Suzanna Karatassos
DemocraticQ1 Georgia is becoming a hub for data centers due to tax breaks, amenable regulations, and available land (Perdue, 2025). While data centers may grow the tech industry in Georgia, data centers also have environmental and health impacts, such as significant water and electricity usage, as well as noise pollution (Science for Georgia, 2026). How will you protect Georgian health and property values with data center legislation?
I support an immediate moratorium on all data centers, until the legislature can better assess their impact on our state. I also would legislate that they have to innovate their cooling systems to not use our fresh drinking water. Data centers should only be built in Industrial zones.
Q2 How will you ensure communities have meaningful opportunities to provide public comments that inform state and local decision making?
There are already many opportunities for public comment in these processes, what we need is elected representatives that will actually listen to public input.
Q3 How have you learned about data centers in the past, and how will you stay abreast of important findings based on scientific research regarding data center impacts on energy affordability and the environment?
I stay up to date on current events in Georgia, and I follow the Public Service Commission proceedings with regards to data centers. I have seen the public outcry against the water usage, the noise pollution, the energy demands and rising costs, and I will continue to prioritize my constituents concerns surrounding data centers. Personally I am alarmed at the blind disregard of usage of our natural resources.
Q4 How will you work and communicate with voters to ensure your policy decisions around data centers reflect the values of your constituency?
I plan to continue daily communication with voters through a variety of outlets. Once elected I plan to have town halls and an open door policy to always hear voters concerns.
Q5 Extreme heat is a serious public health issue and vulnerable populations are most at risk (Bell et al., 2024; Ebi et al., 2021; Hess et al., 2023). Additionally, the number of annual extreme heat days have increased statewide and are projected to increase in the future (McCullough, 2026). At the same time, Georgia is projected to experience more frequent and intense droughts (National Integrated Drought Information System, 2026). What policies do you plan to implement to mitigate the rising health risk of extreme heat and drought on Georgians?
This is very concerning to me. We need a statewide extreme heat emergency plan to protect citizens from power company shut-offs due to unpaid bills, and ensure access to cooling centers for citizens without a/c. We must start focusing on renewable energies, solar power and invest in the recyclables industry statewide which we are woefully behind on. I believe Georgia should implement a water/drought resilience plan to ensure longevity of our water resources.
Q6 PFAS, or forever chemicals, are common, long-lasting chemicals used in dyes, pesticides, and common household products, like water-resistant clothes, cleaners, and cookware (EPA, 2026a). Forever chemicals have contributed to high risk of thyroid disruption, developmental delays, and cancer (EPA, 2026a). The EPA recently rolled back regulation on some forever chemicals and extended the deadline for utility companies to limit exposure to contaminated water (EPA, 2026b). What policies or investments would you support to improve drinking water safety in Georgia?
Georgia is a state of 11 million people and we need to strengthen all of our own agencies to protect ourselves if DC is going to loosen all their regulatory system that protect the population. Georgia should ban harmful forever chemicals and require improved filtration and water systems. I fully support regulations that keep us safe and healthy.
Q7 Environmental harms are not distributed evenly: landfills, industrial plants, and waste treatment facilities are disproportionately placed in communities of color and low income neighborhoods (Deganian & Thompson, 2012; Jbaily et al., 2022; Liddie et al., 2023). For example, the Pittard Road and Pinewoods communities in Athens have struggled to gain access to safe drinking water for decades (Dua-Swartz, 2025). Such environmental burdens cause generational health and economic impacts (Colmer & Voorheis, 2025; Grineski et al., 2025). How will you address environmental injustice in your district?
Increase regulations on the waste industry to the standard that it would be safe no matter where it was located. I believe no matter what your income level is, you should have access to the same clean air, water, and land as anyone else. I would never ignore communities that are clearly affected by their environmental contamination.
Q8 Nitrate run off and pesticide use have been correlated with risk of long-term illnesses, like cancer, and ecosystem degradation, for example water deoxygenation and “dead zones” (EPA, 2013, 2015; European Commission, 2026; Zhao et al., 2026). How will your policies balance farmers’ technological needs while reducing the impact of previously restricted pesticides and overfertilization on agricultural workers, their neighbors, and our water systems?
Educate farmers on soil testing and proper fertilization rates and use more nature based solutions that lower the need for synthetic fertilizer. Expand funding to assist farmers with clean irrigation and cover crop seeds to improve soil quality and reduce runoff. Georgia needs to regulate harmful fertilizers and pesticides where DC has deregulated them.
Q9 The construction of data centers has triggered the call for an expansion in energy production (Science for Georgia, 2025). Georgia, and its largest energy provider, Georgia Power, derives 87% of its energy output from natural gas, coal, and nuclear sources, while 6% comes from renewables (Georgia Power, 2025). GA Power is proposing an expansion of a “natural gas” pipeline through Georgia and Alabama to meet their projected energy demands; however, there are several viable options for expanding solar energy, including plug-in solar panels, agrivoltaics, and parking lot solar systems, that would give consumers power over their electricity bills (Science for Georgia, 2026). What policies do you support to expand consumer energy choice and renewable energy?
The Georgia Legislature should require Georgia Power to have a much higher percentage of renewables with an ultimate goal of 100% renewables. I would expand funding to residential and municipal renewable energy microgrids. As mentioned before, extreme weather will test our power grids and we need to innovate and reduce the risk of disruptions. I fully support expanding solar energy as much as possible including balcony solar, plug-in solar, agrivoltaics, parking lot solar and abandoned farming lots producing energy for free.
Q10 The globalization of groceries has given us access to a diverse selection of produce products. At the same time, international supply chains can heighten the risk of foodborne illnesses. Recent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, like Cyclospora and Salmonella, have resulted in recalls of common foods, including lettuce, blueberries, and eggs (Vollers, 2026). What actions should we take on the state level to track and reduce foodborne illnesses?
Increase all operations and staff at the Georgia Department of Public Health to make up for the cuts to the CDC, FDA and HHS. If the federal government is not ensuring public safety then Georgia must do what’s right for our state. I would also support legislation in Georgia for an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones for Residential property.
Q11 What assistance, if any, does GA need from the federal government to track and reduce foodborne illnesses?
Georgia and all states need the federal government to stop making cuts to all the federal agencies that test our foods for bacteria, foodborne diseases and communicable diseases.
Q12 About 17% of Georgia adults lack health insurance (The Commonwealth Fund, 2025). Since tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans expired in December 2025, more than half a million Georgians have lost health insurance (Hart, 2026). What are your views on medicaid expansion, and what policies will you support to assist Georgians struggling to access quality healthcare?
The first thing I will do once elected is advocate for full Georgia Medicaid Expansion. But I would not stop there, every person in our state should have affordable health insurance where no claim is denied and no one is going into medical debt. Right now our for-profit system is untenable, and is designed to profit off our illnesses instead of prioritizing better health outcomes. We need to reform the entire Georgia medical industry.