CrossRoadsNews, April 28, 2018 - Section B

VOTE 2018 April 28, 2018

Section B

www.crossroadsnews. com

It’s forum season for the May 22 primaries

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

With early voting set to comment on April 30, voters are turning out in large numbers at political forums and other venues to hear incumbents and challengers explain why they deserve the office.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

The program for one of the forums in South DeKalb captures the essence of why it’s important to vote in 2016.

Incumbent 4th District Rep. Hank Johnson (right) responds to a question about his voting record during a forum hosted by the South DeKalb Communities Alliance. Joe Profit (seated left), a Republican, and Juan Parks are challenging Johnson for the seat.

A voter poses a question to candidates about an issue important to her at a forum hosted by the South DeKalb Communities Alliance in Stone Mountain.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Candidates including Dee Dawkins-Haigler (right) and Joel Thibodeaux (second from right) met voters at a Georgia Democratic Party function at the Maloof Center Auditorium on May 21.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

CrossRoadsNews

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VOTE 2018

April 28, 2018

Many community, civic and faith groups are hosting forums where voters can meet and listen to candidates.

Smart voters do their homework regarding candidates “East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007

www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

The 2018 Guide to the Elections is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s awardwinning weekly newspaper.

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker

Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams

By Jennifer Parker

As election day draws nigh, it is incumbent on voters to try to make the best choices, especially with 87 candidates vying in contested races.

These days it is much easier to check out candidates because all of them have websites and social media pages. But should voters rely just on a candidate’s website for a true picture of the person seeking their votes?

Smart voters know that candidates will cast themselves in the best light, so for the real story, they must read more than the candidate’s literature.

Many community, civic and faith groups are hosting forums where voters can meet and listen to candidates.

At some of them, voters can also ask questions of the candidates.

Not all of these forums are well-attended, either because voters did not know about them, or they did not make the time to participate.

On page B9 of this section, we list some of the upcoming forums where voters can interact with candidates.

With early in-person voting starting

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Samson Burrell, president of the South DeKalb Communities Alliance, listens intently as Becky Evans, a candidate for the House District 83 seat, makes a point during an April 21 forum in Pine Lake.

on April 30, and election day a mere three weeks away, voters do themselves a disservice if they don’t take advantage of these opportunities.

Residents who don’t participate in the election process have no right to complain

when poor candidates are elected to office, or if they dislike the decisions made by their elected officials.

So this election season, let’s put some skin in the game.

Get to the know the people seeking your vote and exercise your right to vote.

Voters who want the best candidate for the job must take the time to educate themselves about each candidate’s record of service, or lack thereof.

And for incumbents, the savvy voter will examine their record to ensure they have been good stewards of the public trust and funds, have attended the meetings they are elected to attend, and have not used the office to secretly enrich themselves and their cronies.

If an incumbent has not done the job, or has embarrassed their constituents with their actions, then voters should give them the boot.

Let’s ensure that the best candidate wins.

We can only do that if we vote.

Whatever you do, don’t let others pick your elected officials.

– Jennifer Parker is the editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews.

April 28, 2018

VOTE 2018

CrossRoadsNews

B3

“This election is comparable to the 2014 elections with the only exception being a contested U.S. Senate race in 2014.”

87 contested races await voters on party, non-partisan ballots

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Ready or not, the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections are just around the corner.

Early voting kicks off April 30, and for the next 18 days, voters who have already done their homework on the candidates can begin casting their ballots in person.

Eighty-seven candidates are in contested races on the Democratic, Republican and nonpartisan ballots.

DeKalb Election Supervisor Erica Hamilton said voters have their pick of the three ballots. Based on the turnout for the 2014 midterm and governor’s election, Hamilton says she is predicting a 20 percent turnout for the May 22 elections.

“This election is comparable to the 2014 elections with the only exception being that there was a contested U.S. Senate race in 2014,” she said.

Sample ballots are available at www. dekalbvotes.com.

For the primary, 15 DeKalb incumbents for federal, state, and county offices, including some who never or rarely get opposition, have opposition.

Together they attracted 19 challengers.

Fourth District Rep. Hank Johnson, who was unopposed in 2016, is facing Juan Parks, a retired U.S. Marine who is a Marine Corps JROTC instructor at Newton High School in Covington. The winner will face Republican Joe Profit, who is unopposed in his party primary.

