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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Mary Margaret Oliver is a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 82. He was first elected to the chamber in 2002.

Oliver served in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 83 from 1987 to 1992 and the Georgia State Senate from 1992 to 1998.

Oliver's professional experience includes working as a visiting Professor at the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory Law School, Attorney, Administrative Law Judge, Associate Magistrate Court Judge in DeKalb County Magistrate Court, and a Professor at Boston College Law School and Emory Law School.

Education

  • JD, Emory University School of Law, 1972
  • BA, Vanderbilt University, 1969

Professional Experience

  • JD, Emory University School of Law, 1972
  • BA, Vanderbilt University, 1969
  • Attorney, Mary Margaret Oliver, Esquire, 1982-present
  • Former Visiting Professor, Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory Law School
  • Former Assistant Professor of Law, Boston College Law School
  • Adjunct Professor, Emory Law School
  • Former Employee, Georgia Department of Medical Assistance
  • Hearing Officer, Secretary of State's Joint Examining Board
  • Administrative Law Judge, State of Georgia, 1983-1989
  • Associate Magistrate Court Judge, DeKalb County Magistrate Court, 1985-1987

Political Experience

  • JD, Emory University School of Law, 1972
  • BA, Vanderbilt University, 1969
  • Attorney, Mary Margaret Oliver, Esquire, 1982-present
  • Former Visiting Professor, Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory Law School
  • Former Assistant Professor of Law, Boston College Law School
  • Adjunct Professor, Emory Law School
  • Former Employee, Georgia Department of Medical Assistance
  • Hearing Officer, Secretary of State's Joint Examining Board
  • Administrative Law Judge, State of Georgia, 1983-1989
  • Associate Magistrate Court Judge, DeKalb County Magistrate Court, 1985-1987
  • Representative, Georgia State House of Representatives, District 82, 1987-1992, 2002-present
  • Former Chair, Georgia House Judiciary Committee
  • Former Chair, Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Candidate, Georgia State House of Representatives, District 82, 2020
  • Senator, Georgia State Senate, 1992-1998
  • Candidate, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, 1998

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Governmental Affairs

Member, Judiciary

Member, Juvenile Justice

Member, Science and Technology

Member, Study Committee on Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Health HR 421

Member, Subcommittee on Human Resources

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, Emory University School of Law, 1972
  • BA, Vanderbilt University, 1969
  • Attorney, Mary Margaret Oliver, Esquire, 1982-present
  • Former Visiting Professor, Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory Law School
  • Former Assistant Professor of Law, Boston College Law School
  • Adjunct Professor, Emory Law School
  • Former Employee, Georgia Department of Medical Assistance
  • Hearing Officer, Secretary of State's Joint Examining Board
  • Administrative Law Judge, State of Georgia, 1983-1989
  • Associate Magistrate Court Judge, DeKalb County Magistrate Court, 1985-1987
  • Representative, Georgia State House of Representatives, District 82, 1987-1992, 2002-present
  • Former Chair, Georgia House Judiciary Committee
  • Former Chair, Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Candidate, Georgia State House of Representatives, District 82, 2020
  • Senator, Georgia State Senate, 1992-1998
  • Candidate, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, 1998
  • Board Member, BOND Community Credit Union, present
  • Board Member, Callanwolde, present
  • Vice-President, CHARLEE Homes, present
  • Board Member, DeKalb Junior League, present
  • Volunteer, Druid Hills Civic Association, present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Frazer Center, present
  • Member, Georgia Legal Services Program, present
  • Member, Georgia State Bar, present
  • Board Member, Goals for DeKalb, present
  • Member, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, present
  • Member, Leadership Atlanta, present
  • Board Member, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, present
  • Member, Senior Citizens Services Corporation, present
  • Sunday School Teacher, All Saints Episcopal Church
  • Former President, Council for Children
  • Former Member, Decatur Rotary Club

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Woman of Achievement, Atlanta Young Womens Christian Association
  • Legislator of the Year by the Garden Club of Georgia
  • Common Cause Democracy Award and the Georgia Conservation Voters Legacy Award, 2011
  • Big Voices for Children Award given by Voices for Georgia's Children, 2013
  • Emory University History Maker, 2011

— Publications:

  • Review Rules on Meds for Foster Kids; The Rights Of Georgia State Employees To Participate In Political Activity; Definition Of "Relative" Under Georgia And Federal Law; Response to Atlanta Journal's August 24, 2001 Terrell Peterson Editorial; Survey of Child Endangerment Statutes; Contributing Author to: Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic 2002 Working Paper.
  • Workplace Supports to Improve Georgia's Child Protective Services; Strengthen Georgia's Child Protective Services' Capacity to Protect Children From Abuse and Neglect.

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.
- 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.
- No Answer

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

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
- Maintain Status

5. Law enforcement
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation and highway infrastructure
- Slightly Decrease

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

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
- Slightly Increase

2. Capital gains taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Cigarette taxes
- Slightly Increase

4. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase

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
- d) -reduce loopholes

13. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- Yes

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.
- No Answer

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
- Yes

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?
- Yes

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?
- No

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

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

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.
- No Answer

3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- No Answer

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.
- No Answer

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).
- No Answer

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.
- No Answer

10. Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- No Answer

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.
- X

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.
- No Answer

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.
- No Answer

6. Include sexual orientation in Georgia?s anti-discrimination laws.
- X

7. Increase the state minimum wage.
- X

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 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.
- No Answer

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.
- X

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.
- X

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.
- X

7. Require lobbyists to disclose their fees and sources of income.
- X

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.
- X

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

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.
- No Answer

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.
- X

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.
- No Answer

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.
- No Answer

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.
- No Answer

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.
- X

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