Dee Dawkins-Haigler is running for re-election to her fourth term as a State House Representative in District 91 and says she is "running for for my life" and that of everyone in the working class.

"As a child I watched as the voting rights of marginalized groups was infringed upon and I decided to that I had to be an agent of change," she wrote. "As a legislator I have fought to make sure that voting rights are not suppressed and that citizens have access to the ballot box."

The minister and consultant moved to Georgia 18 years ago to attend graduate school. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from South Carolina State University, Masters of Public Administration from Kentucky State University, Masters of Divinity in Theology and Ethics from Turner Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta and is a Ph.D candidate in Political Science at Clark Atlanta University.

She said the most pressing issues she's been told by her constituents are similar to the pressing issues of the state: education, quality jobs with decent wages, affordable and accessible health care, Incentives for the creation of small business, college affordability and economic development.

Dawkins-Haigler said her time in the Capitol has taught her "that honesty, integrity and patience are vital and will take you a long way. Coalition building and being knowledgeable of the legislative process is key. As a result of my ability to lead and work well with others I have been elected to numerous leadership positions within the General Assembly such as Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Immediate Past Chair Georgia Women's Legislative Caucus, and Deputy Assistant Minority Whip."

She is an Associate Pastor at First St. Paul AME Church Lithonia, charter member of the Rockdale/Newton Section of the National Council of Negro Women, charter member of the East Suburban Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill for Rockdale, Newton, DeKalb and Walton Counties, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Stone Mountain Lithonia Chapter, member of the Rockdale and DeKalb Democratic Party, Rockdale/Newton Federation of Democratic Women and DeKalb Democratic Women, NAACP, Women in Government, Junior League.

She and her husband, Army Maj. David Haigler Jr., have four children ranging in age from 13 to 23 and two grandchildren.

For more, go to www.deehaigler.com

She faces challenger Diane Adoma for the Democratic nomination for District 91 on the May 20 ballot. There is no Republican candidate for the seat.