- District Identifier: GA-HD-044
- District Key: sldl:13:44
- Wiki Path: explore/places/ga/lower/44
- Legislative Chamber: Georgia House of Representatives, Lower Chamber
- State FIPS Code: 13
- Current Representative: Don Parsons (Republican)
¶ 2. Geography and Communities
- Geographic Scope: Covers parts of Cobb County, including areas surrounding Marietta.
- Municipal Connections: Suburban neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and residential communities within north-central Cobb County.
- Transportation Infrastructure: Served by Interstate 75, state highways, and local transit routes connecting to Atlanta.
- Environmental Systems: Local watersheds feeding into regional river systems.
- Adjacent Districts: Shares borders with neighboring Cobb County state house districts.
- Regional Context: Positioned in the established suburban corridor of metropolitan Atlanta.
¶ 3. Population and Electorate
- Total Population: Reported as 56,198 residents.
- Racial and Ethnic Demographics: 71.3% White, 12.8% Black, 6.9% Hispanic, and 5.9% Asian.
- Electorate Characteristics: Predominantly suburban electorate with traditional conservative voting patterns tempered by gradual demographic diversification.
- Housing and Households: Single-family suburban homes, master-planned communities, and townhouses.
- Income Distribution: Middle-to-upper-income residential households.
- Civic Participation: Consistent voter turnout during primary and general elections.
¶ 4. Elections and Political Context (dated historical records)
- Recent Representation: Served by Don Parsons (serving in District 44 since 2013, and previously representing District 42 from 2005 to 2013).
- 2024 General Election: Incumbent Don Parsons (Republican) defeated Danielle Bell (Democratic) on November 5, 2024, winning 56.9% of the vote (19,216 votes).
- 2022 General Election: Don Parsons (Republican) defeated Willie Mae Oyogoa (Democratic) on November 8, 2022.
- 2020 General Election: Don Parsons (Republican) defeated Connie Di Cicco (Democratic) on November 3, 2020.
- 2018 General Election: Don Parsons defeated Chinita Allen (Democratic) with 55.4% of the vote (14,170 votes).
- Election Administration: Supervised by the Cobb County Board of Elections.
¶ 5. Economic and Civic Anchors
- Local Commerce: Retail centers, office parks, and local businesses in Marietta.
- Employment Base: Professional services, technology, healthcare, and corporate commuting to Atlanta.
- Civic Institutions: Community organizations, local clubs, and religious institutions.
- Educational Facilities: Public schools under the Cobb County School District.
- Healthcare Access: Proximity to medical centers in Marietta and Cobb County.
- Infrastructure Support: County-managed utilities and public works.
¶ 6. People and Organizations to Map
- Key Political Figures: Representative Don Parsons.
- Civic Groups: Cobb County civic associations and business coalitions.
- Institutional Stakeholders: Cobb County government administration and local school officials.
- Research Question 1: How has Representative Don Parsons' long tenure in the General Assembly contributed to maintaining Republican representation in Georgia House District 44?
- Research Question 2: What impact do shifting racial and ethnic demographics have on narrowing electoral margins in Georgia House District 44 general elections?
- Research Question 3: How do local commercial and technological business sectors along Marietta corridors interact with regional economic growth in Cobb County?
¶ 7. Representation and Legislative Work
- Legislative Duties: Representing district residents in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Committee Assignments: Active service on standing house committees.
- Policy Focus: Technology infrastructure, energy, utilities, state budgeting, and local taxation.
- Constituent Services: Managing district correspondence, casework, and legislative assistance.
- Legislative Vitals: Elected to two-year terms without term limits.
- Official Resources: Legislative tracking via the Georgia General Assembly Official Website.