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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Valencia Seay (b. July 6, 1953) is a Democratic member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 34. She was first elected to the chamber in 2002.

Seay served as a member/Vice-President of the Clayton County Board of Education from 1993 to 2000 and in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2001 to 2002.

Seay's professional experience includes working as Assistant Vice President for Wachovia Bank and President/CEO of Seay and Associates.

Education

  • Attended, Clayton State University
  • Attended, Dekalb College
  • Attended, Georgia State University
  • Certified, Legislative Health Policy, Georgia State University, 2009, 2011
  • Graduate, Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute, 2002

Professional Experience

  • Attended, Clayton State University
  • Attended, Dekalb College
  • Attended, Georgia State University
  • Certified, Legislative Health Policy, Georgia State University, 2009, 2011
  • Graduate, Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute, 2002
  • President/Chief Executive Officer, Seay and Associates, present
  • Assistant Vice President, Wachovia Bank, 1979-2001

Political Experience

  • Attended, Clayton State University
  • Attended, Dekalb College
  • Attended, Georgia State University
  • Certified, Legislative Health Policy, Georgia State University, 2009, 2011
  • Graduate, Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute, 2002
  • President/Chief Executive Officer, Seay and Associates, present
  • Assistant Vice President, Wachovia Bank, 1979-2001
  • Senator, Georgia State Senate, District 34, 2002-present
  • Candidate, Georgia State Senate, District 34, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
  • Minority Caucus Vice Chair, Georgia State Senate, 2005-2018
  • Representative, Georgia State House of Representatives, 2001-2002
  • Vice President, Clayton County Board of Education, 1993-2000

Former Committees/Caucuses

Vice Chair, Georgia State Senate Democratic Caucus, 2005-present

Vice Chair, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, present

Member, Women’s Legislative Caucus, present

Former Secretary, Science and Technology Committee, Georgia State Senate

Former Member, State Institutions & Property Committee, Georgia State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Community Health, Georgia State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Georgia State Senate

Tri-Chair, Women’s Legislative Caucus, 2007-2008

Member, Executive Committee, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, 2000

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations

Member, Government Oversight

Member, Public Safety

Member, Science and Technology

Member, Subcommittee on First Responders

Member, Transportation

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Clayton State University
  • Attended, Dekalb College
  • Attended, Georgia State University
  • Certified, Legislative Health Policy, Georgia State University, 2009, 2011
  • Graduate, Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute, 2002
  • President/Chief Executive Officer, Seay and Associates, present
  • Assistant Vice President, Wachovia Bank, 1979-2001
  • Senator, Georgia State Senate, District 34, 2002-present
  • Candidate, Georgia State Senate, District 34, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
  • Minority Caucus Vice Chair, Georgia State Senate, 2005-2018
  • Representative, Georgia State House of Representatives, 2001-2002
  • Vice President, Clayton County Board of Education, 1993-2000
  • Founder/Sponsor, Purposeful Living Understanding Seniors (PLUS), 2014-present
  • Founder/Sponsor, Twirl Girls, 2010-present
  • Lifetime Member, National Council of Negro Women, 1994-present
  • Lifetime Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1990-present
  • Member, Antioch Baptist Church North, present
  • Member, Ethics Committee, Georgia School Board Association, present
  • Member, Federal Relation Network, Georgia School Board Association, present
  • Member, Georgia Association for Black Elected Officials, present
  • Member, National Organization for Women Legislators, present
  • Member, Women in Government, present
  • Chair, Clayton County Legislative Delegation, 2005-2006

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Katherine Peterson Angel Heart Award, Phenomenal Women's Health, Incorporated;
  • Rainbow PUSH Award, 2013;
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Capitol Legislator of the Year Award, 2015

Favorite Athlete:

South Carolina

Favorite Movie:

Raising the Standard

Favorite Musician:

Luther Vandross

Favorite Quote:

"Education is The KEY to Freedom"

Favorite TV Shows:

Nightline

  • 4 Grandchildren

Policy Positions

Georgia State Legislative Election 2004 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legal.
- X

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

6. Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase

6. Transportation and highway infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Slightly Increase

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Greatly Increase

2. Capital gains taxes
- Greatly Decrease

3. Cigarette taxes
- Greatly Increase

4. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Estate taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Gasoline taxes
- Slightly Increase

7. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Maintain Status

8. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- Maintain Status

9. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

10. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

11. Vehicle taxes
- Maintain Status

12. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

13. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- No

14. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Transportation Funding Issues: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding transportation funding.

1. Allocate state and federal dollars used for interstates in Georgia according to need.
- X

2. Support the use of GARVEE bonds, which use future federal funding as collateral for bonding, to help fund the Fast Forward transportation program.
- X

3. Increase funding for urban transit systems as a means to alleviate traffic congestion.
- X

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Do you support the current limit of two consecutive four-year terms for Georgia governors?
- Yes

2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Georgia state senators and representatives?
- No

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

1. Individual
- No

2. PAC
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Parties
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

6. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No

7. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying, and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- Yes

8. Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Georgia are closed?
- Yes

9. Should Georgia allow local governments to display the text of the Ten Commandments in courthouses and other public buildings?
- Yes

10. Should Georgia recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- Undecided

11. Should Georgia restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
- Yes

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support the death penalty in Georgia.
- X

3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

4. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- No Answer

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

6. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- No Answer

7. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

8. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

9. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

10. Increase funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent and to respond to terrorist attacks.
- No Answer

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- No Answer

2. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- No Answer

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
- No Answer

4. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X

5. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- No Answer

6. Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
- No Answer

7. Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

8. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- No Answer

9. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X

10. Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- X

11. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- No Answer

12. Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- No Answer

13. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- No Answer

14. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.

1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today?s job market.
- No Answer

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- No Answer

3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X

4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

6. Include sexual orientation in Georgia?s anti-discrimination laws.
- No Answer

7. Increase the state minimum wage.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity, or gender be taken into account in state agencies? decisions on:

1. Public employment
- Undecided

2. State college and university admissions
- Yes

3. State contracting
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment and Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X

2. Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
- No Answer

3. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
- No Answer

4. Support funding for open space preservation.
- X

5. Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Ethics Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding ethics reform.

1. Establish a one-year moratorium before any former elected official or state employee can lobby the Legislature.
- No Answer

2. Prohibit the governor from appointing campaign contributors to state boards and commissions.
- No Answer

3. Prohibit gifts from lobbyists to public officials and state employees.
- No Answer

4. Bar legislators and state officials from appearing before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or the Department of Corrections on behalf of an inmate or prisoner.
- X

5. Forbid public officials from retaliating against an employee for disclosing a violation or noncompliance with the law.
- X

6. Empower the state Ethics Commission to investigate alleged conflicts of interest, while raising the maximum penalty to $10,000 per violation from the current $1,000.
- No Answer

7. Require lobbyists to disclose their fees and sources of income.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

1. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X

2. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

3. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- No Answer

5. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- X

6. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- No Answer

7. Require a license for gun possession.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X

2. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- X

3. Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

4. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- No Answer

5. Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- X

6. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- X

7. Legalize physician assisted suicide in Georgia.
- No Answer

8. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

1. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
- X

2. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer

3. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

4. Support current limits on benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer

5. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- No Answer

6. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
- No Answer

7. Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer

8. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer

State Bills