With nearly two-thirds of Georgia’s counties classified as rural, advocating for countryside communities is a key topic both in and out of the legislative session. As the House Rural Development Committee Chair and representative for District 156, Rep. Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons) focuses on issues affecting the state’s many rural communities. This includes economic development, education, healthcare access, housing access, and more.
Rep. Hagan, originally from Riverdale in metro Atlanta, has lived in Lyons since 2009 when she and her husband moved back to his hometown area. She noted that she values rural Georgia for the intentionality it fosters in relationships and admires the balance of independence and community spirit found here.
Though not from a political family, Hagan’s path to public service began during her time at the University of Georgia and later through grassroots involvement with the local Republican Party in Toombs County. Her commitment grew stronger when her sons expressed their desire to return to Lyons after college, motivating her to ensure that rural Georgia offers the housing, jobs and opportunities necessary for young people to build a future at home.
Defining Rural Georgia
Leonna Rittenhouse: This year, you were named Chairwoman of the new House Rural Development Committee, tasked with helping drive economic growth and improve services for rural Georgians. How do you personally define rural Georgia today? Has that definition changed over time?
Rep. Hagan: It’s hard for me to personally define “Rural Georgia” completely. In my committee [the House Rural Development Committee], we define rural Georgia as counties that have a population of 50,000 or less, so that’s roughly 120 out of 159 counties. But even living in rural Georgia, broadband expansion has helped keep us connected so much easier.
Bridging The “Two Georgias”
LR: We often hear the phrase “Two Georgias” to describe the urban-rural divide. How do you envision both “Georgias” working together to support each other? What strengths or resources can each offer that benefit the other?
Rep. Hagan: I see partnerships between rural Georgia and metro Atlanta with broadband. I love that businesses are exploring remote and hybrid work. That will allow businesses to get strong employees working for Atlanta based companies remotely with expanded broadband access.
Committee Priorities
LR: What are the top priorities your committee intends to focus on in its second year?
Rep. Hagan: We don’t have any assigned legislation right now. I want to applaud House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) for having the foresight to start this committee. It will be a great opportunity to have legislation assigned to the committee that truly affects rural Georgia.
Driving Population Growth
LR: Rural Georgia has experienced population loss in many areas. What initiatives is your committee exploring to help attract new residents and retain young people in rural communities?
Rep. Hagan: The House Rural Development Committee will meet soon to discuss issues but the three biggest things we need to focus on to attract and retain residents are healthcare, education, and housing.
- Healthcare: We’ve had a focus on telehealth legislation in the last several years and when companies move to rural Georgia, they want healthcare access for their people. Telehealth is a great way to provide healthcare access for rural residents.
- Education: The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) is very strong and that’s very good for rural Georgia because it helps to give our young people the skills needed for jobs in our communities.
- Housing: The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is very strong too, which has helped rural communities. We want all communities to retain their unique character and be able to make the decisions that are best for them.
Empowering Rural Communities
LR: Across Georgia, we have small towns with deep history and strong local leadership. Yet, many feel left out of statewide priorities. From your perspective, what strategies or approaches work best for rural cities to advocate effectively for their needs at the Capitol?
Rep. Hagan: Don’t wait until you get to the state capitol to reach out to your legislators. Establish a relationship with us [legislators] and talk to us when we’re back home in our districts and not just at the Capitol. When you establish a relationship with us, we will really listen to you when you have concerns because we have that relationship and a level of trust there.
Advice for City Leaders
LR: If you could give one piece of advice to municipal leaders in Georgia about advocacy—especially those representing rural areas—what would it be?
Rep. Hagan: Remember that your citizens that are calling and emailing you are not upset with you as city officials. People can be at their wit’s end when they call you and a lot of times they are just wanting to feel heard. Remember too that it’s a privilege to be in our elected roles, represent people, and serve.
Looking Ahead
LR: When you think about the future of rural Georgia, what do you hope the next ten years will look like?
Rep. Hagan: Even with unique challenges in rural Georgia, I hope that our local leaders will look at the challenges as a way to showcase rural Georgia’s strengths. I hope that they will look at changes as opportunities to grow for their communities and not as negative for their communities.