Sam Park

Samuel Lauderdale Park (born October 1, 1985) is a Korean-American politician and lawyer, who was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in the 2016 elections.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, he represents the 101st district.[2]

Sam Park
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 101st district
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
Preceded byValerie Clark
Personal details
Born
Samuel Lauderdale Park

(1985-10-01) October 1, 1985
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceLawrenceville, Georgia
Alma materGeorgia State University (B.A., B.S., J.D.)
American University (L.L.M.)

Early life and education

Park was born into a Christian Republican family. His grandparents were refugees from the Korean War. Park earned law degrees from Georgia State University College of Law and Washington College of Law.[3]

Early political career

After graduating, he worked as an aide for Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin. He also worked on Jason Carter's 2014 gubernatorial campaign and Jon Ossoff's 2017 campaign.

Georgia House of Representatives

Park was inspired to run for political office himself after his mother was diagnosed with cancer and was able to receive treatment through the Affordable Care Act.[3] Park won the 101st district with 52% of the vote despite his opponent, incumbent Republican Valerie Clark, being favored during the campaign.[1][4]

He is the first openly gay man to be elected to the state legislature in Georgia;[1] his only gay predecessor, Rashad Taylor, was not out as gay during his election campaigns in 2008 or 2010, but was outed in the middle of his second term by a scandal and was defeated when he ran for reelection in 2012. Park was also the only Asian American serving in Georgia's state legislature in the 2017–19 term.[1]

References
  1. "Meet Sam Park, First Openly Gay Man Elected to Georgia's General Assembly". NBC News Asian America, November 30, 2016.
  2. "Sam Park Is the First Openly Gay Man Elected to the Georgia Legislature". Out, November 9, 2016.
  3. Fouriezos, Nick (June 24, 2018). "Meet the Millennial Georgian Inspiring Asian American Voters". OZY.
  4. Farner, Keith (November 8, 2016). "Sam Park knocks off incumbent Valerie Clark in House 101 race". Gwinnett Daily Post.


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