Stephe Koontz
Stephe Koontz is the first transgender person to win a contested election in the state of Georgia[1], when she won a city council seat in Doraville GA, in November of 2017. A 32 year resident and political activist in the city, she focused on the issues, rather than her gender identity, to win by a narrow margin of 6 votes. She was also instrumental in gender identity being included as a protected class in the Doraville employee manual over a decade ago. She is proud to have broken this glass ceiling, and hopes to be a role model for transgender youth.
She is the second transgender person to hold public office in Georgia. Michelle Bruce ran unopposed in 2003 but was sued over her candidacy and lost her re-election bid when she faced an opponent.[2]