Tonya Anderson

Tonya Anderson DEMDemocrat

State Senator, District 43

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Tonya AndersonDEMDemocrat State Senator, District 43
14
Years of Experience
GAResidence (state)

Tonya Peterson Anderson (born July 16, 1969) is an American pastor and politician who serves in the Georgia State Senate. She previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives, from 2013 to 2015. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Anderson was a candidate District 43 of the Georgia State Senate in the 2016 election. She advanced to a runoff election against Dee Dawkins-Haigler. Anderson led Dawkins-Haigler in the official vote count by 0.12 percent (4,276 votes to 4,266 votes), leading to Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp to order a recount. The recount confirmed Anderson's victory over Dawkins-Haigler by 10 votes.Anderson defeated Republican incumbent Janice Frey Van Ness. The two women faced off prior in a December 2015 run- off, resulting in a very narrow win for Van Ness. Anderson was sworn into the State Senate on January 9, 2017. Before serving in the legislature, Anderson served as the mayor of Lithonia.

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Education8 - 8 of 6
Central Texas College
Certificate Leadership Development, Military and Strategic Leadership
2010
Luther Rice College & Seminary
Master of Divinity Ministry
2004 - 2008
Alabama State University
Bachelor of Science Business Administration and Management
1988 - 1992
National Center for Housing Management
Certified Low Income Housing Tax Credit
National Center for Housing Management
Certified Assisted Housing Certificate
Center for State and Local Finance
Certified Legislative Health Policy
Past Positions1 - 11 of 11
Senator
Georgia State Senate
2017 - Current
Representative
Georgia State House of Representatives
2012 - 2015
Mayor
City of Lithonia
2008 - 2011
Member
City Council, Lithonia
2006 - 2008
Pastor
East Campus, Stronghold Christian Church
2010 - 2018
Certified Life Coach
Dream Releaser Coaching
2014 - Current
Logistics Specialist
United States Air Force Reserve
1990 - 2012
Associate Minister
Stronghold Christian Church
2003 - 2010
Worship Leader
Salem Bible Church
1998 - 2003
Sunday School Teacher
Israel Baptist Church
1994 - 1997
Assistant Teacher
Saint Luke AME Church
1983 - 1987
Other Experience1 - 27 of 27
Volunteer
Salvation Army
Current
Member
United Way of Metro Atlanta
2016 - Current
Board Member
Board of Directors, Dekalb County Board of Health
2009 - 2011
Member
Georgia Conference of Black Mayors, Incorporated
2009 - 2011
Member
National Conference of Black Mayors, Incorporated
2009 - 2011
Member
Georgia Sustainable Community Alliance
Member
Live Healthy Dekalb Coalition
Member
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Member
White House Project
Member
Board of Directors, Beverly Cunningham Outreach Program for Domestic Violence
Member
National Black Caucus of State Legislators
Member
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)
Member
Leadership Dekalb
Member
Women in Government
Member
National Federation of Women Legislators
Member
Atlanta Regional Commission
Member
Communities Putting Prevention to Work
Member
Board of Directors, Pink Friends Connection-Breast Cancer Awareness
Member
Go Georgia Run-Alumuni
Former Chair
Women’s Legislative Caucus
Former Member
Public Safety Committee, Georgia State Senate
Former Member
Defense and Veterans Afffairs, Georgia House of Representatives
Former Member
Special Rules, Georgia House Representatives
Former Member
Intragovernmental Coordination, Georgia House of Representatives
Former Member
Regulated Industries, Georgia House of Representatives
Former Secretary
Retirement Committee, Georgia State Senate
Member
Atlanta CRA Steering Committee
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