In what is the first move by a prominent Republican to win back a previously-held GOP seat, attorney Alex Kaufman this week announced he’s running for the Georgia House of Representatives District 51 seat which comprises portions of Sandy Springs, Roswell and Johns Creek. He narrowly lost to Democrat political newcomer Josh McLaurin last fall in the seat previously held by Wendell Willard.
(L-R) State Rep. Josh McLaurin and Alex Kaufman
“This district deserves better than the incumbent,” Kaufman says, “because he has been ineffective in the General Assembly when it comes to representing north Fulton County.”
Kaufman is already supported by Willard and Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann and “expects more endorsements shortly.” In the 2018 election, Kaufman was endorsed by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Johnny Isakson, the mayors of Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek and nearly every city council member in the district’s three cities.
“I ran in 2018 on a message of fiscal responsibility, education reform and common sense solutions to economic redevelopment and our traffic crisis– and that has not changed. I will continue to speak out on public policy issues of concern to my district in order to win the Republican Party nomination in May 2020,” he said in a media release.
The Sandy Springs native, an attorney at the business firm of Kaufman & Forman, is married to local educator Dr. Kasia Kaufman and they reside in Roswell’s Horseshoe Bend neighborhood. He is a graduate of The Westminster Schools, Hamilton College, and Emory University Law School. Kaufman also once served in the executive counsel office of former Gov. Sonny Perdue, serves as a member of the Roswell Economic Development Inc., Roswell Rotary Club, and is an active board member of the Star House Foundation (for at risk youth) as well as a member of Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs.
In neighboring state House District 52, state Rep. Deborah Silcox, R- Sandy Springs, is widely believed to be seeking re-election. And in state House District 54, former state Rep. Beth Beskin, R-Buckhead, is being urged to run again to retake the seat she lost last November to Democrat Betsy Holland.
