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Activity brisk as election season winds down
Jennifer Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Early voting ended on May 16, and now it comes down to Tuesday, May 20, when voters will decide who will win seats in several local, state and Congressional races. By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
DeKalb voters will head to the polls on to May 20 to vote in the primary, nonpartisan and special elections. The county has 455,716 registered voters but turnout is expected to be less to be 25 to 30 percent. Through May 14, only 10,696 people had made it the early polls that opened April 28. The last day to vorte early was May 16.
Among the hot local DeKalb County races are the Fourth District contest between incumbent Congressman Hank Johnson and retired DeKalb Sheriff Tom Brown, the special election for DeKalb Sheriff and the races for all seven DeKalb School Board seats. Incumbent DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson is facing a challenge from Stone Mountain police officer and pastor Gregory Adams, and 24-year State Rep. Michele Henson is facing Jacqueline Adams in the race for the House District 86 seat.
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
District 42 candidates Kyle Williams (left) and Elena Parent discuss the issues at a forum held at Agnes Scott College.
Other incumbents facing challenges are State Reps. Ernest Coach Williams and Dee Dawkins Haigler, and Sen. Gloria Butler. Williams is being challenged Ivy Green; Haigler by Diane Adoma, and Butler by Mark Anthony Williams. With eight candidates vying for Sheriff, and five contenders for the District 5 School Board race, election watchers are anticipating a runoff, which is scheduled for July 22. All neighborhood polling precincts will open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
CurtisParker/CrossRoadsNews
A young volunteer carries political signs after a meet-and-greet.
Voters should bring photo identification to the poll. Acceptable ids are a Georgia drivers license, even if expired; valid US Military or tribal, state or federal-issued photo ids; a valid U.S. passport, or photo ids from any branch, department or agency of any county, municipality, board or authority of the state. Before you go to the polls check your registration and find your polling precinct at http://mvp.sos.state.ga.us or by calling 404-298-4020.
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Political signs adorn a window sill outside a forum for school board candidates sponsored by It’s For Them DeKalb.
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Guide to primary, nonpartisan and special elections
These candidates are in contested races on the DeKalb County ballots in the May 20, 2014, Democratic and Republican primary elections. This information includes the office they are seeking, the salary for the office, party affiliation, age and occupation. Candidates who are running unopposed are not listed.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican (I) = Incumbent
“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 These candidates are in contested races on the DeKalb County ballots Guide to the and in theThe May2014 20, 2014, Democratic Republican elections. of Electionsprimary is a publication
CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Graphics Editor Curtis Parker © 2014 CrossRoadsNews, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without written permission of the publisher.
U.S. House of Representatives Salary: $174,000
4th District Thomas E. “Tom” Brown (D) Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (D) (I) U.S. Senate
Salary: $174,000
Democrat O. “Steen” Miles (D) M. Michelle Nunn (D) Branko “Rad” Radulovacki (D) Todd Anthony Robinson (D) Republican Paul Collins Broun (R) Arthur A. “Art” Gardner (R) J.P. “Phil” Gingrey (R) Derrick E. Grayson (R) Karen C. Handel (R) J.H. “Jack” Kingston (R) David A. Perdue (R) Governor
