Marty Kemp
Marty Kemp | |
|---|---|
 Kemp in 2019 | |
| First Lady of Georgia | |
Current | |
| Assumed role January 14, 2019 | |
| Governor | Brian Kemp |
| Preceded by | Sandra Deal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marty Argo May 4, 1967 [1] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Brian Kemp (m. 1994) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Bob Argo (father) |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia (BS) |
Marty Kemp (née Argo; born May 4, 1967) is the first lady of Georgia as the wife of the 83rd governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp. She leads initiatives and advocates for the passing of legislation to combat human trafficking and support youth victims of sex trafficking.
Early life
[edit]Kemp was born to state representative Bob Argo.[2] Her hometown is Athens, Georgia.[3] Her childhood best friend was Julie Kemp, the sister of her future husband, Brian Kemp.[3] She graduated from Clarke Central High School.[3] Kemp earned a bachelor's degree in consumer economics at the University of Georgia in 1989.[3] She was a cheerleader in college.[3]
Career
[edit]After college, Kemp managed her parents travel agency and worked as the bookkeeper for her husband's construction company.[3] She was also a pre-kindergarten teacher and substitute.[3] Kemp became a full-time parent when her children were young.[3]
During the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, she campaigned on her husband's behalf. She used a softer tone than her husband.[3]
Kemp had legislative experience as the daughter of state representative.[4] She began a public initiative to raise awareness and combat human trafficking after her husband took office in 2019.[5] In 2019, she co-chairs the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education (GRACE) commission that her husband established.[6][4]
In January 2020, Kemp collaborated with filmmaker Tyler Perry to create a public service announcement about human trafficking awareness in partnership with the Georgia Department of Administrative Services.[7] In 2020, she expedited the plans for the establishment of the Receiving Hope Center, a youth sex trafficking victims recovery center, in northwest Georgia.[8] Kemp worked with lawmakers to write and promote human trafficking legislation.[9] By February 2022, the state had unanimously passed six pieces of related legislation.[5]
In 2021, Kemp advocated for pet adoption.[10] In April 2022, former football player Malcolm Mitchell published a children's book, Hey Georgia, in collaboration with Kemp.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Kemp is Episcopalian.[3] She began dating Brian Kemp after college.[3] They have three daughters.[3] The family resides on a 41-acre lot in Athens and Clarke counties purchased by her father the day she was born.[2]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Governor Brian P. Kemp [@GovKemp] (May 4, 2020). "I ask all Georgians to join me in wishing @GAFirstLady a Happy Birthday! Marty is an incredible wife, mother, and relentless advocate for Georgia's most vulnerable. She and the girls are my rock in these uncertain times, and I couldn't ask for a better partner at my side! #gapol" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Brett 2018, p. A1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Brett 2018, p. A17.
- ^ a b Murphy 2021, p. B6.
- ^ a b Campbell 2022.
- ^ May 2019.
- ^ Jones 2020.
- ^ Ellis 2020, p. A10.
- ^ The Atlanta Constitution 2021, p. A4.
- ^ AllOnGeorgia 2021.
- ^ Albany Herald 2022.
Bibliography
[edit]- Brett, Jennifer (7 December 2018). ""I'm just Marty." A visit with Georgia's low-key future first lady". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- Ellis, Nicquel Terry (2020-02-09). "Georgia's first lady takes on sex trafficking". The Journal News. pp. A10. Retrieved 2022-05-04 – via newspapers.com.
- Campbell, Sarah Fay (February 4, 2022). "Georgia's first lady fighting human trafficking". The Newnan Times-Herald. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- May, Jed (August 8, 2019). "GRACE commission led by Kemp tries to thwart human trafficking". OnlineAthens. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- Jones, Alex (2020-08-30). "Tyler Perry teams with Ga. First Lady Marty Kemp for human trafficking PSA". WTOC-TV. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- Murphy, Patricia (2021-02-21). "How first lady put human trafficking on Ga.'s agenda". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. B6. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- "Human trafficking bills put first lady on stage". The Atlanta Constitution. 2021-05-02. pp. A4. Retrieved 2022-05-04 – via newspapers.com.
- "First Lady Marty Kemp Announces Adoption Groups and Georgia Grown Vendors Attending Pet Adoption Day and Georgia Grown Festival". AllOnGeorgia. 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- "Former Falcon, state first lady collaborate on children's book". Albany Herald. April 13, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-04.