ATLANTA – For the second year in a row, James Magazine has named Representative Kevin Levitas (D-Atlanta) as one of the Most Influential Georgians. James Magazine is Georgia’s only monthly news magazine and is widely considered one of the state’s top resources for Georgia political news and issues.
“It is an honor to be recognized together with leaders from the business, civic and government sectors of this great state who strive each day to improve the quality of life for all Georgians,” said Rep. Levitas.
In a list that has become an annual tradition, naming the “who’s who” of Georgia politics, the “2010 Most Influential Georgians” in the House also includes House Speaker David Ralston (R- Blue Ridge) and Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton). Rep. Levitas was one of only eight House Democrats named to the list.
Rep. Levitas was elected to his second term in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2008. During his tenure in the House, Rep. Levitas authored Georgia’s first felony-level DUI law for serial offenders. He also co-authored legislation enacted last year that allows property owners to challenge their county tax bills directly through binding arbitration, an option that avoids a lengthy, cumbersome and taxpayer-unfriendly appeals process.
Rep. Levitas, known as “the honorary farmer from DeKalb,” also serves as Co-Chairman of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee on Consumer Protection Investigation and Oversight. Following a deadly salmonella outbreak in 2008, the Subcommittee was tasked with evaluating all aspects of the production, distribution, delivery and safety of consumer products, including, but not limited to, agricultural products in the state of Georgia. As a result of his work with the Subcommittee, Rep. Levitas authored the SAFE Act to help ensure that food processors are held accountable for providing safe food to consumers. Governor Perdue signed the SAFE Act into law on Tuesday, May 25, 2010.
Last Friday, the Governor signed into law another bill authored by Rep. Levitas to close a loophole in Georgia law that allowed murders and kidnappers to avoid mandatory sentencing provisions.
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Representative Kevin Levitas represents the citizens of District 82, which includes portions of northeast DeKalb County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Judiciary Non-Civil, Science and Technology, and Transportation Committees.