Greg Dolezal
{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Greg Dolezal
|image = GregDolezal.png
|image_upright = 0.85
|caption = Dolezal at a debate in 2018
|office = Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 27th district
|term_end =
|predecessor = Michael Williams
|successor =
|birth_name = Gregory Robert Dolezal
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|10|01}}
|birth_place =
|alma_mater = North Park University (2001)
|party = Republican
|occupation = Politician, entrepreneur, business owner{{cite web |title=Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal |url=http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=4925&Session=27 |website=Georgia State Senate |accessdate=February 26, 2019}}
|residence = Cumming, Georgia, U.S.
}}
Gregory Robert Dolezal (born October 1, 1978) is an American politician who is currently serving as the Georgia state senator for the 27th district in Cumming, Georgia.{{cite web |last1=Whitmire |first1=Kelly |title=What Greg Dolezal remembers most about his first week in the state Senate |url=https://www.forsythnews.com/local/state-government/what-greg-dolezal-remembers-most-about-his-first-week-state-senate/ |publisher=Forsyth County News |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203115136/https://www.forsythnews.com/local/state-government/what-greg-dolezal-remembers-most-about-his-first-week-state-senate/ |archivedate=February 3, 2019 |date=January 22, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Popp |first1=Alexander |title=Greg Dolezal handily defeats challenger for District 27 seat in state Senate |url=https://www.forsythnews.com/local/state-government/greg-dolezal-handily-defeats-challenger-district-27-seat-state-senate/ |publisher=Forsyth County News |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116033358/https://www.forsythnews.com/local/state-government/greg-dolezal-handily-defeats-challenger-district-27-seat-state-senate/ |archivedate=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live |date=November 7, 2018}}
Life and career
Dolezal grew up in Joliet, Illinois. He graduated from North Park University in 2001 with degrees in business administration and communication studies; he had planned to attend law school but instead moved to Atlanta, where he worked at North Point Community Church and began doing video production work for Louie Giglio's Passion Conferences.
He also worked for eleven years as tour manager for Christian musician Chris Tomlin.
Previously, Dolezal served as a member of the Forsyth County Planning Commission, Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, Impact Fee Committee, and Transportation Plan Steering Committee. After writing an open letter accusing then-Commissioner Brian Tam, whom Dolezal would run against in the 2018 primary, of "releasing false and misleading information," the commission voted to deny a motion to extend Dolezal's term on the Planning Commission.{{cite web |title=Dolezal removed from Planning commission after exposing Commissioner |url=http://www.sharonsprings.info/dolezal-removed-from-planning-commission-after-exposing-commissioner |website=Sharon Springs Alliance |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |date=November 12, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Sturgeon |first1=Kathleen |title=BOC denies planning commission member request |url=https://issuu.com/appen-inc/docs/11182015_forsyth_herald |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |work=Forsyth Herald |date=November 18, 2015}}
Dolezal initially announced his candidacy for the Georgia Senate on June 5, 2017.{{cite web |title=Greg Dolezal announces campaign for District 27 |url=https://www.northfulton.com/archives/greg-dolezal-announces-campaign-for-district/article_cb1972ff-624a-5501-8103-e4b4c961b5d3.html |website=northfulton.com |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210103025538/https://www.northfulton.com/archives/greg-dolezal-announces-campaign-for-district/article_cb1972ff-624a-5501-8103-e4b4c961b5d3.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |url-status=live |date=June 13, 2017}} The next year, he defeated Democratic challenger Steve Smith in the 2018 elections by a wide margin. He is a conservative and favors funding for building new schools, is against tax increases, and wants to expand county roads.
In February 2019, then-Georgia Senate Majority Whip Steve Gooch named Dolezal as deputy whip; Dolezal stated he was "humbled by the trust that Senator Gooch has placed in me."{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Elisabeth |title=Sen. Greg Dolezal Appointed as Deputy Whip |url=http://senatepress.net/sen-greg-dolezal-appointed-as-deputy-whip.html#more-8923 |publisher=Georgia Senate Press Office |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226230116/http://senatepress.net/sen-greg-dolezal-appointed-as-deputy-whip.html |archivedate=February 26, 2019 |url-status=live |date=February 14, 2019}} Dolezal also is Vice Chair of the Science and Technology Committee and a member of the Education and Youth Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee, the Government Oversight Committee, and the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee.
