Dear editor,
Respected, servant leadership is hard to come by in American politics today. Now more than ever, politicians drive the wedge that divides us further apart instead of offering real solutions. We need real leaders who put our needs above partisan bickering. We need folks like Ken Vance representing us in Atlanta. My good friend Ken Vance is a symbol of servant leadership. He's consistent, reliable, respected, and will work with anyone that has a good idea to improve the communities he serves.
Consistent Leadership
Since starting his law enforcement career at the Monroe Police Department, working hard in school and becoming an English teacher at Baldwin High School, and a Baldwin County deputy sheriff and serving 28 years on the Milledgeville city Council, Ken Vance's entire adult life has been about serving others.
Now as a state representative, Vance has proven to be a trusted and respected voice under the Gold Dome, leading on lowering taxes, making sure teachers get the raises they deserve, and protecting and serving those who protect and serve us: our law enforcement.
Defending the Public
As a young man, Vance was chosen to participate in a federally funded program at the University of Georgia to get more college-educated men and women into law enforcement. His first job was with the Monroe, Georgia Police Department, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant and shift supervisor. To finish his education, he went to Georgia College and graduated with a degree in English while working with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department. During this time, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Arkansas in Creative Writing.
After finishing his course work, he returned to Baldwin County to teach at Baldwin High School and work at both the Sheriff's Department and Georgia College and State University Department of Public Safety, where he became the chief and served in that capacity for 27 years.
He remained there until he was named by Gov.
Sonny Perdue to be the executive director of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, the state agency that oversees the training and certification of every law enforcement and correctional officer in Georgia.
He served under three governors in this role. His heart has always been about serving others.
Law & Order
As a State Representative, Vance has sponsored numerous bills to protect law enforcement while they perform their duties, advancing bills to protect the public safety of Georgia families, and creating a program for Georgians to donate to a state-funded program that gives bonuses directly to Georgia sheriff's deputies and jailers while working to include municipal police officers in this program in the future.
Vance has also worked hard to crack down on sales of controlled substances to minors and protect our children from dangerous illegal drugs.
Advancing Education Opportunities As a former publicschool teacher and now an adjunct professor at Columbus State University Master of Public Administration program, Vance knows the trials and joys of teaching our young people. Vance has partnered with Gov. Brian Kemp and legislative leaders to advance teacher raises and delivered on school safety measures, including direct state funding for security improvements and school resource officers, and he's the lead on early literacy initiatives to give our students a head start in the classroom.
Sincerely, State Senator Rick Williams