ATLANTA (March 7, 2017) | Sen. Blake Tillery (R – Vidalia) welcomed his Youth Legislator Scholarship Competition winner, Briley Braddy to the chamber on Crossover Day. Her essay from this contest inspired Sen. Tillery to draft and sponsor Senate Bill 258 which bars a holder of public funds owed to a municipal government from holding civil office. Currently, Georgia law prohibits holders of public funds due to a county or state from holding such office. This bill extends that prohibition to holders of city funds as well.
“Our Youth Legislator Scholarship was designed to engage young citizens in the political and legislative process,” said Sen. Tillery. “Briley’s idea was a good idea; you shouldn’t be making decisions about other people’s tax money if you haven’t paid yours! I’m proud to help her move it through the General Assembly. I’m already looking forward to reading next year’s applications.”
“It was an honor and great experience to be a small part in the intricate system of government that runs our great state today,” said Briley.
In a stroke of fortunate timing, Briley was serving as a page at the state Capitol on the same day her bill was debated on the Senate floor. The bill passed the Senate 50 to 0 and will now move to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.
Briley, a freshman from Montgomery County, is a member of the Vidalia Heritage Academy’s Harvard Model Congress team. She competed on the Competition Cheerleading squad, runs track, and won First Place in the County and District contests for the Voice of Democracy Contest. Briley is the daughter of Brandon and Donna Jean Braddy of Mt. Vernon.
