Recognition of Legislative Accomplishments

David has earned a reputation as a smart, principled fighter for common sense solutions to the problems of ordinary Georians. His work has been recognized by a wide range of professional and public interest organizations.

David has received Environmental Leadership awards from the League of Conservation Voters every year he has served in the legislature. The 2008 Environmental Leadership Award was presented to David in May.

In 2003, David was named by the Fulton County Daily Report as one of a dozen young Georgia lawyers “on the rise.” Also in 2003, David was named the "Diaper Dandy" by Creative Loafing for accomplishments during his freshman year in the Senate. In 2006 and 2007 he received recognition with an "Arnie" from Creative Loafing for his work as Democratic Whip.

David was honored by the Governor’s Council on Disabilities with its Legislative Leadership Award in 2004 for his work to protect “medically fragile” children by protecting the Katie Beckett Medicaid Waiver. Also in 2004, David received the "Hope Award" from the Partnership Against Domestic Violence for his landmark legislation protecting domestic violence shelters. David was the first legislator ever to receive that award.

For the last several years, Atlanta Magazine has recognized David as one of Georgia's Superlawyers. In 2004, NARAL Pro-choice Georgia honored David with its Pro-Choice Men Cook Award for his work defending the Constitutional rights of Georgia women. In 2005, David was recognized by Georgia Equality as Public Official of the Month. He was the first person to receive that honor.

Georgia's chapter of the National Federation of the Blind awarded David the "Sighted Guide Award" in 2005 after he passed legislation which benefited visually impaired Georgians. In 2006, David was presented with the Thomas B. Murphy Award by the Young Democrats of Georgia as Democrat of the Year. In 2007 and 2008, the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) presented David with its "Star of Life Award" for his commitment to Georgia's first responders.

In 2007, David was re-elected by his colleagues to be the Senate Democratic Whip and was appointed by Georgia's Republican Lt. Governor to be Chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs Committee. He continues those leadership positions in the 2009-2010 term. In 2009 David was recognized by the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as their Legislator of the Year. In 2010 he was named GeorgiaBio's Legislator of the Year for his work in support of the biomedical and lifesciences industry. In March 2010 he will receive the Champion of Change award from the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence for his work to protect victims of domestic violence. Over the last few years, David served as an appointee of the Chief Justice of the Georgia Surpreme Court on her Commission on Children, Marriage and Family Law.