker, a black medical professor. Drenner survived, winning the primary by 62% to 38% and going on to win the general election unopposed.[2] She faced no opposition in 2008 or 2010.
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