When Kim New\u2019s father ran for county commissioner in her childhood, she found herself knocking on doors to drum up votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The early introduction to politics fueled her drive to one day serve. The second-generation car dealer and newest member of the Georgia Independent Automobile Dealers Association Hall of Fame is in her freshman term in the Georgia General Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have always wanted to be of service,\u201d New said. \u201cI\u2019ve done things adjacent. GIADA filled my cup to work in my industry and give back. In the community, I\u2019m a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, which raises money for St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital. I\u2019ve always wanted to be in politics since I was a little girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is my freshman year and I\u2019ve had a wonderful time. It really is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New and fellow independent car dealers Sam Harless of Spring, Texas, and Andy Zay of Huntington, Ind., are balancing running their dealerships with serving their states in the legislature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard because you\u2019re gone so much. We\u2019re a part-time legislature, where we meet for 140 days every two years. But last session we had three special sessions and this year two. It takes you away from your business a lot,\u201d Harless said. \u201cFortunately, we have great employees to pick up the load when you\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the work at the capitol follows them back to their hometown for the meetings, appearances and constituency work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“When you\u2019re home, you\u2019re constantly doing political work, whether it\u2019s networking with some of your colleagues, local elected officials,\u201d Zay said. \u201cYou understand what\u2019s needed to provide the best constituent service and to have the best public service we can in Indiana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But knowing they are impacting their community and helping individuals, many of whom are or have been their customers, and working to make it better is worth the heavy workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou make sacrifices, but it\u2019s very worthwhile,\u201d Harless said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n