Salary: $139,339
John D. Barge (R) J. Nathan Deal (R)(I) David E. Pennington III (R)
Secretary of State Salary: $123,636
Gerald B. Beckum (D) Doreen Carter (D)
Commissioner of Insurance Salary: $120,394
Keith G. Heard (D) Elizabeth N. “Liz” Johnson (D)
Public Service Commissioner Salary: $116,452 (To Succeed Lauren McDonald)
Douglas T. Kidd (R) Charles C. “Craig” Lutz (R) Lauren W. “Bubba” McDonald (R)(I)
State School Superintendent Salary: $123,270
Democrat Tarnisha L. Dent (D) Marion Spencer “Denise” Freeman (D) Jurita Forehand Mays (D) Alisha Thomas Morgan (D) R. “Rita” Robinzine (D) Valarie D. Wilson (D) Republican Mary Kay Bacallao (R) Ashley D. Bell (R) Michael L. “Mike” Buck (R) Sharyl H. Dawes (R) Allen Bowles Fort (R) Nancy T. Jester (R) T. Fitz Johnson (R) Kira G. Willis (R) Richard L. Woods (R)
Georgia Senate Salary: $17,700
40th District - Democrat Tamara Y. Johnson (D) Benedict I. Truman II (D) 40th District - Republican Richard D. “Dick” Anderson (R) Francis R. “Fran” Millar (R) (I) 42nd District Elena C. Parent (D) R. Kyle Williams (D) 44th District Gail P. Davenport (D) (I) Marcus Eugene Davis (D) 55th District Gloria S. Butler (D) (I) Mark Anthony Williams (D) 79th District James Bradley “Brad” Goodchild (R) Thomas K. “Tom” Taylor (R) (I) 80th District Catherine S. Bernard (R) Michael J. “Mike” Jacobs (R)(I) Georgia House Salary: $17,700
86th District Jacqueline L. Adams (D) Michele Henson (D) (I) 87th District Ivy J. Green (D) Earnest L. “Coach” Williams (D) (I) 91st District Diane D. Adoma (D) D. “Dee” Dawkins-Haigler (D) (I) Special Election for Sheriff
Salary: $114,040 (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Thomas Brown, Resigned)
Dale Bernard Collins (D) Ted Golden (D) R. “Tony” Hughes (D) Vernon Jones (D) Melody Maddox (D) Jeff Mann (D) (I) Melvin Mitchell (D) LaSalle Smith Sr. (D)
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Salary: $38,374
Super District 7 Gregory Adams (D) Stan Watson (D) (I) Democratic Party Questions
n Should Georgia raise the state
minimum wage above the current $5.15 an hour? n Should Georgians’ federal tax dollars be returned to Georgia to fund Medicaid expansion and relieve the indigent care burden on our hospitals?
n Should the Constitution of Georgia be amended to create an independent ethics commission, not tied to the Governor’s office, legislature, or other elected office, to more effectively police potential ethics violations by elected officials? n Should the Constitution of Georgia be amended to make the education budget Georgia’s first funding priority?
Nonpartisan General Election DeKalb County Board of Education Salary: $18,500
District 2 Don McChesney Marshall Orson (I) District 3 Jerrie D. Bason Michael A. Erwin (I) Jarrod Jordan Atticus LeBlanc Willie R. Mosley Jr. District 4 Karen Carter (I) Jim McMahan (I) John Oselette Ella “Coach Smith” Smith District 5 Pia “Chaz Afzal” Bhatti Jesse “Jay” Cunningham R. Alexander Fitzhugh Thad Mayfield (I) Vickie B. Turner District 6 Bridgeman Bolger Melvin Johnson (I) District 7 Kim Ault Lee V. Dukes Joyce Morley (I) City of Clarkston Special Election Goods Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt goods in the process of being manufactured from taxation? Inventory Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt inventory of finished manufactured goods still held in the possession of the original manufacturer from taxation? Finished Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt finished manufactured goods destined for distribution out of state from taxation? Level 2 Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt retail business inventory from taxation?
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“I want to be your eyes and ears in the district. I want to represent my community.
