Canton, Ga.- Georgiaโ State Representative Mandi ballinger hasโข died after โคa long battle withโข cancer, โGovernor Brian Kempโ announced Sunday. She was 52.
Ballinger represented Georgia’sโข 23rd District,โข encompassing Canton, and served as Chair of the โHouse Judiciary Juvenile Committee. Her passing marks a โloss for the Georgia legislature and the communities she served, notably in the areas of juvenile justice and advocacy for children and survivors of domestic โviolence.
Speaker of the House Jon โBurns described Ballinger as โคa โ”fierce advocate” for thes groups. “While her leadership andโค impactโ extended far beyond the walls โof the Capitol,โข Chairlady Ballinger will be greatly missed by each of us who โhad the profound honor โof serving alongside her, and all those who knewโค andโค lovedโ her,” Burns said.
Governor Kemp offered condolences to Ballinger’s family, โcalling her โa “passionate leader who was respected across the political aisle as an advocate โคfor justice.”
Ballinger is survived by โคher husband,State Court Judge โallen Morris,and their son,Henry.
She was also known for her roleโข inโฃ passing campus carry legislation in 2017,โ introducing โthe final bill โthat allowed individuals with carry permits to โขbringโ firearms onto college โคcampuses – a measure that followed earlier vetoed versions.
Data for this โคarticle came from Gov.Kemp, Speaker burns, and the Georgia House of โRepresentativesโข website.