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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Gail Davenport is a Democratic member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 44. She was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

Davenport served in the Georgia State Senate, representing District 44 from 2007 to 2009.

Davenport earned her B.A. from Spelman College. Her professional experience includes working as a real estate professional.

Education

  • Graduate, Spelman College

Professional Experience

  • Graduate, Spelman College
  • Real Estate Professional, Success Atlanta Real Estate and Investment, present
  • Former Real Estate Professional, Coldwell Banker Success 2000 Realty Incorporated
  • Former Business Development Director, Rainbow Push Peachtree Street Project

Political Experience

  • Graduate, Spelman College
  • Real Estate Professional, Success Atlanta Real Estate and Investment, present
  • Former Real Estate Professional, Coldwell Banker Success 2000 Realty Incorporated
  • Former Business Development Director, Rainbow Push Peachtree Street Project
  • Senator, Georgia State Senate, District 44, 2010-present
  • Candidate, Georgia State Senate, District 44, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020

Former Committees/Caucuses

Member, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, present

Member, Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus, present

Member, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, present

Member, Women Legislators’ Lobby (WILL), present

Member, Working Families Agenda Caucus, present

Former Member, Insurance and Labor Committee, Georgia State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Interstate Cooperation Committee, Georgia State Senate

Former Secretary, Special Judiciary Committee, Georgia State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on General Government, Georgia State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education, Georgia State Senate

Former Member, Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee, Georgia State Senate

Vice Chair, Clayton County Legislative Delegation, 2013-2014

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations

Member, Natural Resources and the Environment

Member, Retirement

Member, State Institutions and Property

Member, Urban Affairs

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Graduate, Spelman College
  • Real Estate Professional, Success Atlanta Real Estate and Investment, present
  • Former Real Estate Professional, Coldwell Banker Success 2000 Realty Incorporated
  • Former Business Development Director, Rainbow Push Peachtree Street Project
  • Senator, Georgia State Senate, District 44, 2010-present
  • Candidate, Georgia State Senate, District 44, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
  • Member, Atlanta Board of Realtors, present
  • Member, Atlanta Business League, present
  • Founder, Clayton County Black History Center, present
  • Founder, Clayton County Sojourner Truth Verse Speaking Choir, present
  • Founder, COLLEGE BOUND, present
  • Founder/President, Concerned Black Citizens Coalition of Clayton County, present
  • Member, Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, present
  • Member, Georgia Association of Realtors, present
  • Founder, Henry and Clara Dixon Education Fund, present
  • Founder, Metro South Youth Association, present
  • Member, National Alumnae Association, Spelman College, present
  • Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), present
  • Member, National Association of Realtors, present
  • Life Member, National Council of Negro Women, present
  • Member, National Organization of Black Elected Legislators, present
  • Member/Communion Steward/Hostess Committee Member/Building Committee Member/Former Church Development Committee Member, Saint Andrews Chapel United Methodist Church, present
  • Member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, present
  • Member, United Methodist Women, present
  • Former Member, Church Development Committee, Saint Andrews Chapel United Methodist Church
  • Former President, Clayton-Henry-Fayette-Spalding Chapter, RainbowPUSH Coalition
  • Former Member, Empire Real Estate Board
  • Member, Executive Committee, Clayton County Democratic Party
  • Host, Gail P. Davenport Golf Classic
  • Former President/Member, Greenbriar Chapter, American Business Women's Association
  • Former Member, Griffin District Nominating Committee
  • Former Vice President, Griffin District, United Methodist Women
  • Former Member, National Association of Real Estate Brokers
  • Former Chair, United Negro College Fund
  • Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1988, 2004, 2008
  • Member, Class of 1989, Leadership Clayton, 1989

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Merit Award, National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, 2008
  • Pinnacle Leadership Award, East Point/College Park Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
  • Community Service Award, Spelman College Board of Trustees, 2002
  • Outstanding Alumna Award, National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, Atlanta Chapter, 2001
  • Mayor's Masked Award, Atlanta, Georgia, 2000
  • Community Leader of the Century Award, Women in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1999
  • Outstanding Community Leader of the Year, Clayton County Section, National Council of Negro Women, 1997
  • Clayton County Branch Image Award for Distinguished Service, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1989, 1996
  • Distinguished Leadership Award, United Negro College Fund
  • Star Volunteer Award, United Negro College Fund
  • Legislator of the Year Award, ARC of Clayton County for Mentally Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 2008
  • Legislator of the Year Award, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Clayton-Henry-Fayette-Spalding Chapter, 2008
  • Pinnacle Leadership Award, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, East Point/College Park Chapter, 2003