DeKalb County Commissioners Larry Johnson and Gregory Adams are facing challengers.

Johnson, the District 3 incumbent who has been in office for 16 years, is facing his first challenge since he was elected in 2002.

Felton Wright, a retired AT&T Communications worker and community advocate, is running against him.

Adams who won the Super District 7 seat in a December 2016 special election, is facing three challengers – Ed Williams, a university professor; John Tolbert Jr., a General Motors regional manager; and Lorraine CochranJohnson, a newspaper executive.

Adams, a bishop and former DeKalb Police officer, had been in office for eight months when the EEOC announced in August 2017 that it was investigating charges that he sexually harassed his former district director. A internal county investigation found that his actions violated county policy.

For the DeKalb School Board District 2

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Voters who have done their homework on the candidates can begin casting their ballots as early as April 30, when early voting begins.

race, incumbent Marshall Orson is facing a challenge from attorney Candice McKinley.

Diijon “Twin” DaCosta and Lance Lawyer Hammonds are competing for the open School Board District 6.

For the Georgia Gneral Assembly, Sens.

Steve Henson, Tonya Anderson and Gail Davenport are facing challengers. Henson, who has represented District 41 since 2003, is being challenged by Sabrina McKenzie, who lists her occupation as “advocate.”

Henson, a DeKalb County resident for more than 30 years, is a vocational administrator and teacher at the Henson Training Institute. McKenzie is known as the “dancing preacher,” and is an advocate for social justice and victims of domestic violence.

Anderson, who represents District 43, is being challenged by Joel Thibodeaux, an internal auditor and former state Senate staffer who chaired the Governor’s Commission on the city of Stonecrest. Anderson is a pastor, and a former state representative and former mayor of Lithonia. She was elected to the Senate in 2016.

In Senate District 44, Davenport has two challengers: Keith Horton, a retiree, and Sandra Daniels, a court reporter. Horton has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the military and state government including as deputy director of Georgia’s Division of Child Support Services and director of Child Support Services.

Davenport, a real estate professional, was elected to the Senate in 2007.

In Senate District 40, Salley Harrell, a social worker, and Tamara Johnson-Shealey, a senior advocate, are seeking the Democratic nomination to take on incumbent Republican Fran Millar in November.

In House District 81, incumbent Scott Holcomb, who is an attorney, is being chal-

lenged by Hamid Noori, a social worker. The winner of the primary will face Republican Ellen Diehl, an insurance saleswoman, in the general election.

In House District 83, incumbent Howard Mosby is being opposed by Becky Evans, a longtime Druid Hills resident, former educator, project manager and community volunteer. Mosby, who was elected to the House in 2002, is a certified public accountant, 22-year Grady Medical Center employee, and chairman of the DeKalb Delegation.

In House District 86, incumbent Michele Henson is facing community volunteer and advocate Joscelyn O’Neil for a second time.

Henson, a 33-year DeKalb resident, was elected to the House in 1990. O’Neil, a 34year DeKalb resident, ran against Henson in 2016. She is a former president of the Greater Towers Community Association.

In House District 87, incumbent Earnest “Coach” Williams is facing Viola Davis, a registered nurse and community activist.

Williams, a retired teacher, was elected to the House in 2003. Davis is co-founder of Stone Mountain-based Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter organization.

In House District 90, incumbent Pam Stephenson is being challenged by Greg Shealey, a builder.

In House District 94, incumbent Karen Bennett will face challenger Dean Heard, a healthcare consultant and entrepreneur.

In the nonpartisan race for the DeKalb Superior Court bench, incumbent Judge Courtney Johnson is being challenged by attorney Genet Hopewell, a former magistrate judge and partner in the Decatur law firm Johnson, Hopewell and Coleman.

Five candidates – Tunde Akinyele, Gina Bernard, Roderick Bridges, Kirby Clements Jr., Latisha Dear-Jackson and Nicholas Smith

– are vying for the open seat to succeed Judge Daniel Coursey Jr., who is retiring at the end of the year.

Akinyele is both a judge and a defense attorney. He is currently chief judge of Lithonia Municipal Court and is in private practice in the Decatur-based Akinyele Law Firm.

