The Gold Dome Track

The Gold Dome Track:
Answering the Call to the Capitol

About the Gold Dome Track

The State Bar of Georgia Governmental Affairs Department, Young Lawyers Division and Law Practice Management Program launched The Gold Dome Track to educate, prepare and support lawyers interested in public service, particularly those considering service in the Georgia General Assembly. The program is designed to be practical. Rather than simply encouraging lawyers to consider public office, the Gold Dome Track gives members an opportunity to hear directly from attorneys who have served, learn about the mechanics of becoming a candidate and better understand the professional and personal considerations that come with seeking elected office while practicing law.

The inaugural Gold Dome Track was presented in two parts during the 2025–26 Bar year.

Gold Dome Track Part 1: Answering the Call to Public Service

The first Gold Dome Track program was held in January 2026 and brought together current and former lawyer-legislators, as well as attorneys whose public service has included Georgia’s executive and judicial branches. The conversation focused on why lawyers are uniquely positioned to contribute to the legislative process, what motivates attorneys to seek public office and the realities of balancing public service with the responsibilities of practicing law. Panelists shared candid perspectives from their own experiences in elected and appointed office and discussed the importance of lawyers remaining engaged in Georgia’s civic and legislative institutions.

Speakers & Panelists

Justice Charlie Bethel, Supreme Court of Georgia; former Georgia State Senator
Rep. Stacey Evans, Georgia House of Representatives, District 57; Evans Bowers
Rep. Soo Hong, Georgia House of Representatives, District 103; Blevins & Hong, PC
Jen Jordan, Former Georgia State Senator; The Summerville Firm
Edward Lindsey, Former Georgia State Representative and House Majority Whip; Dentons
Former Chief Justice Harold Melton, Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia; Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
Rep. Tremaine “Teddy” Reese, Georgia House of Representatives, District 140; The Reese Firm, LLC
Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, Georgia House of Representatives, District 18; Parian Lawyers

Exterior of Georgia Capitol building featuring the gold dome on a blue sky.

Gold Dome Track Part 2: From Considering a Run to Becoming a Candidate

Part 2 moved from “Why should lawyers consider public service?” to “What does it actually take to run?” Presented as a two-hour virtual candidate workshop, the program walked members through many of the practical steps involved in seeking a seat in the Georgia General Assembly. From the initial decision to become a candidate through qualifying, building a campaign organization, fundraising, engaging voters and preparing a law practice for the demands of a campaign, the workshop covered six core areas.

Together, the sessions were intended to give attorneys a realistic starting point for understanding both the political mechanics of becoming a candidate and the professional considerations unique to lawyers seeking public office.

Watch and Explore

Couldn’t attend the workshop or want to revisit a particular session? The complete Gold Dome Track Part 2 workshop is available below, along with presentation materials provided by our speakers.

Watch the Gold Dome Track Part 2 recording.

Presenter Resources

Campaign Finance & Ethics

View Presentation/Resources

Fundraising & Grassroots Organizing

View Presentation/Resources

Core Areas of Consideration

Campaign Finance & Ethics

Haley Barrett, Communications & Education Director, State Ethics Commission, provided an overview of campaign finance and ethics requirements, including the filings and reporting obligations candidates should understand before raising or spending campaign funds.

Ballot Access & Qualifying

Attorney Ryan Germany of Gilbert Harrell Sumerford & Martin, P.C., discussed candidate qualifications, residency requirements, the qualifying process, ballot names and challenges to candidate eligibility.

Building Your Campaign Structure

Jantz Womack of Womack Strategies and Mark Middleton of Middleton Public Affairs discussed the team and infrastructure behind a campaign, including the roles of campaign consultants, campaign managers, fundraisers and volunteers. They also addressed the importance of establishing why a candidate is running and developing a strategy for reaching voters.

Fundraising & Grassroots Organizing

Political strategist Tamarre Pierre discussed building a donor network, making effective fundraising asks, grassroots organizing, volunteer engagement and the importance of consistent, direct voter contact.

Connecting with Community Leaders and Organizations

Ryan Wilson of The Gathering Spot and Christopher Bruce of the ACLU of Georgia discussed the importance of building authentic community relationships before becoming a candidate. Their conversation addressed engaging stakeholders, establishing credibility and understanding the communities and issues a candidate hopes to represent.

Preparing Your Law Practice for a Campaign

Nkoyo-Ene Effiong Lewis, Director of Law Practice Management for the State Bar of Georgia, closed the substantive program with practical guidance for attorneys preparing their practices for the demands of a campaign. Topics included evaluating caseload capacity, delegating responsibilities, identifying potential conflicts, separating campaign and firm operations, communicating with clients, managing finances and preparing for the possibility of actually winning the election.

What’s Next for the Gold Dome Track?

The inaugural Gold Dome Track was only the beginning.

Building on the first year of programming and feedback from State Bar members, the Gold Dome Track will return in summer 2027 as an expanded, all-day workshop for attorneys interested in learning more about seeking public office during the 2028 election cycle.

The expanded program will continue to provide practical information for lawyers considering service in the Georgia General Assembly. At the request of members, programming will also be expanded to include attorneys interested in judicial elections and Georgia’s judicial appointment process. Additional information about the 2027 Gold Dome Track, including the date, agenda and registration details, will be announced during the State Bar’s Spring Meeting in March 2027.

The Gold Dome Track