Cobb County Democrat & State Senator Doug Stoner announces bid for Chair of the GA Democratic Party

"It is critical to connect Democrats around the State. Just as we've seen in the Georgia Legislature the priority of metro and rural citizens may not be the same. So it is with Democrats. It will be incumbent on our party's next leader to build consensus to ensure our success. I believe I have demonstrated that I can successfully build and lead that effort"Former State Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) in a press release a few days ago, who announced his intentions to seek the Chairmanship for the Georgia Democratic Party.

Prior to his service in the Georgia State Senate, Sen. Stoner served one term in the Georgia House of
Representatives during 2002-2004. In 2004, Sen. Stoner was elected to the State Senate, and he was
overwhelmingly re-elected by his constituents in 2006, 2008 and 2010. During his service, Sen. Stoner has received numerous awards including: the Outstanding Legislator Leadership award from the American Cancer Society (2003 and 2004), the Outstanding Leadership award  from the Georgia Alliance for Tobacco Prevention (2005), the Local Distinguished Service Award from  the American Public Transportation Association (2004), the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical  Services Star of Life, Legislative Award (2007 and 2008), the Georgia Association of Educators  Legislator of the Year (2005), the Cobb County Association of Educators Cheryl C. Rice Friend of  Education Award (2005), Legislative awards from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia  and the Georgia Municipal Association (2009 and 2010), the Georgia Conservation Voters  Environmental Leadership Award (2006, 2008, and 2010), and the Outstanding Legislator Award from  the Georgia Council on Aging (2010).

Stoner joins former State Sen. Mary Squires, current DPG Vice Chairman of County Parties RJ Hadley & Keyantwon Stephens of Athens, Ga.

Two other names that continues to receive attention are Former Gubernatorial candidate & House Minority Leader DuBose Porter of Dublin & Tharon Johnson, who led campaigns for John Barrow & John Lewis.

Georgia Insurance Commisisoner Mary Squires (D) Campaign Ad

State Insurance Commissioner Candidate Mary Squires at State Democratic Convention

Squires picks up the endorsement of the AFL-CIO in her run for State Insurance Commissioner

Centrist Democrat Mary Squires gets the endorsement of the AFL-CIO back on 5/25.

Sen. Squires has fought for working families her entire life, first as an enlistedman and officer in the United States Army , then as a State Representative and Senator. As Georgia's next Insurance Commissioner , Sen. Squires will fight to protect consumers as well as work to provide quality, affordable health care for all Georgians ,” said Richard Ray, Georgia's AFL-CIO President.

“I am honored to have the Georgia AFL-CIO join me in our fight. Georgia families are hurting,” said Squires. “The position of Georgia Insurance Commissioner is too important to be filled by someone looking to use it as a stepping stone for higher office, a place to wait out a government retirement package, or by someone requiring a lot of on-the-job training.”


The AFL-CIO joins the Metro Atlanta Therapists' Network (MATN), a consortium of over 1,300 mental health professionals, State International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, as well as Democratic State Reps & State Senators in endorsing her run for State Insurance Commissioner.


Hon. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield

Hon. Karla Drenner

Hon. Gerald Greene

Hon. Joe Heckstall

Hon. Sistie Hudson

Hon. Mack Jackson

Hon. Lynmore James

Hon. Nikki Randall

Hon. Emanuel Jones

Hon. Valencia Seay

Hon. Freddie Sims

Hon. Mickey Stephens

Hon. Doug Stoner

Hon. Horacena Tate

Hon. Doug Teper

Hon. Brian Thomas

Hon. Regina Thomas

Hon. Curt Thompson

Hon. Lee Thompson

Hon. Coach Williams

Hon. Don Wix

Hon. Sam Zamarripa

State Insurance Commisisoner Candidate Mary Squires is Pro-Gun & Against Blanket Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants.

This has nothing to do with her current run for Insurance Commissioner, but interesting:

Says Squires in 2004 run for the U.S. Senate:

I support legal gun ownership and am a gun owner myself. I believe that we should do all we can to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Congress should close the loopholes that allow questionable sales at gun shows, permitting easy access to assault weapons that all too often end up on our city streets and in our schools

Source:Campaign website, www.marysquires.us/, "Issues" Jun 15, 2004



We have an illegal immigration problem in our state. The only way to solve it is to develop and enforce a Visa program that protects the rule of law. Blanket amnesty programs are not the answer.

Source: Campaign website, www.marysquires.us/, "Issues" Jun 15, 2004

With Immigration being such a hot topic now you better believe it will come up in debates between Squires & whoever her opponent will be, especially when discussing the healthcare reform bill & will it allow illegal immigrants to gain access to free healthcare.

As for Guns, she's solid on that front as well.

I thought I just put these two issues out there to show people where she stands on these issues.

The Forgotten Statewide Race: State Insurance Commissioner. Mary Squires (D-Norcross) Announces Health Professionals Endorsement

I forgot to post this press re;ease from the Squires Campaign. My apologies to Mary Squires.

Mary Squires, Democratic candidate for Georgia Insurance Commissioner , announced today the endorsement of the Metro Atlanta Therapists' Network (MATN), a consortium of over 1,300 mental health professionals .

“Through relevant and significant work experience, Senator Squires has accumulated a vast knowledge base regarding the manner in which the insurance industry operates and has numerous ideas for resolving inherent problems. As a member of the General Assembly, Senator Squires consistently demonstrated bipartisanship, promoting legislation beneficial to all Georgians . She is an independent thinker who places the interests of her constituents above party loyalties,” said President David Edwards.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Metro Atlanta Therapists' Network. The professional members of the MATN share in my desire to ensure that the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office develops and maintains an open line of communication in all policy discussions among consumers, mental health providers and payor systems,” said Mary Squires.