Bernard is a 25-year resident of DeKalb County and former prosecutor in Atlanta Municipal Court, DeKalb Solicitor General’s Office and Fulton County Superior Court.

For the past seven years, she was a public defender in the Stone Mountain Conflict Defender’s Office.

Bridges, who has more than 18 years of legal experience, is a former DeKalb Traffic Court Judge in DeKalb Recorders Court for 13 years. In 2016, he was a candidate for DeKalb State Court.

Clements, a partner in the Clements Law Group LLC, is a former prosecutor with stints with the city of Atlanta Solicitor’s Office, the DeKalb Solicitor’s Office, and the Fulton County District Attorney. He also worked for the Kings County District Attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y. Jackson, a former DeKalb Recorders Court traffic judge, has served for more than a decade as a judge in local courts including the cities of Stone Mountain, Lithonia and East Point. She also serves by designation in DeKalb State and Superior Courts.

Smith, a partner at Buckley Beal law firm, is a DeKalb native and former staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit.

The roster for statewide races includes the hotly fought Democratic Primary for governor. Two former state representatives and lawyers – Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans – are battling for the nomination.

On the Republican ballot, seven candidates – L.S. “Casey” Cagle, Eddie Hayes, Hunter Hill, Brian Kemp, Clay Tippings, Marc Urbach and Michael Williams – for battling for their party’s nomination for Governor.

For Secretary of State, two East Metro candidates – Dee Dawkins-Haigler from Lithonia and Rakem “RJ” Hadley from Conyers – are vying with John Barrow for the Democratic nomination.

Dawkins-Haigler, a former state representative for House District 91, served eight-and-a-half years in the Georgia House.

Hadley is a former Rockdale County tax commissioner.

See pages B6-B8 for a complete list of candidates in contested races on the May 22 ballots.

B4

VOTE 2018

CrossRoadsNews

April 28, 2018

Twenty-seven of DeKalb’s 189 precincts have more than 3,400 voters casting ballots at them.

Vote early to avoid lines at crowded precincts in South DeKalb Voters who opt to cast their ballots early might be able to avoid long lines like this one at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall during the 2016 elections.

FILE

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The final count of DeKalb’s registered voters for the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections will soon be available.

April 24 was the final day to register and be able to participate in the primaries.

Erica Hamilton, DeKalb Elections director, said April 25 that the most up-to-date voter list will be available on May 11.

This week, before those new voters are counted, DeKalb had 501,462 registered voters. Of those, 453,143 were classified as “active voters” because they participated in the last two elections.

On election day, DeKalb voters will cast

ballots at 189 precincts that have between 1,013 and 6,056 voters each.

Precincts like Clarkston, which has the highest number of voters countywide, generally house multiple smaller precincts at the same location.

Twenty-seven of DeKalb’s 189 precincts have more than 3,400 voters casting ballots at them, which could lead to long lines on election day if turnout is large.

Together, the 27 large precincts account for 112,455 of the county’s voters.

Eighteen, or two-thirds, of those large precincts are in South DeKalb County. Together they account for 72,286 voters. The cities of Stonecrest and Atlanta each has five

of those crowded precincts. Those within Stonecrecrest are Browns Mill Elementary, Fairington Elementary, Miller Grove, Redan-Trotti Library and Woodrow Road.

The five Atlanta precincts are Boulevard, Coan Recreation Center, East Lake, Epworth and Silver Lake.

Chamblee and Dunwoody each has one large precinct – the Dresden Elementary precinct in Chamblee, and Georgetown Square in Dunwoody.

Early voting, which runs April 30 to May 18, offers voters at the large precincts the opportunity to skip potentially long lines by casting their ballots before election day.

Crowded precincts Twenty-seven of DeKalb’s 189 voting precincts have between 3,400 and 6,056 voters each.

Eighteen of them, with 72,286 voters, are in South DeKalb.

