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| The Voice of Towne Lake | |
The Flagship of Around Town Community Magazines | July 2008 |
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Sen Chip Rogers- The Public Part of Public Service
by State Senator Chip RogersProtecting one’s children is the most natural instinct of fatherhood. The God given desire to help prepare them for becoming an adult, fulfilling their ever-changing needs, and setting a “Fatherly” example all fall in behind the primary responsibility of protection.Three years ago, I decided to take on an issue filled with controversy; illegal immigration. Going in I knew the usual name-calling would ensue. Most assuredly, those who profit from illegal employment would characterize me in every negative light, so as to not debate the issue at hand. I recall one such public event where I was called a racist, non- Christian and child hater in a period of less than 30 minutes. This occurred simply because I suggested our immigration laws might actually be enforced. None of this affected me personally, as I had grown up in a color-blind family, never caring about another’s skin pigmentation, had become a Christian at the age of nine, and had four children of my own whom I love more than life itself. My kids don’t read the newspaper, so even if a reporter thought to print all these personal attacks it didn’t cause much concern. This all changed in early 2006. In the midst of crafting what would become the nation’s first and most comprehensive state law on illegal immigration, the namecalling turned to real-life threats. I went from being a lawmaker in the middle of a public controversy to a father dealing with his worst fear — the safety of his family. In an effort to intimidate me, the major Latino newspaper in Atlanta went so far as to publish a photo of my home and a map to where it was located. The nature of the threats against my family and me necessitated law enforcement protection. Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office were parked outside our home 24 hours a day for 3 consecutive weeks. I never will be able to repay them for the sense of security they gave my wife and me. But I will also never be the same when it comes to my public life and my family. I recall phoning my wife almost every hour that first week or so, anxiously counting the number of times the phone would ring until I could hear her voice and know everything was okay. As a father, the fear of safety for your family is gut wrenching. We are here to protect, not endanger, our loved ones. My thoughts of serving in public office had never included this. How was it that my desire to make Georgia a better place for my children’s future had now turned into fear for what may happen to my children today? I now can admit two years later that the idea of quitting crossed my mind a few times. Nothing I could ever accomplish in public life would be worth it if any of my family were injured. The fear of that time period led to a change in my openness and a change in me as a father. Where once I had published my home address and phone numbers anywhere, I immediately became very cautious about giving anyone our personal information. Today, our children remain involved in a wide range of local activities, but I never bring up my job unless someone already knows about it and asks questions. Recently, the issue of my children’s schooling was brought up in the media. My response was direct and perhaps indignant. I was quoted as saying what my wife and I did with our children was no one’s business. I urged the local newspapers to please leave my kids out of public policy debates. I still believe this, but realize I should have handled it in a much better manner. Those who have known me for years were concerned about the coldness of my response to this issue. If my answers offended anyone, I apologize. Sincerely, apologize. I chose to offer myself for public service and remain humbled every day by the opportunity to represent 185,000 of the finest Georgians at the Capitol in Atlanta. However, the balance between public life and public service has been more of a struggle than I first considered. I imagine a lot of dads struggle to balance the professional life with the family life. The legislating part of my job has been demanding, but after six years, I seem to have a good grasp on getting things done. The attempt to draw that perfect line between public service and family life is something I’m still working on. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get there, but I imagine I’ll always err on the side of being a dad first. Finally, “thank you” to the publishers of this magazine. Having the opportunity to share my thoughts on legislation, community issues, and even my struggles as a dad is something I don’t take for granted. Hearing from the readers every month means more to me than you will ever know.
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Chip Rogers is the State Senator for District 21. You can call him at (770) 516-0543 or fax him at (770) 936-1967. You may also e-mail Chip at 
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