Republican Soo Hong is running against Democrat Ernie Anaya for the Georgia State House District 103 position in this year’s midterm election.
District 103 was previously designated as the area southeast of Flowery Branch. After redistricting in 2020, it has moved to the south and southwest of Flowery Branch, including most of Buford and parts of Sugar Hill. The District 103 seat sits among 180 House of Representative positions in Georgia.
Hong said running for the district seat is a great honor with the support she has received.
“Having that opportunity and being able to go out in my community and meet the people in my community and be able to talk about different issues that they're facing, and different changes that they’d like to see—I'm very grateful to be in a position to be able to be that advocate,” Hong said.
Anaya refused to provide AccessWDUN with an interview, instead opting for a brief email correspondence. Anaya stated his motivations for running come from a desire to defend our freedoms.
“As a former US Army Officer … I have great concerns about the attacks on the US Constitution, our rights including the right for women to choose, and the survival of the American Democracy for all Americans. That’s why I am running!” Anaya wrote in an email correspondence.
Hong legally immigrated with her family to Georgia from South Korea when she was 10, saying that hard work and a good heart led her to the position she’s in now.
“We come from South Korea, which is smaller than the state of Georgia,” Hong said. “And to have immigrated here when I was 10 years old, not even knowing the alphabet, and be at a place in my life where, you know—and I've worked really hard, I've studied really hard.”
When it comes to policy issues, Anaya places education at the forefront, believing in its ability to impact many other areas of society.
“My policy priorities include improved secondary education, affordable higher education for those heading for college, and technical trade training and apprenticeships, economic development to attract high paying jobs through Public Private Partnership cooperation programs,” Anaya wrote.
Hong believes education is crucial in providing children with opportunities, and that parents play an integral part in that process.
“Education has been a very important part of my life,” Hong said. “I went to public schools here in Georgia. … I think it's definitely important for us to make sure that our parents have a voice that we—and then they have a choice as to where they send their children as well. And having more transparency as to what our kids are learning in school, I think it's very important.”
On the matter of inflation and the economy, Hong echoed what many of the people in her district have told her. Hong said economic issues hit close to home, so maintaining a majority Republican presence in the legislative bodies is vital.
“Economy is the number one concern for people in our state, for people all over our country,” Hong said. “And it is a very concerning and number one priority for me, not only as a small business owner but as a future legislator. I want the people in our state to do good and to succeed. And I think that having a Republican-controlled House and Senate, and the governorship has really helped our state to be able to stay above ground.”
Anaya stated a desire to build and maintain a strong economy, emphasizing the need for fair taxes for everyone.
Hong detailed her intention to begin the process of eliminating state income taxes.
“I understand and I'm realistic in that process is probably going to take not just one legislative session—I think a lot of legislators are in favor of it,” Hong said. “I would like to really go in there and review our budget and see if there's anything that we can take in and out in order to be able to eliminate state income tax and put more money in taxpayer's pockets.”
While the topic of reproductive rights is difficult to navigate, Hong says she is pro-life and believes in the Heartbeat Bill. Anaya declined further comment on this matter but did affirm his belief in the right of a woman to choose in his email correspondence.
When questioned about gun control, Hong was direct in her support of the Second Amendment.
“I think everybody has a right to carry,” Hong said. “So I'm 100%, supportive of our Second Amendment rights. And that is our constitutional right. And as an attorney, I mean, that's what the Constitution says.”
Anaya declined to provide any comments regarding his position on gun control.
You can learn more about Republican candidate Soo Hong by visiting her campaign website. Democratic candidate Ernie Anaya has information available on the Ballotpedia and Vote411 Voter Guide websites.
The 2022 midterm elections will take place on November 8.