Precincts Voters Rockbridge Elementary 3,404 Rowland Elementary 3,404 Rockbridge Road 3,415 Tucker 3,425 Peachtree Middle 3,487 Brookhaven 3,496 Browns Mill Elementary 3,496 Rainbow Elem 3,502 Cedar Grove South 3,502 Ashford Parkside 3,515 Redan-Trotti Library 3,552 Narvie J Harris Elementary 3,626 McNair High 3,711 Cedar Grove Elementary 3,743 Coan Recreation 3,844 Shadow Rock Elementary 3,916 Epworth 4,033 East Lake 4,035 Georgetown Square 4,110 Miller Grove 4,112 ML King Jr. High 4,201 Pleasantdale Road 4,219 Bethune Middle 4,240 Boulevard 4,348 Fairington Elementary 4,655 Dresden Elementary 4,832 Silver Lake 4,893 Clarkston 5,716 Woodrow Road 6,056

CrossRoadsNews

April 28, 2018

VOTE 2018

B5

The changes, affecting five precincts in South DeKalb, Decatur, Dunwoody and Atlanta, were implemented last fall.

Early voting starts April 30 for voters who want a head start Early voting These three polls are open April 30 to May 18 fron 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday May 5 and 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and on Sunday, May 6 from noon to 4 p.m. n DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office has two voting areas, including one exclusively for senior and disabled voters. 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur. n The Gallery at South DeKalb, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur. n Dunwoody Library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody.

For the week of May 14 only, residents can also vote 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at: n Coan Recreation Center, 1530 Woodbind Ave. S.E., Atlanta. n Briarwood Recreation Center, 2235 Briarwood Way N.E., Brookhaven.

FILE

The county’s more than 501,452 registered voters will have 21 days to cast ballots early in person this election season, down from 45 days in the 2016 elections, after rural counties complained about the onerous costs.

DeKalb voters who want to get a jump on the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections can begin voting on April 30.

The county’s more than 501,452 registered voters will have 21 days to cast ballots early in person this election season, down from 45 days in the 2016 election, because state legislators voted to reduce the number of early voting days after rural counties complained about the onerous costs.

The early polls will open weekdays from

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 18 at three precincts: the Gallery at South DeKalb in Decatur, the Dunwoody Library in Dunwoody, and at the DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office on Memorial Drive, which will also have an separate location for senior and disabled voters.

These sites also will open on Saturdays, May 5 and 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and on Sunday, May 6, from noon to 4 p.m.

Seven more early polling locations will

open for the week of May 14 at Stonecrest Library in Lithonia, Berean Christian Church Community Center in Stone Mountain, First Christian Church of Decatur in downtown Decatur, Coan Recreation Center in Atlanta, Reid H. Cofer Library in Tucker, Briarwood Recreation Center in Brookhaven, and North DeKalb Senior Center in Chamblee.

All 10 locations will open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 14-18. There will be no voting on May 19 and 21.

n North DeKalb Senior Center, 3301 Malone Drive, Chamblee. n First Christian Church of Decatur, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Road, Decatur. n Berean Christian Church Community Center, 2440 Young Road, Stone Mountain. n Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Lithonia. n Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 LaVista Road, Tucker.

Voting at five precincts relocated from school buildings to new sites Some 15,000 voters will cast ballots at new locations on May 22 because a number of schools that used to house precincts are no longer available for that use.

The changes, affecting five precincts in South DeKalb, Decatur, Dunwoody and Atlanta, were implemented last fall for the Nov. 7 municipal and special elections, and are in effect for all subsequent elections.

The precincts were relocated to churches

and a recreation center.

Relocated precincts n The Wadsworth Precinct was relocated from Rockbridge Elementary School to Columbia Drive United Methodist Church, 2067 Columbia Drive in Decatur. n The Winnona Park Elementary Precinct is now at Columbia Theological Seminary’s Richard Center at 701 S. Columbia Drive

in Decatur. It has been renamed Winnona Park Precinct. n The Whitefoord Elementary Precinct has been relocated to Coan Recreation Center at 1530 Woodbine Ave. S.E. in Atlanta. It is now called Coan Recreation Precinct. n The Dunwoody High Precinct was relocated from Dunwoody High School to Kingswood United Methodist Church at 5015 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody. Its new

name is Dunwoody 2 Precinct. n The Henderson Mill Precinct was relocated from Henderson Mill Elementary School to St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 2601 Henderson Mill Road in Atlanta.

The DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections office is at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300 in Decatur. For more information, email voterreg@dekalbcountyga.gov or call 404-298-4020.

CrossRoadsNews

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April 28, 2018

VOTE

Contested races on the Democratic ballot Contested races on May 22 ballots

DeKalb Board of Commissioners $64,741.60 (effective 1/1/2019)

4th District

Here are the candidates in contested races on DeKalb County ballots in the May 22 Democratic and Republican primaries and nonpartisan elections.

