Kasim Reed jumpstarted his political career in 1998 when he defeated Horace Bond in a run-off election to secure his nomination as State Representative in the Georgia General Assembly. During his first term representing Georgia’s District 52, Kasim Reed served in a variety of important house roles, including his membership on the Education Committee and Legislative Reapportionment Committee. Reed secured his reelection to Georgia’s House of Representatives in 2000, using a proactive first-term record to secure over 70% of the votes and successfully regain his house seat. Kasim Reed remained outspoken and influential throughout his second term, serving an additional period on the House Judiciary Committee while leading Shirley Franklin’s efforts to become Mayor of Atlanta as her Campaign Manager. Reed’s contributions to the State Assembly and successful political campaigning for Shirley Franklin helped the young politician conduct an ambitious move to the State Senate in 2002. In the State Senate, Kasim Reed maintains the vigorous political activism that underscored his early political success. Reed is a member of numerous senate committees, including the Ethics Committee, Transportation Committee, Urban Affairs Committee, Higher Education Committee, and the Special Judiciary Committee. Kasim Reed placed early emphasis on political ethics, co-sponsoring legislation that ensured ethical reform in the both local and state government policies. Kasim Reed earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Howard University, graduating from the school in 1991. Reed continued his postgraduate studies at Howard, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1995. In addition to his position as Democratic State Senator, Kasim Reed exercises his legal background as a Partner with Holland and Knight LLP, a global law firm based out of Atlanta.