  • Nathaniel Davenport

  • Helen Dixon Davenport

Priority Issues:

Promote job creation

  • Develop initiatives to increase economic sustainability
  • Support and Protect public education
  • Advocate for Home Mortgage Relief
  • Advocate for Foreclosure Prevention
  • Advocate for Veteran Affairs
  • Advocate for the Homeless
  • Support Going Green Initiatives and Recycling Efforts

    I am your advocate in the Senate who works hard to

  • promote job creation, find ways to help stop home mortgage
  • foreclosures, and support a first class education system for
  • all children.
  • My record of service is strong and I ask for the
  • opportunity to continue to serve as state senator in the
  • 44th District. I am seeking re-election this year,
  • and I earnestly ask for your vote in the primary election
  • Policy Positions

    Georgia State Legislative Election 2006 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.
    - No Answer

    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.
    - X

    5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
    - X

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

    7. Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
    - No Answer

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Budget 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)
    - Greatly Increase

    2. Education (K-12)
    - Greatly Increase

    3. Emergency preparedness
    - Greatly Increase

    4. Environment
    - Slightly Increase

    5. Health care
    - Greatly Increase

    6. Law enforcement
    - Slightly Increase

    7. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
    - Maintain Status

    8. Welfare
    - Slightly Increase

    9. 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
    - No Answer

    2. Capital gains taxes
    - No Answer

    3. Cigarette taxes
    - No Answer

    4. Corporate taxes
    - Greatly Increase

    5. Gasoline taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    6. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
    - Greatly Decrease

    7. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
    - No Answer

    8. Property taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    9. Sales taxes
    - Maintain Status

    10. Vehicle taxes
    - Slightly Decrease

    11. Other or expanded categories
    - No Answer

    12. Should the state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
    - Undecided

    13. Should accounts such as a ?rainy day? fund be used to balance the state budget?
    - No

    14. Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
    - No

    15. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Campaign Finance and Governmental Reform

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

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

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

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

    1. Individual
    - No

    2. PAC
    - Yes

    3. Corporate
    - Yes

    4. Political Parties
    - No Answer

    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 media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Georgia are closed?
    - Yes

    9. Should Georgia recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
    - No Answer

    10. 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 hiring of additional prison staff.
    - No Answer

    2. Support the death penalty in Georgia.
    - No Answer

    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.
    - No Answer

    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. Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
    - No Answer

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

    11. Strengthen sex-offender laws.
    - No Answer

    12. Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
    - No Answer

    13. 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).
    - No Answer

    5. Increase 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. Support requiring 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.
    - X

    12. Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
    - X

    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 retrain 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.
    - No Answer

    5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
    - No Answer

    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
    - Yes

    2. State college and university admissions
    - Yes

    3. State contracting
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Environment & Energy

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

    1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
    - No Answer

    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. Increase funding for improvements to Georgia's power generating and transmission facilities.
    - No Answer

    5. Support funding for open space preservation.
    - No Answer

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

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

    6. Require a license for gun possession.
    - No Answer

    7. 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.
    - No Answer

    2. Transfer current Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
    - No Answer

    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.
    - X

    5. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
    - No Answer

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

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

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Immigration

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

    1. Establish penalties of up to 20 years in prison for human trafficking.
    - No Answer

    2. Require that businesses that receive state contracts verify the legal status of new hires.
    - No Answer

    3. Penalize businesses that hire illegal workers.
    - No Answer

    4. Require that all state and local government agencies verify legal status of any adult applying for taxpayer-provided benefits.
    - No Answer

    5. Enforcing federal immigration laws is not the responsibility of state and local government.
    - No Answer

    6. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Welfare and Poverty

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

    1. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
    - No Answer

    2. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
    - X

    3. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
    - No Answer

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

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

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

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

    8. 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