Ken Britt, the retired executive director of Atlanta's Alston & Bird law firm, announced today he is running for the state House seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Kathy Ashe who recently announced she is retiring from her post after serving 10 terms.

“I have been encouraged to run for this office, and I would be honored to serve the people of the 56th District in the Georgia House of Representatives,” Britt said in a prepared statement.

“This would be a natural next step for me given my lifelong engagement in local, state and national politics. The new district includes great Atlanta neighborhoods with big plans and big needs. I look forward to using the extensive business experience I acquired working as the executive director of one of the nation’s largest and most respected law firms, as well as the passion of an activist, to make things happen," he added.

Ashe, a gay ally, recently announced her retirement due to "polarization' within the General Assembly. District 56 includes gay-favorite neighborhoods including Ansley Park, Sherwood Forest, Home Park, Georgia Tech and Midtown. Her term expires in January.

Britt's announcement that he is running for office means he will be taking a step into the political limelight rather than staying in the background working as a strategist such as he did on the successful 2009 campaign for Atlanta City Council member Alex Wan, the only gay member of the council; and Joan Garner, who became the first openly gay Fulton County Commissioner in 2010.

As a U.S. Army veteran, Britt also worked on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." At a Service Members Legal Defense Network fundraiser last yeari in Atlanta, Britt donated his personal and original copy of the document signed by President Barack Obama repealing the anti-gay policy.

From a press release announcing Britt's campaign:

Britt was a member of the 2010 Coordinated Campaign Committee for the Democratic Party of Georgia, which was chaired by former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. During the 2011 Georgia legislative session, Britt served as a full-time legislative volunteer which provided him with the opportunity to hone his advocacy skills while further learning first-hand about the inner workings of the legislature.
 
He serves on the board of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; the Georgia Democratic Party State Committee; and as an Ambassador for the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Britt is also a member of the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund, a collaboration of the United Way and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, where he has helped to ensure funding for HIV prevention activities that impact minority women and youth. He was most recently appointed to serve as a Community Liaison Representative for Congressman John Lewis’ 2012 re-election Campaign.
 
Britt formerly served on the Boards of the Midtown Alliance, CHRIS Kids, AID Atlanta, The Atlanta Opera, the Human Rights Campaign, and Georgia Equality, among others. He was also Vice Chair of the Human Relations Commission of the City of Atlanta. He is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta (1996) and of the Midtown Leadership Program (1993). Britt is a Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973.
 
In March 2011, Britt was recognized for his community service by the Georgia House of Representatives with Resolution 647. He also is the recipient of CHRIS Kids’ CHRIStal Vision Award (2010) and, at the time of his early retirement from Alston & Bird, was honored by that firm with the establishment of the Kenneth F. Britt Award for Community Service (2009). Some of the other awards Britt has received include the Center for Democratic Renewal, Angel for Justice Award (2005); the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Georgia Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year (2001); the (first) AID Atlanta Kenneth F. Britt Annual Honors Service Award (2000); and the Human Rights Campaign Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award (1999).
 
Britt’s campaign website is www.KenBritt.org. Campaign contributions may be made to “Friends of Ken Britt,” and mailed to 145 15th Street, N.E., #1201, Atlanta, GA. 30309. Campaign e-mail address: [email protected]

There are four openly gay candidates in the Georgia House: Reps. Karla Drenner, Simone Bell, Rashad Taylor and Keisha Waites. All are Democrats.

In the video below, Britt discusses the help the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides to Atlanta gay candidates seeking office.