District 3

The listings include the offices being sought, the salary for the office, the party affiliation if applicable, and the candidate’s occupation.

Larry Johnson (I)

Felton Wright

Healthcare Manager

Retired/Trustee Chairperson DSUMC

Candidates who are running unopposed are not listed.

Juan Parks

Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (I)

Marine Corps JROTC Instructor

Congressman

(I)=Incumbent

Super District 7 DeKalb BoarD of Education Nonpartisan • $18,400

District 6

District 2

Gregory Adams (I) Law Enforcement

Lorraine CochranJohnson Associate Publisher/CEO

John E. Tolbert Jr.

Ed Williams

Regional Manager General Motors

University Professor

Candice D. McKinley

Marshall Orson

Diijon “Twin” Dacosta

Attorney

Consultant / Attorney

Teacher, DeKalb Kids Project

Georgia Senate

Lance Lawyer Hammonds Chemical Sales

$17, 342

District 40

District 41

Georgia House of representatives $17, 342

District 83

District 81

Sally Harrell Social Worker

Tamara JohnsonShealey

Steve Henson (I)

Sabrina McKenzie

Administrator

Advocate

Senior Advocate

District 43

Scott Holcomb (I)

Hamid Noori

Attorney

Social Worker

District 86

Tonya P. Anderson (I)

Joel Thibodeaux

Certified Life Coach And Pastor

Internal Auditor

District 44

Michele Henson (D) (I)

Joscelyn C. O’Neil

Businesswoman

Retired

District 90

Sandra Daniels

Gail Davenport (I)

Keith Horton

Court Reporter

Real Estate Professional

Retired

Gregory Shealey Builder

Pam Stephenson (I) Attorney

Becky Evans Community Volunteer

Howard Mosby (D) (I) Chemical Sales

District 87

Viola Davis RN-BSN, Community Missionary

Earnest “Coach” Williams (I) Retired Teacher

District 94

Karen Bennett (I)

L. Dean Heard

Small Business Owner

Healthcare Consultant, Entrepreneur

CrossRoadsNews

April 28, 2018

2018

B7

More Democratic primary and nonpartisan races

U.s. House of Representatives $174,000

Governor

Lieutenant Governor

$139,339.44

$91,609.44

6th District

Stacey Abrams Kevin Abel Court Reporter

Steven Knight Griffin Management Consultant

Bobby Kaple

Lucy McBath

TV News Anchor

Activist/Faith & Community Organizer

Author, Self-Employed

Stacey Evans

Sarah Riggs Amico

Attorney

Executive Chairperson

Triana Arnold James Business Owner

Judge of Superior Court, Stone Mountain

Court of Appeals Judge

Ga. secretary of state

Nonpartisan • : $184,976

Nonpartisan $174,500

$123,636.68

To succeed Courtney Johnson

To succeed Daniel Marshall Coursey Jr.

Genet Hopewell

Tunde Akinyele

Gina Bernard

Roderick Bridges

Attorney

Attorney

Felony Trial Attorney

Attorney

Ken Hodges

Ken Shigley

Attorney

Attorney

John Barrow

Dee Dawkins-Haigler

Attorney

Minister / Consultantr

Public Service Commission $118,781

District 3 • Metro Atlanta Rakeim “RJ” Hadley Courtney Johnson (I) Superior Court Judge

Kirby Clements Jr. Latisha Dear-Jackson Attorney

Attorney

Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner

Nicholas Smith Attorney

state school superintendent $123,270

Sid Chapman

Sam Mosteller

Otha E. Thornton, Jr.

President, Ga. Assoc. of Educators

Minister

Retired Military Officer/ Sr. Technologist

Ballot questions

Commissioner of Labor Lindy Miller

John Noel

Businesswoman

Small Business Owner

$122,786

Richard Keatley

Fred Quinn

College Professor

Sr. Financial Manager Analyst

Johnny C. White IT Consultant

District 5 - Western

Commissioner of Insurance $120,394.29

Democratic Party Questions Vote Yes or No

1. Should the sale and distribution of bump stocks be prohibited in the state of Georgia?

2. Should Georgia pull down our federal tax dollars to save rural hospitals and create more than fifty thousand jobs by expanding Medicaid?

