Valencia Stovall is an Independent state representative in the Georgia House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2012. She is an Independent candidate for the 2020 U.S. Senate Special Election race in Georgia.
Early years
Valencia Stovall was raised in Southeast Atlanta with her two sisters by parents Lovett and Nancy Stovall. She attended Benteen Elementary School and Southside High School where she received the Coca-Cola Fanta Sports Award for excellence in basketball. She also played softball, and ran track. Valencia studied business administration at Fort Valley State College and management at Georgia State University. She first got involved in politics through her father Lovett Stovall who was a part of President Jimmy Carter's Peanut Brigade. He also was a key component in the elections of Atlanta Mayors Maynard H. Jackson and Shirley Franklin.
Family Business
Valencia's mother and father started a T-shirt printing business in 1983 which later became Stovall's T-shirts. For 30 years the commercial printing business contracted with public and private educational institutions, 100 plus businesses, over 75 athletic teams, 200 plus family reunions with a minimum of 100 members, over 50 civic organizations, over 100 religious organizations that has 100 plus membership, and over 50 governmental agencies, conducted training classes in printing and business development to local residents, and operated multiple retail stores across Metro Atlanta. In 1991, Stovall's Enterprises entered into a joint venture contract with Facility Merchandising Inc. to oversee retail development and merchandising operations for the Georgia Dome. For 14 years FMI-Stovall managed the retail operations for the NFL Atlanta Falcons, SEC Championship Games, two NFL Super Bowls, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Atlanta Hawks, Motorsport Events, The Rolling Stones, and U2. FMI-Stovall also managed the retail and parking operations for the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. Stovall Enterprises, Inc. also managed retail operations for the University of Georgia Stanford Stadium, Coco Cola/Lakewood Amphitheater, and Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.
Philanthropic Involvement
Valencia served as the Board Chair of Scholars Academy Special State Charter School which she restructured the organization through strategic planning, lead real estate acquisition and development, directed financial and legal negotiations, implemented growth capital programs, ensured personnel restructuring and development, re-engineered business processes, instilled urgency for financial discipline, and capitalized on growth opportunities with local community partners. She also served as the Executive Board Member for the Atlanta Council of PTA’s in which she oversaw the executive financial operation and development for 90 schools. For two years she served as the co-founder of the Morrow Community Fall Festival which drew over 5,000 attendees to this unity in the community event.
Georgia General Assembly
Stovall is the Vice Chairman of the Clayton County Delegation, Secretary of the Clayton State University Dean of Arts & Science Advisory Committee, Commissioner on Governor Nathan Deal's Education Reform Commission, and member of the Georgia Quality Rated Advisory Committee. She is a 2015 Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellow and was recognized as a Woman in Politics Making A Difference by the National Council of State Governments.
Committee Assignments
Stovall currently serves on the following committees:
