FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 28, 2008
Contact: Sen. Tim Golden, 229-241-1284 or timgolden@bellsouth.net

Sen. Tim Golden announces candidacy for re-election

VALDOSTA – State Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) qualified Monday at the State Capitol to be a candidate for re-election to the Senate District 8 post in the 2008 Democratic Primary.

“For the past 10 years, it has been an honor and privilege to represent the people of Brooks, Cook, Lowndes and Thomas counties in the state Senate,” Golden said. “I am now asking the voters to put that experience to work once again, so that together we can continue to support our public schools, improve access to affordable health care and enable business and industry to create more job opportunities in South Georgia.”

Golden is seeking his sixth term in the Senate, following eight years in the House of Representatives (1990-98). During the past three years, for his work promoting health care issues, he received both the Georgia Hospital Association Legislative Leadership Award, and the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians “Champion of Family Medicine” Award. In recognition of his work on children health care issues, the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians named him their “Legislator of the Year” in 2007.

Known as a strong advocate for Georgia business, Golden was recognized by the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce as “Legislator of the Year” for 2007, and the group called it a “Lifetime Achievement” award for his long time advocacy of business interests in the General Assembly. That same year, the Georgia Industry Association made Golden their “Champion of Industry” for his efforts to promote manufacturing issues in Georgia.

During the 2008 session, Golden introduced and passed legislation creating the “Made in Georgia” initiative, a campaign to promote the sale of products manufactured in this state. Working with his Senate colleagues, he helped secure approximately $18 million in the state budget for fiscal year 2009 in direct appropriations for the communities of the 8th District.

Golden is secretary of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for the state budget, and is a senior member of the influential Senate Finance Committee, which handles tax-related legislation. He also serves on the Higher Education, Insurance & Labor and Government Oversight committees and is chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

The Democratic Primary is scheduled for July 15, and the General Election will be held Nov. 4.

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