3. Should Georgia allow voters to elect our own representatives by amending our Constitution to place the power of drawing district lines under the authority of an independent, non-partisan commission?

4. Should Georgia alleviate traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and better connect communities by investing a substantial amount of existing tax dollars in mass transit?

Dawn A. Randolph

Doug Stoner

Consultant

Sr. Financial Business Owner

Janice Laws

Cindy Zeldin

Self-Employed

Non-Profit Executive / Health Policy

CrossRoadsNews

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VOTE 2018

April 28, 2018

Contested races on the Republican ballot Governor $91,609.44

L.S. “Casey� Cagle

Eddie Hayes

Hunter Hill

Brian Kemp

Clay Tippins

Marc Urbach

Michael Williams

Businessman

Restaurant Owner

President, Tommy Newberry Coaching

Small Business Owner / Secretary of State

Technology Business

Author

CPA

Lieutenant Governor

secretary of state

$91,609.44

$120,394.29

Geoff Duncan

Rick Jeffares

David Shafer

David Belle Isle

Buzz Brockway

Josh McKoon

Brad Raffensperger

Small Business Owner

Business Owner / Project Manager

Businessman

Business Owner / Attorney

Operations Manager

Attorney

Engineer

state school superintendent

Commissioner of Insurance

$123,270

$120,394.29

John Barge Superintendent, McIntosh County Schools

Richard Woods (I) State School Superintendent

Public Service Commission $118,781

District 5 - Western

Jim Beck

Jay Florence

Tracy Jordan

Public Relations

Attorney

Pharmacist

John Hitchins III

Tricia Pridemore (I)

Solar Advocacy

Small Business Owner

April 28, 2018

VOTE 2018

CrossRoadsNews

B9

“We’ve been reaching out to our neighborhood groups and handing out fliers to get people motivated.”

Coming forums offer voters insights into candidates’ positions

By Rosie Manins

DeKalb voters can question aspiring politicians, incumbents and challengers in the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections at several candidate forums coming up.

CrossRoadsNews, several churches and a number of civic organizations are hosting forums to engage citizens who will get to pick from 85 candidates in contested races.

The newspaper’s forum, co-sponsored

by First Afrikan Church Social Action Committee, takes place May 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

It will engage candidates for the DeKalb Board of Commissioners, DeKalb Superior Court, the DeKalb School Board and state legislators.

Jennifer Parker, CrossRoadsNews editor and publisher, said forums are a great way for voters to hear directly from candidates.

“Forums offer voters the opportunity to evaluate candidates’ grasp of the issues,” Parker said. “They also get to see how candidates respond if they are faced with uncomfortable topics.”

Kings Row Community Association is sponsoring a candidate meet and greet on April 30, and Al Chatman, the group’s assistant secretary, said they are trying to get more people involved in politics.

“We feel that the 2018 election is significantly important for the progressive agenda to protect the interests of the residents and businesses in our area,” he said April 25.

Here is a list of upcoming forums:

Kings Row Community Association April 30: Candidate Meet and Greet for DeKalb Board of Commissioners Districts 3 and 7. Kings Row Community Association is hosting District 3 incumbent Larry Johnson and challenger Felton Wright; and District 7 incumbent Gregory Adams and challengers Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, John Tolbert Jr. and Ed Williams.

The forum takes place 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur.

Community Association president John W. Frase will moderate. Chatman says they are hoping for a good turnout.

“We’ve been reaching out to our neighborhood groups and handing out fliers to get people motivated,” he said.

Candidates will give brief opening statements, answer questions from the moderator and the audience, and give short closing statements.

For more information call Chatman at 404-285-0169.

A Georgia Democratic Party forum on April 21 allowed voters an opportunity to hear from candidates in statewide and local races, and they got to meet candidates faceto-face.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Antioch AME Candidate Forum May 3: Candidates in every race affecting DeKalb, including those for Georgia governor, have been invited to a forum at the Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain.

The forum, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., will feature candidates for judge, school board and county commission, as well as those vying for congressional districts.

Rhonda Taylor, the church’s social action committee president, said most candidates have confirmed their attendance. She said candidates in each race will take the stage together to answer questions from the audience.

“For example, we’ll have all the Georgia House of Representatives candidates up together at the same time, identified by district, to cut down the time,” Taylor said.

