2013 Legislature Report

Gun Control, Budget Among Issues State Lawmakers Face in 2013 Session

The Georgia General Assembly convenes on Monday, Jan. 14. State Rep. Tom Rice highlights some of the issues lawmakers will deal with this year.

Editor's note: Georgia State Representative Tom Rice (R-Dist. 95) will provide periodic reports during the 40-day legislative session. Here is his first report. On Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, the members and members elect of the Georgia House and Senate will be sworn in at 10 a.m. and thus will begin the 40-day session of the Georgia General Assembly. I am greatly indebted to the voters of House District 95 to allow me to serve again.  It is my desire to hear from the voters on any issue and they can do that simply by going to my web site at www.tomrice.org and keying the contact tab. You can also call my office at 404-656-5912 to voice your opinion or to set up a meeting. The 2013 Session undoubtedly will focus on many issues of concern to the…

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Alex H

9:46 am on Friday, January 11, 2013

I read somewhere that GSU was looking to pick up the Dome for their football team. GSU has done more good for downtown than any other organization has for decades. That said, football stadiums have a terrible return on investment considering the small number of games played per season and only half of those are at home.   more ›

Rice, Siskin Thank Voters For Support in State Representative Race

Peachtree Corners voters chose Tom Rice as their representative as the Georgia State Representative for District 95.

Tom Rice, who has served as the State Representative for the Gwinnett cities of Peachtree Corners, Norcross and Berkeley Lake for the past 16 years, was re-elected last week to serve another two years. The vote was 12,851 to 8,855 in favor of Rice, a Peachtree Corners resident, over his opponent Brooke Siskin, also from Peachtree Corners. It was Siskin's first time running for the State Representative seat. "I want to thank the voters of House District 95 for the opportunity to serve them in the Georgia House of Representatives for another term," said Rice.  "I will continue to do my best to represent the values that characterize the great majority of voters in this district." Brooke Siskin, 44, said had she been elected she would have …

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Election Results: How Gwinnett County Voted

Republican-heavy Gwinnett County came out in large numbers. in Peachtree Corners incumbants Tom Rice and Mary Kay Murphy are re-elected.

UPDATE: Rice Wins Re-Election Bid

Tom Rice captured the majority of vote over opponent Brooke Siskin in race for State Representative District 95 seat.

Updated 6:45 a.m., November 7 Incumbent Tom Rice (R) easily defeated Democratic challenger Brooke Siskin for the State Representative District 95 seat. With all 14 precincts reporting, Rice had 59.02 percent (12,724 votes) to Siskin's 40.98 percent (8,835 votes). Both Rice and Siskin are Peachtree Corners residents. The results are from the Georgia Secretary of State's website. ------------------------ Updated 9:45 p.m., November 6 In initial returns Tuesday night, incumbent Tom Rice took a lead over challenger Brooke Siskin in the race for the Georgia State Representative District 95 seat. With 4,731 votes counted, Rice, had 63 percent of the votes to 37 percent for Siskin. District 95 includes the cities of Peachtree Corners, Norcross …

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Q&A With State Representative Tom Rice on His Re-Election Bid

Rice, who is the incumbent for District 95 and seeking re-election, answers questions posed by Peachtree Corners Patch.

Peachtree Corners Patch asked Tom Rice, who is seeking re-election to the State Representative District 95 seat, a series of questions relating to his position on several issues. (Democratic candidate Brooke Siskin is running for the seat currently held by Rice.)   NAME: Tom Rice AGE: 72 HOW LONG LIVED IN PEACHTREE TREE CORNERS: 28 years EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: B.S., Temple University FAMILY:  Wife Frances, four married children and 10 grandchildren OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: IBM Marketing Management - 30 years; Partner, The Quality Group - nine years; GA State Representative - 16 years HOW LONG HAVE YOU SERVED AS THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DIST. 95 (FORMERLY DIST. 51)?  I have served 16 years as a State Representative Please provide …

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It Was Republicans Against Democratic Challengers at UPCCA Forum

The UPCCA-sponsored candidate forum drew a number of Peachtree Corners residents Monday who came to hear the incumbents and their challengers during a forum moderated by The Honorable Judge Warren Davis.

