Regina Lewis-Ward | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Dale Rutledge |
| Constituency | 109th District (2021–2023) 115th District (2023–Present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 4,1959 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | McDonough,Georgia,U.S. |
Regina D. Lewis-Ward (born October 4,1959) is an American politician and children's book author [1] from Georgia. Lewis-Ward is a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives from District 115. [2] A native of Brooklyn,New York,Lewis-Ward grew up in New York City Housing Authority and attended public schools.
Representative Lewis-Ward entered public office in 2014 as a councilwoman in Stockbridge,GA advocating for inclusive communities,becoming the first politician from Stockbridge to respond to segregated playgrounds. Lewis-Ward's commitment to unite families and children of all abilities led to inclusive play at Stockbridge Memorial and Clark Parks with adaptive playground equipment. Lewis-Ward started the first Stockbridge Citizens Academy to offer citizen engagement with their local government. In 2016,Lewis-Ward made a run for Mayor of Stockbridge. From a field of four candidates,she received the most votes in the history of Stockbridge municipal elections (38.9% or 3,760 votes). She lost the run-off election by 142 votes to Judy B Neal.
As the 2018 and 2020 Democratic nominee for Georgia State House,District 109,Lewis-Ward became the first African American woman to receive the nomination by a major U.S. political party. Her 2020 victory against Republican Dale Rutledge marked a historic win as the only African American woman in the United States to unseat a male Republican incumbent during the 2020 elections. During her first session as a lawmaker,Representative Lewis-Ward co-authored,HB 676 bipartisan legislation,that was signed into law,effective May 4,2021.
Fair Fight Action appointed Representative Lewis-Ward as a senior fellow to promote fair elections,encourage participation,and educate voters about elections and voting rights. Lewis-Ward is the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia Henry County Committee and serves on the state of Georgia Agriculture &Consumer Affairs,Banks &Banking,and Interstate Cooperation committees.
Representative Lewis-Ward earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in computer systems,from Bernard M. Baruch College,New York,and a Master of Art,in political science,from Clayton State University,Georgia. She wrote her graduate thesis on the United States Federal Government and Lags in Protecting Personally Identifiable Information. [3] Lewis-Ward is a political science adjunct professor,who has taught Political Thought,Public Administration,&Intro to Government and Politics to students at Rasmussen College and Georgia Military College.
