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Dublin native announces bid for secretary of state
Mar. 24, 2005 -
Dublin Courier Herald - Natalie Davis
With Cathy Cox throwing her hat into the gubernatorial race, a new door opens for candidates seeking to take the helm as Georgia’s next secretary of state.
One candidate, Dublin native Shyam Reddy, officially announced his bid to succeed Cox Wednesday. Representing a “new brand of Southern democrat,” Reddy says he aims to build upon the office’s success and development under Cox’s leadership by taking Georgia to the next level in election reform, business formation and investor protection.
“The Georgia voters have spoken in terms of wanting something new,” said Reddy. “It’s the right time for that next generation of leadership.”
A 1992 graduate of Dublin High School, he holds degrees in political science and public health from Emory University, and is a graduate from the University of Georgia Law School.
Reddy works as a corporate attorney in the Atlanta office of Kilpatrick Stockton dealing mostly with mergers and acquisitions. However, outside the legal realm, he is also actively involved in a number of community organizations.
He does pro-bono legal work and serves on the board of The Indus Entrepreneurs, a mentoring group for entrepreneurs. He is also a founder and director of the Red Clay Democrats, over 1,000 members strong which he describes as “a group of passionate young people” whose aim is to energize young Georgia voters and leaders.
In the post-9/11 era, Reddy said more Americans are engaged in the political process, and tapping into the young generation’s passion is key.
“What we wanted to do was give young people access,” he said of the organization.
Noting Georgia Democrats’ showing in the past two major election years, Reddy said the time has come for the next generation of party leadership to energize voters.
“I think it’s absolutely critical for our young people to step up to the plate,” he said.
“We live in a different world now [since Sept. 11]. I want to be a part of that vanguard group shaped by experience.”
His experience in both the business and legal sectors lends itself well to working at the state level.
“I have been actively involved in the business community and the legal community,” he said. “This is a position I care about and feel I can do a great job at.”
A first generation American, born the son of Indian immigrants, Reddy said both he and his brother were reared to appreciate service to the community. He said that upbringing, coupled with his family’s fiscally conservatism fostered within him a duty to public service.
“As children, both my brother and I were raised to give back,” he said. “They [his parents] taught us to appreciate our Indian heritage, but they taught us to be appreciative of being American.”
Reddy said with his family background in service, “it was just a matter of time” before he moved closer to political matters.
“That time has come,” he said. “What we have is so sacred. I think my story can contribute to that.”
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