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Rep. Sam Teasley (HD 37)
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Samuel Kyser Teasley (R-Marietta)
District 37 (Cobb County)
Republicans in the Georgia Legislature comprise Teasley’s largest bloc of financial donors by far. Collectively, they’ve given his campaign more than $51,000 since 2010.
Not bad for a freshman: Lobbyists did all right by Teasley in 2011, his first legislative session, treating him to dinners and other meals to the tune of $2,073. They’ve spent about $2,900 on him since then.
Political career
- Elected 2010 to the House, 57-43%, unseating incumbent Democrat Pat Dooley.
- Re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2012 and 62% in 2014.
- Faces Democratic challenger Bill Bolton, whom Teasley has beaten twice before, in the November 2016 general election.
Committee assignments
- Banks & Banking (2011 – present)
- Education (2011 – present)
- Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications (2013 – present)
- Ethics (2015 – present)
- Insurance (2013 – present)
- Ways & Means (2015 – present)
- Code Revision (2011 – 2012)
Occupation
Business ownership
- Owner, New South Investments LLC, manages residential rental property.
- President, Teasley Homes Inc., helps clients buy and sell real estate.
Property holdings
- Personal residence in Marietta, valued at $317,000.
- Three residential rental properties in Marietta, valued at a total of $383,000.
- Residential property in Kennesaw, valued at $114,000.
Investments
- None disclosed.
Payments from state agencies
- None disclosed.
Campaign contributions
Teasley has raised more than $283,000 in political donations since 2010. The breakdown by election cycle:
- 2010: $79,042
- 2011-12: $65,376
- 2013-14: $67,235
- 2015-16: $50,687
- Reported cash on hand (Oct. 2016): $109,711
Top donors
- $56,001 House Speaker David Ralston & other Republican legislators
- $14,000 Georgia Trial Lawyers Association & leadership
- $7,400 Georgia Association of Realtors
- $7,250 Georgia Credit Union League
- $5,600 AT&T
- $5,450 Georgia Bankers Association
- $5,000 The Doctors Co., Napa, Calif., malpractice insurance provider
- $5,000 Humana Inc., Louisville, Ky., health care
- $4,500 American Federation for Children
- $4,250 Georgia Apartment Association
- $3,500 Georgia Automobile Dealers Association
- $3,500 Lance A. Cooper P.C.
Campaign to campaign
Candidates may give campaign funds to other candidates, a practice that some say provides a legal means to circumvent contribution limits. A 2003 bill to ban such transfers altogether passed in the Senate but died in the House. Teasley’s campaign made these donations:
- 2010: $1,500
- 2011-12: $7,450
- 2013-14: $24,650
- 2015-16: $8,500
Lobbyist freebies
Since 2010, lobbyists have reported paying more than $5,000 for meals and other gifts for Teasley. The big spenders:
- $772 McGuire Woods Consulting. lobbying firm
- $495 AT&T
- $316 Georgia Power Co.
- $300 Georgia Cable Association
- $258 Wellstar Health System
The American Legislative Exchange Council also awarded a $628 “scholarship” to Teasley in 2010 to cover the cost of attending ALEC functions, records show. Corporate donors — including petroleum, pharmaceutical, utility, tobacco and health-care interests — fund the scholarships, which are not disclosed as lobbyist expenses since ALEC has no registered lobbyists in Georgia.
Friends and family
- Teasley and former Sen. Chip Rogers, one of his top donors, both attend First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Rogers paid Teasley $1,550 from his Senate expense account in 2008 for work as a legislative aide.
- Teasley served as Rep. Ed Setzler’s campaign manager in 2008.
- Teasley’s wife, Michelle, is a teacher at Shiloh Hills Christian School.
Committee days & travel expenses
When out of session, legislators may collect $173 per day plus mileage for committee meetings or other official business. Those living within 50 miles of the Capitol are taxed on these payments, originally intended to cover out-of-town members’ food and lodging.
- 2011: $2,159 (12 days)
- 2012: $2,504 (13 days)
- 2013: $3,050 (15 days)
- 2014: $3,222 (16 days)
- 2015: $6,258 (27 days)
Updated Dec. 17, 2016