Ed Tarver is an experienced, committed and trusted leader with an exemplary record of public service. Ed actively served the local and state community before elective and appointive office. He was Chairman of Easter Seals of East Georgia, Chairman of the Augusta Technical College Board of Directors, the first African American President and Chairman of the Board of the Leadership Georgia Foundation, an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He also served as Chairman of the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
In 2009, he was appointed by President Barack Obama, becoming the first African American U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Ed served Georgians as a state legislator for three terms, championing bipartisan policies supporting veterans, consumers, and individuals with disabilities. He is a former U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer and an experienced attorney with unparalleled expertise in government relations, civil rights, and compliance. He is a graduate of Augusta University and the University of Georgia School of Law. A father of four, Ed resides in Augusta with his wife, Carol, a pediatrician.
Why are you running for office and as a Democrat?
As a life-long Democrat, I am seeking election to the U.S. Senate because Washington is broken and continues to show an inability to meet the economic, health, educational and environmental needs of Georgia families
If elected, what would be your top priorities? Why? How would you approach finding a solution?
At a time, when the stain of discrimination continues to plague public and governmental components in our society, my top priority would be to boldly work to eliminate systemic religious and racial discrimination in State and local law enforcement practices and procedures. Relying upon the important work that I started while serving as a United States Attorney, I will sponsor legislation to:
- Impose limits upon the Court created doctrine of Qualified Immunity to ensure accountability for acts of intentional excessive force and misconduct by law enforcement;
- Establish and fund a National Registry for the mandatory reporting of all State and Federal discipline actions and involuntary terminations;
- Require extensive Implicit Bias training for all State and Federal law enforcement;
- Reverse the devastating effects of mass incarceration through the creation of mandatory Reentry programs for State and Federal prior offenders;
- Advance alternatives to incarceration by provide law enforcement with needed resources to identify and initiate treatment for individuals with mental health and addiction deficits.
Why should voters cast a vote for you?
My experience in the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches of government have uniquely prepared me to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. Included in my record of public service are: seven (7) years as a U.S. Army Officer; a Law Degree from the University of Georgia; a federal Judicial Clerkship in the U.S. District Court for SDGA; legal experience with the oldest and largest firm in Augusta; three (3) terms in the Georgia State Senate; and appointment by President Barack Obama (and unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate) to be the 1st African American United States Attorney in the 240 year history of the SDGA.