This profile is part of a series about candidates for legislative districts we are targeting to flip in November. Hoganne Harrison-Walton is running for Georgia House District 133 against Ken Vance. Hoganne wants to expand the safe and affordable housing options for the residents of her district, create local access to well-trained doctors and other healthcare providers, and bring in new opportunities for employment and prosperity for her constituents.
Her Term’s motto is, “When she wins, everyone does.” What does that mean to you?
To me, that means that women are looking at everyone, not just one particular group or one fixed subset of the community. We're considering how laws impact every aspect of our community from the family all the way down to the individual from big businesses and factories to small businesses and even our animals.
People tend to look at reproductive health, childcare and some other issues as women's issues. Can you explain to constituents why these issues should matter to men, as well?
First, of course, reproductive decisions include how and when children come into this world and without women we wouldn't have children - so on a basic level, reproductive health affects the concept of family. Reproductive decisions impact not only the women who may be already raising children and who want to be able to consider how her children and her family will be impacted – but these decisions affect the men (or little boys who grow up to be men) when they are raised in a household where with stressors which could potentially have been avoided if their mother had been able to get access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare the way she needed. Consequently, these decisions can add an immediate stress to the greater community and can continue to cause problems which manifest in different forms including substance abuse, mental health challenges, dysfunctional relationships, or inability to keep jobs. These cycles (which I’ve witnessed) can all stem from a woman who has been forced to do something that she was not ready or capable to do.
How are you going to ensure women in your district are getting a voice and why is it important to do so?
Women make up the majority of the demographics in my community. They are the foundation, and if they don't have a voice, then the foundation cracks. It is important to me to help women to voice their concerns because when a person does not feel like they're being heard or that their work does not matter, then they're less likely to contribute to society in a positive way and they withdraw. It is especially crucial for women who are living with domestic violence or need help dealing with mental illness or substance abuse – if they know their community is there to support them, they're more willing to step up and say “I need help” versus sit in silence. In fact, I plan (and I've started looking into this and am starting a foundation) to build a domestic violence shelter here in Baldwin County. The nearest one is in Macon over 40 minutes away! I will support women who are in need of emergency assistance to get out of a situation, and from there we can make sure that women and children have access to counseling.
It is also my priority to ensure there is stable and affordable housing for women and children in my district. Recently, while canvassing, I knocked on a voter’s door and I could tell there was not sufficient lighting in the home in their den area. I didn’t see a light fixture in the ceiling; they had to have a free standing lamp which was plugged into an extension cord that was plugged into the only electrical outlet in the room. So, it was one outlet for one tattered extension cord for the lamp, the computer, and the TV. Not only was it a fire hazard, it was not very ideal for a child to do homework. And when I asked my constituent if she could turn on more light, she explained that she keeps the house dimly lit for protection. So, I realize how important it is to have access to affordable, safe, well-lit housing to protect the women in my district so they can have a basic foundation to live and function.
Can you tell us what inspired you to run for office? Was there a specific chain of events that convinced you?
I saw my opportunity when the incumbent gave up the seat to run in another district. Many people had come to me in the past and asked me to run because they wanted someone younger who is invested in the community and who knew about issues affecting the community. They liked that I have a legal mind and that I was from here. So it was a perfect fit and perfect timing - my qualifications and an opportunity to run without an incumbent on the ballot.
How has being a woman influenced your leadership?
It has given me tenacity and boldness. I embrace it, and I’m unapologetic about being emotional – meaning I have that ability to feel and empathize and to be able to put myself in another person’s position. Maybe if we all did that a little bit more, we would have better legislation that is more inclusive.
Can you outline the major or central positions that you're running on?
Accessible and affordable healthcare: I support the expansion of Medicaid. In addition, I want to make sure that we are recruiting doctors in this area because many of the doctors here are retiring. I will work with the hospital in the local city and county to learn how we can attract and retain new young physicians to this area because even if you expand Medicaid, what's good is it if you have to travel 45 minutes to an hour to see your doctor?
Affordable housing, personal safety and prosperity: I want to make sure that we protect our family unit and ensure that people are getting the assistance that they need. This can mean that we hold accountable abusive landlords as well as help constituents who receive Section 8 housing assistance find a safe living environment. I would like to explore the development of some type of social service organization that routinely inspects these apartments to make sure they are livable – and not just a structure that someone lives in.
To me, prosperity relates to the available jobs in my area – making sure that we are attracting quality jobs beyond the minimum wage fast food restaurants. I want to attract major industries that will provide a substantial livable income and benefits like health insurance, 401K's pension, retirement plan, and education opportunities from credentialed institutions. I want to bring in businesses that are invested in our community and not going to damage our environment – because the last thing I want is to attract some business and they're dumping waste into our lakes or our air or polluting our soil. I want companies that are truly here to support our community.
Explain why people should vote for you and why you're a stronger candidate than your opponent? What makes you uniquely qualified, and what will you do differently?
First of all, I was born and raised here in Baldwin County. My roots are here, and unlike my opponent, I have never called any other place home. I know the people here. I know the mothers and the fathers. I know the grandmothers and the grandfathers. I know our shared history. Where we come from and what we're trying to do.
Professionally, from my work as a lawyer and in the role of guardian ad litem in juvenile court, I've seen whole generations of families trapped in the “generational curse”. These families with whom I grew up suffered challenges back then, and now they have their own kids in juvenile court or in the foster care system. I see this cycle. I understand it. And as an elected official, I will continue my work to stop it.
I know the economic history of Milledgeville dating back from when I was a child here to where it is now. I know there is a foundation, but it's not the best foundation that it could be. I want to maintain our small town feel where everybody knows what we're doing, but at the same time, I know we need to grow. We already have the people and talent to expand the workforce; we have the land and we have the talent in the skill in our city and local elected bodies. But we need to work together more productively and not maintain the status quo. For example, there are still many dirt roads in Jones County! It is my priority to obtain the budget to pave roads – a perfect metaphor for our growth!
How have you been involved in your community and how have you made a difference?
I have several different areas of influence. First, in the legal community, I provide pro bono (free) legal services to veterans at The Veterans Home in Milledgeville and through Georgia Legal services. I give my time to those in need of free legal counsel and representation because a lot of people in my community do not have access to attorneys or the resources when they most need.
Outside of the legal world is my other social civic involvement with the NAACP (with some of their outreach ministries) as well as at local schools with elementary and middle school aged children. In both of those areas, I am a guided mentor involved in supporting the social and emotional health and wellness of adults and children. I teach people that when you feel good inside, then other things in your life will start to manifest – positive things will grow from how you feel inside. We talk about nutrition, spiritual health, relationship health, financial health and more. And in the schools in particular, we do programs with activities to help build self-esteem and confidence for 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
And is there anything else that we haven't asked you that you'd like to share?
Just that this upcoming election is so crucial because while Stacey Abrams is amazing, if she does not have a majority in the House of Representatives, she will not be able to be as forceful as we know she can be. A majority in the House of Representatives is achievable, and I want my people to understand that. Also, just because it's not a presidential election, it doesn't mean that it’s not as important. It's actually more important! And I want to make sure everyone understands the importance of going to vote and taking someone with them to vote!
Photo credit: Elizabeth Karp Photography