Eight Georgia lawmakers representing the area were rated by the Washington-based American Conservative Union in its inaugural ratings of the Georgia General Assembly during an event in Atlanta honoring the Peach State’s conservatives, the union announced Tuesday in a news release.

Legislators were grouped into different categories based on their conservative values and their voting records.

Receiving the Defender of Liberty award were District 56 State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, who represents part of Sandy Springs, and District 54 State Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, who represents parts of Buckhead andSandy Springs. The honor goes to members of the Georgia General Assembly who were present and cast a vote for each adjudicated roll call and scored 100 percent on the union’s 2012 ratings.

Winning the ACU Conservative award, given to those members who scored 80 percent or higher, were District 32 State Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, who represents part of Sandy Springs; District 48 State Rep. Harry Geisinger, R-Roswell, who represents part of Sandy Springs; District 52 State Rep. Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, who represents parts of Buckhead and Sandy Springs, and District 49 State Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs, who represents part of Sandy Springs.

Local legislators who scored a “zero” on the ratings earned True Liberals of the Peach State awards were District 39 State Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, who represents part of Buckhead, and District 55 State Rep. Rashad Taylor, D-Atlanta, who represents part of Buckhead.

“On behalf of the American Conservative Union, I am pleased to present our 2012 State Legislative Ratings for members of the Georgia General Assembly,” said ACU chair Al Cardenas. “For 40 years ACU has set the gold standard for Congressional ratings, and we are now able to offer that same level of unbiased and transparent information to the voters of thePeachStateso they can hold their elected officials accountable at the state level as well.”

The 2012 Georgia Legislative Ratings Guide is now available online at www.conservative.org.