As of right now, Squires is the only democratic cnadidate running for State Insurance Commissioner to replace John Oxendine. If she's the sole candidate come the deadling for qualifying, she will be facing one of 8 republican challengers for State Insurance Commissioner.


Squires was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1998. Squires served two terms in the State House (1999-2003) and one term in the Georgia State Senate (2003-2005). In addition to her legislative experience, Squires served ten years in the Georgia Army National Guard . Mary Squires currently is the Executive Director of the Georgia Society of Professional Benefit Administrators, Inc., a self-insured health care trade association. Squires also serves as the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Industry Association, a national agriculture research and trade association. Squires and her husband Tom West of Augusta currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia and have four children.

State Insurance Commissioner Candidate Mary Squires made a stop in Macon County on Jan. 23.

Democratic candidate for State Insurance Commisisoner Mary Squires (D-Norcross) stopped by & spoke to the Flint River Democratic Women's Club, which is apart of the Georgia Federation of Democratic Women Organization headed by Democratic Activist Kristina Sims of Houston County, on saturday at Rosati's Depot in Marshallville.

Squires spoke for over 30 minutes to the group, making her case why she will be the next State Insurance Commissioner. Squires served in the Georgia General Assembly for six years. She was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1998 and the Georgia Senate in 2002. Her primary focus was on health benefits, insurance and juvenile law.

Before that, she served 10 yrs in the Ga National Guard, before being honorably discharged in 1996 with the rank of Captain. Squires addressed issues ranging from Fraud to Health Insurance & was very well received by the newly formed orgainzation led by Yvonne Sutherland. She was very engaging, has a strong grasp of the issues that are handled by the State Insurance Commissioner's office & was very charismatic. Since squires is the only democrat running for Insurance Commissioner, she has been running a general election style campaign, traveling to towns such as Vidalia, Alma, Thomasvile, Valdosta, & others in between. She is a very impressive candidate & after meeting her for the first time, she has my vote. I was sold on her candidacy. Rural Georgia will benefit from having Mary Squires as its next State Insurance Commissioner. She is the candidate for hard working, Bluecollar Georgians.

Others at the forum were Kristina Sims, president of the Georgia Federation of Democratic Women, Yvonne Sutherland, founder of the Flint River Democratic Women's Club & District 2 Director, Fenika Miller, chairwoman of the Houston County Democratic Committee & Charlotte Perkins, a journalist (Retired).

Squires to be in Macon County on Saturday

Democratic Candidate for State Insurance Commissioner Mary Squires (D-Norcross) will be the Guest Speaker for the Flint River Valley Democcratic Women's Club on Saturday in Marshallville (Macon County) at Rosati's Depot. It will be the first annual meeting of the organization & will serve the Flint River Area. It is a member of the Georgia Federation of Democratic Women, which is run by Longtime Democratic Activist Kristina Sims of Houston County.

Squires is the Third Democratic Statewide Candidate to appear in Macon, Dubose Porter & David Poythress have stopped by to visit the Rural County & my Home Turf as well. Hope more would pay us a visit as well.

Mary Squires Announces Early Endorsements

Mary Squires, Democratic candidate for Georgia Insurance Commissioner, announced today 22 new legislative endorsements including - Sen. Emanuel Jones, Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Sen. Horacena Tate, Rep. Coach Williams, Sen. Doug Stoner, and Rep. Freddie Sims.

“I am honored to support former State Senator Mary Squires for Georgia Insurance Commissioner because Mary has spent the past two decades fighting for Georgia families. Mary is the most qualified to be a staunch advocate for our families as we fight to provide quality, affordable healthcare, and a business friendly environment that helps bring more new jobs to Georgia,” said Senator Emanuel Jones.

"I can't tell you how honored I am at this outpouring of support from my friends and former colleagues. These are the people who are on the front line fighting every day for affordable and accessible healthcare for all of Georgia's families," said Mary Squires.

Squires was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1998. Squires served two terms in the State House (1999-2003) and one term in the Georgia State Senate (2003-2005). In addition to her legislative experience, Squires served ten years in the Georgia Army National Guard. Mary Squires currently is the Executive Director of the Georgia Society of Professional Benefit Administrators, Inc., a self-insured health care trade association. Squires also serves as the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Industry Association, a national agriculture research and trade association. Squires and her husband Tom West of Augusta currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia and have four children.

Hon. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield

Hon. Karla Drenner

Hon. Gerald Greene

Hon. Joe Heckstall

Hon. Sistie Hudson

Hon. Mack Jackson

Hon. Lynmore James

Hon. Nikki Randall

Hon. Emanuel Jones

Hon. Valencia Seay

Hon. Freddie Sims

Hon. Mickey Stephens

Hon. Doug Stoner

Hon. Horacena Tate

Hon. Doug Teper

Hon. Brian Thomas

Hon. Regina Thomas

Hon. Curt Thompson

Hon. Lee Thompson

Hon. Coach Williams

Hon. Don Wix

Hon. Sam Zamarripa

Mary Squires candidate for State Insurance Commissioner

Democratic candidate Mary Squires already have a website up & running. It's still under construction though. It's www.marysquires.com

Democrat jumps in race for State Insurance Commissioner

Ex-Georgia lawmaker Mary Squires has announced that she will run for State Insurance Commissioner in 2010. Squires served several terms in the State Legislature & made a run for the U.S. Senate in 2004.

“I am excited to be the first candidate in the race for insurance commissioner,” Squires said in a press release. “It is a very important position. The insurance commissioner impacts the quality of life for every day Georgians more than any other race in 2010.”