The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association (UPCCA) hosted a candidate forum Monday night drawing a number of voters to hear the incumbents and their challengers. U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District Rob Woodall, State Representative Tom Rice (Dist. 95) and Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, County School Board member for Dist. 3 met their challengers in a candidate forum held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Peachtree Corners. Their Democratic challengers were Steve Reilly and Brooke Sisken, both Peachtree Corners residents, and Jen Falk from Berkeley Lake. The forum was moderated by the Honorable Judge Warren Davis of Peachtree Corners. Each candidate was provided a three-minute opening statement, followed by questions in …

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Jane Hendrix

2:59 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012

@ Walter Patterson, I definitely agree with you! It's time for a change in the school board.   more ›

Berkeley Lake Annexation Bill Should Be Stopped in its Tracks

In an email to Sen. David Shafer, one writer maintains that pushing H.B. 956 through "violates the values we have entrusted our elected officials to uphold."

  Editor's note: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the writer and do not necessary reflect those of Peachtree Corners Patch. If you have an opposing view to the one expressed here, email your opinion to the Patch editor or use the comment box below. We are delighted to offer both sides of this very important issue to Patch readers. To find more information on the Berkeley Lake annexations use the Search function in the top right corner of our homepage and enter the words "Berkeley Lake annexations" where you will find numerous articles, blogs and opinion pieces arguing both for and against the issue.  By Jef Fincher (sent via email)   Senator Shafer: I don’t like disagreement, but clearly if you allow House Bill 956 to get …

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David Leader

2:53 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Err, tried to move it; I actually had the wrong name in my mind of who was referred to; shows me for not checking sources there :). Regardless, the statement stands... but I have never actually talked to Jef, so cannot comment on him. I do know that this is a shady piece of business, but I am a bit embarresed on talking about the wrong person.   more ›

Berkeley Lake Annexes Surrounding Businesses

With approval by the Georgia General Assembly, the Gwinnett city adds nearby commercial property to its borders.

In an announcement issued Thursday (Sept. 23) by Berkeley Lake's mayor, Lois Salter, the city's borders have expanded and now include a number of adjacent commercial properties. On Sept. 21 Gov. Nathan Deal signed H.B. 13EX which expands the City of Berkeley Lake's city limits through the annexation of properties between the previous city limits and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. The annexation includes over 25 parcels, mostly commercial properties that were in unincorporated Gwinnett County and adjacent to the city's current borders. Among the businesses to be included is SunTrust and IronStone banks, two branches located on the corner of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and South Berkeley Lake Road, and the commercial properties in the …

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Turn Out for Town Hall Meeting Larger than Expected

On Monday night some 500 Peachtree Corners residents came to learn more about city-hood for their community.

The turnout was larger than organizers expected for the Peachtree Corners Town Hall meeting on Monday night. Chairs were added as more people arrived, but it was standing-room only for those who arrived too late to grab a seat. Organizers had planned for a little under 300, in the end some 500 residents came to learn just what it would mean for their community to become the county's 16th city. Two speakers, State Rep. Tom Rice (R-Dist 51) and UPCCA president Mike Mason presented the facts and answered questions during the meeting which was held at the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church. Since legislation was passed and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in May, the movement for city-hood has been in the forefront for the community leaders who have …

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Alex J. Wright

10:51 pm on Sunday, September 25, 2011

Sharron, 1) $100 is not a lot to pay if incorporation does nothing more than increase your home value 1%. On a $250k house that would be a $2.5k return on a $100 investment. 2) Incorporating does NOT add another layer of government. It simply replaces one level (county) with another (city). An extra layer would imply that the city has to go to the county every time it needs approval. Governments …   more ›