Insurance Commissioner candidate Cindy Zeldin visits Albany

ALBANY — Democratic candidate for state insurance commissioner Cindy Zeldin met supporters during a campaign stop in the city Tuesday evening. She is making her first run at public office.

Zeldin will face at least two other candidates in the Democratic primary: Tomeka Kimbrough and Janice Laws. Three Republicans — Jim Beck, Jay Florence and Shane Mobley — are lined up on the other side of the ballot.

The candidates are vying to replace outgoing Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.

“I have long been a champion for Georgia families and have committed my professional life to fighting for consumers and the changes we need to make Georgia a better place to live, work and thrive,” Zeldin said during the meet-and-greet stop at the Hilton Garden Inn. “For nearly 10 years, I have served as the executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. I understand the very real challenges that consumers are facing and have consistently worked across the aisle to secure the changes that Georgia families need.”

Zeldin, who lives in Atlanta, added she has been appointed to serve on several state-level committees, such as the Georgia Senate Consumer and Provider Protection Act Study Committee and the Governor’s Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee, and to represent Georgia consumers nationally at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. She was recently honored with the Health Advocate of the Year award by Families USA.

State Rep. Darrel Ealum, D-Albany, who arranged her visit to the city, said he thinks Zeldin would make an excellent insurance commissioner.

“Having a statewide candidate visit Albany is always special, but having Cindy Zeldin visit has been really exciting,” Ealum said. “More than 40 people came out to meet her for an election that is still over a year away. This is an open seat, and she is an outstanding candidate. With no incumbent in the race, voters will be more attentive to new concepts and new ways to ensure the department of insurance is more responsive to our constituents.

“With auto insurance sky high and the need to ensure health insurance that is affordable, Cindy will be an outstanding advocate for the people.

Zeldin holds a bachelor’s and Master of Public Health degrees from Emory University and a Master of Arts degree from The George Washington University. Prior to Georgians for a Healthy Future, she held positions in the nonprofit sector and in state government at the Georgia Department of Audits.

“When you are listening to consumers and proactively asking for input like ‘what are the trends, what do you need?’ that is how you find solutions people can agree on,” Zeldin said.