In December 2020, Dolezal signed a petition supporting the right of the Georgia General Assembly to overrule the outcome of democratic elections within the state.{{Cite news|last=Journal-Constitution|first=Greg Bluestein-The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionJames Salzer- The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionMark Niesse- The Atlanta|title=In Georgia, 'concerted' GOP pushback blocks Trump attempts to overturn election|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/in-georgia-concerted-gop-pushback-blocks-trump-attempts-to-overturn-election/WCRIAROVEZADVLEL5Q6QHY6UFU/|access-date=December 8, 2020|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=English}}
In January 2024, Dolezal co-sponsored S.B.{{nbsp}}390, which would withhold government funding for any libraries in Georgia affiliated with the American Library Association;{{cite web |title=SB 390 |url=https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/66273 |publisher=Georgia General Assembly |access-date=25 January 2024}} the bill states that the organization "has used the librarian certification process to promote its ideology",{{cite news |last1=Tagami |first1=Ty |title=Georgia GOP senators target American Library Association with new bill |url=https://www.ajc.com/education/georgia-gop-senators-target-american-library-association-with-new-bill/QNJGABPZC5AOVNEAJKCVOJUW5Q/ |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=January 25, 2024}} and was drafted following the election of ALA president Emily Drabinski and a social media post in which she called herself a "Marxist lesbian".{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=Top librarian calls 'Marxist lesbian' tweet backlash 'regrettable' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/american-library-association-president-marxist-lesbian-rcna98254 |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=NBC News |language=en}}
Dolezal is a founder and partner at Forsyth County-based technology company Renewed Vision, which was founded in 2000{{cite web |title=About Renewed Vision |url=https://renewedvision.com/about-renewed-vision/ |publisher=Renewed Vision |accessdate=February 27, 2019}} and makes live production software called ProPresenter{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Stan |title=2012 London Olympics Venues Use University Graduate's Software Company |url=https://www.northpark.edu/stories/2012-london-olympics-venues-use-university-graduates-software-company/ |publisher=North Park University |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |date=July 27, 2012}} used by megachurches, the International Olympic Committee, Chick-fil-A,{{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Leigh |title=2017 Culture Shapers: The Tech Mastermind, Greg Dolezal |url=https://www.rejuvenatemeetings.com/feature/greg-dolezal/ |website=Connect Faith |accessdate=February 27, 2019 |date=October 5, 2017}} and Mercedes-Benz.{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Stan |title=NPU Grad Oversees 'Massive Massive' Technological Feat at CHIC |url=https://covenantcompanion.com/2018/07/19/npu-grad-oversees-massive-massive-technological-feat-at-chic/ |publisher=Covenant Companion |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |location=Knoxville |date=July 19, 2018}} He is also an owner and board member of Catalyst Nutraceuticals{{cite web |title=Meet Greg |url=http://www.dolezalforsenate.com/copy-of-meet-greg |website=Conservative Greg Dolezal |accessdate=February 26, 2019}} and a founder of Passion City Church.
Elections
=Primary and general elections, 2018=
In 2018, Dolezal faced two opponents in the Republican primary elections for Georgia State Senate district 27; the other challengers were Bill Fielder and Brian Tam. On May 22, Dolezal won the primary with 59% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Georgia Election Results, General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election, May 22, 2018 |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/74658/Web02-state.206999/#/cid/42710 |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=July 15, 2019}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Primary election results for Georgia State Senate district 27, 2018
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Greg Dolezal
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 14,770
| percentage = 59.04
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bill Fielder
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,071
| percentage = 16.27
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brian Tam
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,177
| percentage = 24.69
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 25,018
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
In the general election in November, Dolezal was challenged by Democratic candidate Steve Smith for Michael Williams' seat, but Dolezal ultimately defeated Smith with over 70% of ballots cast.{{cite web |title=Georgia Election Results, General Election, November 6, 2018 |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/91639/Web02-state.221451/#/cid/42700 |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=July 15, 2019}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election results for Georgia State Senate district 27, 2018
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Greg Dolezal
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 66,054
| percentage = 72.64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steve Smith
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 24,883
| percentage = 27.36
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 90,937
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Greg Dolezal lives in Forsyth County with his wife and four children.{{cite news|last=Barker|first=John|title=Cumming's Sen. Greg Dolezal Sworn Into Office|url=https://patch.com/georgia/cumming/cummings-sen-greg-dolezal-sworn-office |accessdate=November 18, 2019|newspaper=Patch|date=January 15, 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Georgia State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dolezal, Greg}}
Category:Republican Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators
Category:North Park University alumni
Category:People from Cumming, Georgia
Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly