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The Town Square PodcastAuthor: Trey Bailey, Gabriel Stovall
Not just another podcast, but a place to meet in the messy middle and have difficult discussions with transparency and diplomacy where the outcome is unity, not uniformity.The primary topics will be the local interests of Newton County, Georgia residents and those in the surrounding community. Language: en-us Genres: News, News Commentary, Politics Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Jodi Lewis: Affordability, Advocacy & Accountability | Candidate Conversations — Episode 89
Tuesday, 12 May, 2026
In this episode of The Town Square Podcast, hosts Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue the Candidate Conversations series with Jodi Lewis, candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives in District 118.District 118 includes the south side of Newton County, extends down Highway 36 into BOE/BOC District 1, includes all of Butts County, and covers much of Monroe County. It is a geographically large and politically diverse district — one that Lewis says deserves active representation, clear communication, and leadership that is willing to listen across party lines.Lewis introduced herself as a Newton County homeowner, mother, entrepreneur, and first-time candidate. She moved to Covington in 2017, bought her first home in 2020, and has three daughters, including a bonus daughter serving in the United States Navy. She shared that her maiden name is actually Covington, joking that when she moved to Georgia, the city seemed to be “calling her name.”Professionally, Lewis brings a background in criminal justice, counseling, marketing, communications, and entrepreneurship. She earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Fayetteville State University, followed by two master’s degrees — one in professional counseling and another in public relations and marketing. After working in the mental health field, she transitioned into marketing and launched her own firm in 2012.Lewis said her work has included marketing strategy, legal case amplification, advocacy communications, and organizing one of the largest Caribbean-themed cruises. She also shared that her company was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses in 2024 and won recognition for a healthcare marketing campaign tied to breast cancer research.When asked why she decided to run, Lewis said she was initially contacted by an organization called The Fighting 50, which encouraged her to consider public office. After conversations with the organization and her family, she began to see the campaign as a natural extension of work she had already been doing — advocacy, communications, problem-solving, and public engagement.Her family’s support helped solidify the decision. Lewis said her daughters and parents reminded her of the work she had already done, the countries she had traveled to, the businesses she had built, and the advocacy she had been part of. That encouragement pushed her to step into the race.Lewis also said she did not believe any candidate — Democrat or Republican — should simply be handed the opportunity to represent a district. In her view, public office should be earned through listening, engagement, and work.Throughout the conversation, Lewis returned often to a central theme: people want to be heard.As she has campaigned across the district, Lewis said the response has been encouraging. She described voters as excited that someone is knocking on doors, asking questions, and giving them an opportunity to share their concerns. Even when people disagree with her politically, she said many have still been willing to engage.The top issues she said she is hearing from voters include healthcare costs, housing affordability, property taxes, and the rising cost of everyday life.Lewis said many residents moved to communities like Newton, Butts, and Monroe counties to avoid the high cost of living found closer to Atlanta. But as housing prices rise and new homes are built in the $400,000 to $500,000 range, some residents are beginning to feel those same financial pressures following them.She connected those concerns personally to her own daughters, saying young adults are beginning to wonder whether they will ever be able to afford homes of their own.When asked how she would approach affordable housing from the state level, Lewis said she brings what she described as a common-sense and analytical mindset. She argued that complex problems require more than slogans and that elected officials should focus less on claiming credit for legislation and more on whether policies actually improve people’s lives.Lewis emphasized that she is not a career politician and said she believes politics has too often become like a football game, with each side more focused on winning for its team than solving problems for the people watching from the stands.Her background in communications also shaped much of the conversation. District 118, as Trey noted, is politically diverse and now leans Republican after redistricting. Lewis, running as a Democrat, said reaching voters across that landscape requires more than speeches and campaign talking points. It requires communication, explanation, and relationship-building.She argued that many elected officials need stronger communication skills, especially when it comes to explaining complicated policy decisions to everyday voters. Lewis said voters may not always know the name or number of a bill, but when the issue is explained clearly, they often have thoughtful opinions about it.One of the strongest moments in the episode came when Lewis shared a story about meeting two Republican women at City Pharmacy restaurant on the Covington Square. After introducing herself as a candidate, Lewis said the women told her they were Republicans. Her response was that she wanted to talk with them and better understand their perspective.That conversation continued beyond dinner, eventually moving to their home, where they talked for hours. Lewis said they did not agree on every issue, but they better understood one another’s experiences and perspectives by the end of the conversation.For Lewis, that kind of exchange represents what politics should look like: honest, respectful, curious, and focused on finding shared concerns.That story fit naturally with the mission of The Town Square Podcast — stepping into the messy middle, not to force agreement, but to create understanding.The discussion then moved into affordability, taxes, and the balance between growth and responsibility. Lewis said she believes growth can be good for communities when it is planned strategically and produces a return on investment. As an entrepreneur, she said she understands that growth should eventually help pay for itself.At the same time, she pushed back against simplistic arguments around taxes. Lewis said she would love to eliminate taxes, but basic community needs — roads, schools, public safety, and services — still have to be funded. The issue, in her view, is not simply whether taxes exist, but whether government is using public dollars wisely and producing results for the people.Education became one of the most passionate parts of the conversation.Lewis said success for students in District 118 means opportunity — not just in one form, but holistic opportunity for every student. She talked about literacy, safety, mental health, workforce readiness, school funding, and accountability.She shared that she pulled her youngest daughter out of a Newton County high school because of concerns about safety, mental health support, and disruptions that affected her ability to focus. Her daughter is now graduating a year early, working full-time, and exploring entrepreneurship.Lewis said Georgia must be willing to learn from places that have improved literacy outcomes, including Mississippi, which has been widely discussed for its major improvements in reading achievement. She said the state should be humble enough to study what works elsewhere and apply those lessons.A major part of the education conversation focused on Georgia’s school funding formula, often referred to as the QBE formula, which was created in the 1980s. Trey noted that the formula dates back to a very different era — a time before modern school technology, today’s safety concerns, and many of the current expectations placed on public schools.Lewis said it troubles her when elected officials talk about the need to update the formula but have been in positions to help change it for years. If elected, she said she would want to understand why it has not been updated and what barriers are preventing reform.She also questioned whether Georgia should be proud of large budget surpluses when schools, healthcare, and families are still struggling. Lewis argued that a surplus should not be treated only as a bragging point if the state is not adequately meeting the needs of children and families.The conversation then shifted to one of the most personal and powerful parts of Lewis’s public advocacy work: Miya’s Law.Lewis explained that she became involved after receiving a call that a young woman named Miya Marcano was missing. Miya’s father was connected to the Caribbean cruise community that Lewis helps organize. Initially, Lewis stepped in to help manage media attention and organize information so the family could focus on finding Miya.Miya was later found deceased. Lewis described the grief of sitting with Miya’s family and the immediate conviction that something had to change so other families would not experience the same tragedy.Lewis helped support the family in launching the Miya Marcano Foundation, raising awareness around missing persons cases, and advocating for stronger tenant safety laws. She described helping families understand what to do when a loved one goes missing, assisting with media outreach, and pushing law enforcement to take cases seriously.Miya’s Law focuses on tenant safety, including longer notice before apartment entry, stronger background checks for employees entering units, and better logs of who enters apartments and why. Lewis said versions of the law passed in Florida, Nevada, and Virginia, and that she would like to see similar tenant protections pursued in Georgia.When asked what that advocacy taught her about legislating, Lewis said it showed her the importance of understanding the process, identifying key players, and being willing to work across party lines. She said sometimes getting something done may require allowing someone else’s name to appear on a bill if that is what helps it pass.For Lewis, the point is not political credit. The point is impact.She also spoke about the role of public communication in getting legislation passed. In her advocacy work, Lewis said public awareness helped create pressure and momentum. She argued that when people understand an issue and care about it, they can help move lawmakers to act.As the conversation moved toward closing, Gabriel asked Lewis how she would turn individual conversations — like the one she had with Republican voters at City Pharmacy — into a long-term way of representing a diverse district.Lewis said the answer starts with authenticity, openness, curiosity, and a willingness to sit down with people. She said she wants to understand why people believe what they believe, even when they disagree with her. She also emphasized focusing on issues that directly affect District 118 rather than allowing national political fights to distract from local concerns.For Lewis, the issues facing District 118 are practical: affordability, housing costs, healthcare, property taxes, school safety, law enforcement support, and community trust.She closed by encouraging voters to learn more about her by visiting her campaign website, following her on social media, or simply searching her name online. She said she welcomes questions, challenges, accountability, and direct conversation from voters.Lewis made clear that she is “in it to win it,” but also said she is in it to work. She described the opportunity to potentially represent District 118 as an honor and said she wants to earn the support of voters.As with every Candidate Conversations episode, the goal of this conversation is not to tell listeners who to vote for. The goal is to give voters a clearer picture of the person asking to represent them — their story, their priorities, their leadership style, and their approach to public service.Jodi Lewis website: https://jodilewisforgeorgia.comElection Day for the primary is May 19, and as Trey reminded listeners, May matters.Episode SponsorsThe Appalachia Group InsuranceThis episode of The Town Square Podcast is sponsored by The Appalachia Group Insurance. Bobby Stephens and his partner Matt McLane are licensed in Georgia and Tennessee and bring more than 36 years of combined insurance experience. As an independent agency, they are not limited to one carrier, which allows them to shop for coverage that fits the needs of each client.They offer auto, home, life, commercial, and special event insurance coverage.Contact: Bobby StephensPhone: 770-728-1880Email: bobby@appgroupins.comRelevant IT ServicesThis episode is also sponsored by Relevant IT Services, which partners with businesses and nonprofits to improve productivity, cybersecurity, and technology systems. Relevant IT helps with computers, networks, printers, phone systems, cybersecurity training, remote work solutions, and multi-location technology support.Listeners can schedule a free assessment and mention The Town Square Podcast for 25% off onboarding.Phone:470-864-4037Website:relevantitservices.com
