18 | May 12, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Fulton County Elections: Meet the candidates Seat: Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Candidates: Robb Pitts (Incumbent),
Sonya Russell, Jewel Johnson
Note: Rob Pitts and Jewel Johnson did not submit responses to Appen Media’s questionnaire.
Profile: Tell readers a little about yourself.
Russell: I am a 25-year law enforcement leader, who now owns a small business. Served 10 years at the APD, and 15 as a federal agent before retiring. I am a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother and I’m ready to give Fulton County a fresh start.
RUSSELL
Question 1: What do you see as the county’s greatest challenge near-term, and have you any ideas on how to address it? Russell: The greatest challenge will be to unite the county: north, south and Atlanta in between. While doing this, we must work to reduce crime so people feel safe to go to school, go to work, and improve their quality of life. I believe my background in law enforcement makes me uniquely qualified to work collaboratively with all the different law-enforcement agencies and social organizations to prevent crime and achieve our overall goal: to improve the quality of life in Fulton County for everyone. I will establish new and improved cooperative partner-
ships in the private and public sector to achieve these goals. Question 2: Which policy or project facing the Board do you feel most passionate about, and how will you work to pass/complete it? Russell: The Board under the current chairman has shown a failure of leadership. There is no election director; the chairman misapplied federal rescue dollars, and he was recently scolded by a judge for passing an unlawful election rule (that was overturned). On day one i will introduce a measure to clean up corruption and provide open, transparent leadership. From talking to constituents and local city councils, developing K-8 STEM/STEAM home zoned schools that feed into schools like Innovation Academy and Global Impact Magnet high schools as well enriching our existing middle and high schools with some elements of those magnet schools would be very attractive to keeping and increasing enrollment. Question 3: With rising costs of living making many voters’ everyday lives more expensive, what would you do to promote economic stability in Fulton County? Russell: A Chairman Sonya Russell will reintroduce the Rescue Implementation Plan that the current chairman refused to support. It allows for millions in home mortgage assistance, summer youth jobs and training and provides small businesses with grants to help them come out of the pandemic fiscally strong. I will not only talk about helping our businesses during election season; I will work every day to promote economic stability in Fulton County.
Seat: Georgia Senate District 48
Democrat Josh Uddin is running unopposed in the primary. Party: Republican Candidates: Kevin Grindlay, Shawn Still
Note: Kevin Grindlay did not submit responses to Appen Media’s questionnaire. Profile: Tell readers a little about yourself.
Still: Shawn is a 20-year resident of Johns Creek, successful entrepreneur, and father of three girls, who currently serves Finance Chair of the Georgia Republican Party. He employees STILL over 100 Georgians through the largest pool plastering company in the Southeast. Question 1: What do you see as your district’s greatest challenge nearterm, and have you any ideas on how to address it? Still: The issues in my district vary by county, in Fulton County, the two largest issues that I plan to address as your next State Senator is improving infrastructure to accommodate the influx of traffic and addressing the stormwater runoff issues across the county. I believe that my prior experience in the pool construction industry and with the
Atlanta Regional Commission makes me uniquely qualified to address the stormwater runoff issue. I will work with local jurisdictions on improving existing watersheds, and I will work tirelessly with the state and Army Corp of Engineers for any available funding to improve infrastructure. Question 2: Which policy or project facing the House do you feel most passionate about, and how will you work to pass/complete it? Still: Senate Bill 202, which was passed during the 2022 legislative session, was a good start on addressing election integrity. However, it fell short by not eliminating election drop boxes. In the State Senate, I plan to revisit the issue of election integrity to eliminate election drop boxes alltogether. Question 3: With rising costs of living making many voters’ everyday lives more expensive, what would you do to promote economic stability in your district? Still: Our district pays two thirds of the taxes for the county. We need to eliminate the state income tax. I plan to cut funding for services that we are paying for that we are not receiving. In 2021 our state over collected 1.2 billion in state taxes, and they are now redistributing that amount to Georgia families. Tat money should have gone directly back to the taxpayers that were overcharged and received no benefit for the taxes that they paid.
Fulton County Elections
State Elections
Board of Commissioners The chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners is an at-large seat, meaning all residents of Fulton County may vote for the seat, regardless of district. The seat, currently held by Robb Pitts, is up for reelection this year.
State House of Representatives Johns Creek falls into State House Districts 48, 50 and 51. District 48 is currently represented by Democrat Mary Robichaux. District 49 is represented by Republican Chuck Martin. District 50 is represented by Democrat Angelika Kausche. District 51 is represented by Democrat Josh McLaurin.
Johns Creek falls into Board of Commissioners District 1, represented by Liz Hausmann, who is not running for reelection. Board of Education Johns Creek falls into Fulton County Board of Education District 5. The district will have its nonpartisan general election May 24 between candidates Kristin McCabe and Kimberly Ware.
State Senate Johns Creek falls into State Senate Districts 14 and 48. District 14 is represented by Republican Bruce Thompson. District 48 is represented by Democrat Zahra Karinshak.