“They might not all get the same questions, but we’re also allowing each candidate to ask one opponent a question.”

WSB-TV journalist Tom Jones has been invited to moderate the forum.

The church is at 765 South Hairston Road. For more information, call 404-2993388.

CrossRoadsNews Vote 2018 May 7: Candidates for the DeKalb Superior Court, Board of Commissioners and Board of Education will take questions alongside Georgia Senate and House candidates at a forum at First Afrikan Church in Lithonia.

The 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. forum is cohosted by CrossRoadsNews and First Afrikan Church Social Action Community.

Candidates for Superior Court Divisions

1 and 7 will attend, as well as those vying for Commission District 3 and Super District 7 seats.

School board candidates in District 6 are also attending, as well as Senate District 43 candidates and House candidates for Districts 83, 86, 87, 90 and 94.

The forum will be moderated by CrossRoadsNews publisher and editor Jennifer Parker and Dele Smith of FAPC’s Social Action Committee.

The church is at 5197 Salem Road in Lithonia. For more information call 404284-1888.

PRISM Forum May 10: At least eight candidates running for Georgia Senate District 41, Georgia House Districts 86 and 87, and DeKalb School District 6 will answer questions at

PRISM’s May 10 community forum at St. Timothy United Methodist Church.

The forum takes place 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Mike Cooper, a PRISM board member, will moderate.

Joe Arrington, PRISM board member and program chairman, said they are expecting Senate District 41 incumbent Steve Henson and challenger Sabrina McKenzie; House District 86 incumbent Michele Henson and Joscelyn O’Neil; House District 87 incumbent Earnest “Coach” Williams and opponent Viola Davis; and Lance Hammonds and Diijon “Twin” DaCosta, who are seeking the open School Board District 6 seat.

Arrington said all other candidates in attendance will be introduced.

The church is at 5365 Memorial Drive.

For more information call 404-308-0473.

B10

VOTE 2018

CrossRoadsNews

April 28, 2018

The goal is to make sure that anyone who wants to vote gets to vote. I just want us to ride together, talk about civic engagement.”

Voters offered free rides to the polls

Tips to make voting easy DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections offers these “Know before you go” tips: DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections offers these “Know before you go” tips:

Know you are a registered voter Check to make certain you are registered to vote in DeKalb County by visiting http://mvp.sos.state.ga.us/, using the smartphone APP “GA VOTES,” or by

calling 404-298-4020.

AlexMax Transportation Services Inc. will provide transportation for Diane Adoma’s rides to early voting on May 12 or to vote on election day on May 22.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Stonecrest residents who need rides to the polls can catch the blue bus on May 12 for early voting and on May 22 to vote on election day.

Diane Adoma, who represents Stonecrest Council District 5, is sponsoring rides to voting sites. Riders will board the bus at 11:30 a.m. on both days and have lunch on the bus while they ride to Diane Adoma the polls.

Adoma said that she and a committee of District 5 constituents planned the trips to make sure that anyone, especially seniors, can get the polls.

“The goal is to make sure that anyone who wants to vote gets to vote,” Adoma said April 25. “I just want us to ride together, talk about civic engagement, and enjoy ourselves on the ride.”

The rides to the polls will include lunch

on Adoma. She said she will provide a sandwich and water.

Voters are asked to meet the bus at the Arabia Mountain trailhead at Salem and Evans Mill Road.

For the May 12 early voting trip, Adoma said she will also pick up at the Alice Williams Towers on Hillandale Drive, at the Lou Walker Senior Center on Panola Road, and at the Bruce Street Senior Center in Lithonia.

Reservations are required so she can order enough lunches.

To reserve a seat on the bus, and for more information, call 470-223-6039 or email adoma.diane@gmail.com by May 10. The deadline is May 20 for rides to the polls on election day.

Adoma said the May 12 early voting trip will go to the South DeKalb Precinct at the Gallery at South DeKalb on Candler Road.

On election day, voters will be taken to their assigned polling precinct.

The ride to the polls is free of charge. The bus is provided by Alexander Fitzhugh of AlexMax Transportation Services Inc.

Know what ID is required for voting in person Bring one of the following: n Georgia driver’s license, even if expired. n State or federal issued photo ID, including one issued by Driver Services or a County Registrar’s Office. n Valid U.S. passport. n Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, or authority of the state. n Valid U.S. military photo ID. n Valid tribal photo ID. Know voting options n Vote absentee by mail. Requests accepted 180 days prior to the election. Absentee applications are available at dekalbvotes.com or by calling 404-298-4020. n Vote early in person starting three weeks prior to each election. n Vote at your polling place on election day. Find your polling place by visiting http://mvp.sos.state.ga.us/, using the smartphone APP “GA VOTES” or by calling 404-298-4020.

Know polling place rules n Campaign attire is strictly forbidden at all polling places. n No cell phones or photography inside the polling place. n Voters with disabilities or seniors 75 and over can be moved to the head of the line.

April 28, 2018

VOTE 2018

CrossRoadsNews

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“Our weapon is to be educated, our weapon is to be organized and to organize others.”

Deltas seeking higher voter participation in midterm elections

By Rosie Manins

DeKalb voters will be seeing red in the lead-up to the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections, if members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority have anything to do with it.

Deltas all over the county are teaming up with the DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections team to ensure that as many eligible voters as possible are registered and participate in the midterm elections.

Specifically, they will continue to register voters, canvass neighborhoods, host candidate forums, offer disabled and elderly voters rides to the polls, and encourage people to vote the entire ballot.

The sorority’s colors, crimson and cream, were vividly on display at the Manuel J. Maloof Auditorium in Decatur for the April 26 kickoff of the effort.

About 100 members gathered for a call to action from alumnae chapter leaders, including Rhonda Briggins, co-chair of the sorority’s national social action committee.

“The only place where you can get the change that we need in this country is the midterm elections,” Briggins said. “That’s where our voice can be heard.”

Briggins said that officials elected in the midterms are the ones who impact residents’ lives everyday, and it’s the sorority’s aim to increase voter turnout in the midterms.

“Although we like to come out for the presidential election, midterms is way more important,” she said.

With the May 22 primary and nonpartisan elections just 24 days away, and early voting kicking off on April 30, the DeKalb Deltas say they will spend the next three weeks distributing voter information at community, recreation and senior centers; holding public

DeKalb members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority respond to a call to action April 26, to help eligible voters participate in the May 22 midterm elections.

CEO Michael Thurmond addressed the DeKalb Deltas at their kickoff rally.

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

voter and candidate forums; and volunteering with the county’s elections team.

Briggins said this is the first time that the sorority has rallied in this way in the county for midterm elections.

“All we need to do is show up and show out, and I encourage you all to do that,” she told fellow Deltas. “Our weapon is to be educated, our weapon is to be organized and to organize others to make sure we get folks out to the polls. That is our charge.”

Bettye Davis, a Decatur Alumnae Chapter member, said Deltas want to ensure that voter turnout is at least 14 percent and that they will be helping seniors and disabled voters to get to the polls.

“We’re going to do everything we can to improve that number,” she said Thursday.

In the 2016 presidential election, just over 319,000 eligible voters cast ballots in DeKalb, a turnout of 76 percent.

In the 2017 midterm elections, turnout declined dramatically, with just 66,000 of the county’s 450,000 eligible voters participating in the elections.

Deltas have already held voter registration drives in DeKalb schools, churches and community centers, and will continue to do so, Davis said.

“Even though voter registration for the May 22 elections ended April 24, we’ll still be registering people for upcoming elections,” she said. “And on election day, we’ll be partnering with various other organizations and churches to offer rides to the polls.”

Deltas are encouraging people to vote the

entire ballot, and will be handing out sample ballots for DeKalb to get voters ready.

Davis, who chaired the Delta Day at DeKalb County with assistance from District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, said the event was aimed at training Deltas from various alumnae chapters to help voters within their respective communities.

“We have four or five hundred members in each of our chapters, and we’ll be focusing on areas in DeKalb with a history of low voter turnout,” Davis said.

Residents can find their closest precinct and opening hours by entering their ZIP code into an app at www.dekalbcountyga. gov.

Voting precinct information and answers to general voting questions can also be found at www.dekalbvotes.com and www.mvp.sos. ga.gov.

For assistance with voter registration drives, rides to the polls, voter education or candidate forums, email politicalawareness@ dstdac.org.

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CrossRoadsNews

April 28, 2018