Incumbents Watson, Henson stand on their record of public service By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson and state Rep. Michele Henson are two of the county’s long-serving elected officials. On May 20, voters will have to pick between them and two opponents, Stone Mountain couple Gregory and Jacqueline Adams. Watson, who first entered public office in 1996 as a state representative from South DeKalb, is the incumbent Super 7 commissioner representing the eastern half of the county. He was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2010 after an unsuccessful run to be DeKalb CEO in 2008. Henson was first elected to the Georgia House in 1994 and is the longest continuously serving member of the DeKalb Delegation. Both say they stand on their record of public service. Watson, who celebrates his 60th birthday on May 17, says he wants the voters to remember his service when they go to the polls. “I have a heart to serve,” he said. “Yes, I get tired sometimes, but I keep going because I want the county to get better.” He also wants voters to remember that he has experience in the state Legislature and knows how to mesh it and the County Commission to better serve the community. Watson says that despite what his opponent says, he has always been accessible and that he regularly attends meetings in the four cities in his district – Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain and Doraville – and numerous community meetings. He also points to his monthly First Saturday Community Breakfast that he has hosted
Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson says he regularly attends meetings in the four cities in his district and community meetings.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
10 times a year for 17 years and the seven community cleanups he sponsors annually. “I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves and go to work,” he said. Watson chairs the DeKalb Board of Commissioners’ Public Works Committee that oversees the county’s $1.35 billion Capital Improvement Plan that is overhauling its water systems. He said he has championed the Tucker, Stone Mountain and East Metro Community Improvement Districts and has been doing double duty covering his district and District 5 that has been without full representation since Commissioner Lee May was appointed DeKalb interim CEO. If he is re-elected, Watson said he will continue to push for economic development in the district. Specifically, he wants to work with the DeKalb School System to build a civic center in the Stonecrest area so DeKalb high
schools don’t have to go outside the county to hold their graduation ceremonies and so that the county can attract large events. He also would like to see the county go after the Braves Double A Farm Club for its Southeastern Athletic Complex on Covington Highway and build a sound stage to film TV commercials and movies.
‘I want to see my area get better’ After 24 years in the Georgia House, Henson says she still wants to keep serving. “There is still a lot of things to work on to make the county better,” she said. Henson, who has lived in the same house in Stone Mountain for 35 Michele Henson years, says there has been decline in the county.
“We need to bring it back so it can again be a place we can be proud to call home,” she said. “As a resident, I want to see my area get better.” Henson, who lives two blocks off Memorial Drive, says she has worked tirelessly over the years with Code Enforcement, the county and PRISM to improve the corridor. “I protested when they tried to put nightclubs in our area,” she said. “I work with all who are interested in making the area better. I have done my best to help keep Memorial Drive from going down more.” Henson says she is accessible and involved but has not been going around the district singing her own praises. “I am not tooting my own horn and patting myself on the shoulder,” she said. “I am busy working.” She points to a long list of bills that she has written and co-written and supported, including the bill that outlaws celebratory gunfire, a hotel/motel sales tax law that the county and the DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau wanted, and legislation controlling cell phone towers on school property. She also has been active on the ART Station board of directors for 15 years and the Stone Mountain Women’s Club, among other organizations. If she is elected for a 13th term, Henson said she will push for affordable and accessible health care for all citizens and encourage the state to accept Medicare expansion. She said that voters should pick her again on May 20 because she has a proven record of service. “I have the knowledge and the performance, and I have seniority,” she said. “I have been a strong advocate for my constituents.”
Stone Mountain couple seeking to unseat Watson and Henson By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Stone Mountain couple Gregory and Jacqueline Adams are seeking seats on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners and in the Georgia House of Representatives in the May 20 primary election. They are the only couple on the ballot, and both are challenging well-liked and entrenched elected officials. Gregory Adams, who shares the same name of a well-known DeKalb Superior Court judge, is challenging Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson. His wife is up against 24-year state legislator Michele Henson. The Adamses, who are pastor and first lady of Deliverance Temple Tru COGIC in Austell and hold leadership positions in the denomination, are unfazed by the stature of their opponents. They have lived in Stone Mountain for 23 years and say they are running to help revitalize the area. Gregory Adams, who ran for DeKalb CEO in 2012, said he is opposing Watson, whom he once supported for the District 7 seat, because he is dissatisfied with the way he is managing the district. “I supported him in 2010 because I thought he would do a good job but he hasn’t,” Adams said. “But Stan has never
Gregory Adams is challenging Commissioner Stan Watson, and Jacqueline Adams is seeking state Rep. Michele Henson’s District 86 House seat.
been in my community. He is missing. He is absent. That’s it in a nutshell.” Adams, who is an Emory University Police officer and a former DeKalb Police officer, said Watson and the other commissioners have allowed communities to form cities because residents are tired of taxation without representation. He says the residents want clean government and more than a monthly breakfast meeting. If he wins the seat, Adams says he will focus on safety and be visible all across the district that covers half of the county
from north to south. “When I moved here 23 years ago, DeKalb was a vibrant county,” he said. “Now, it is dilapidated houses, abandoned buildings and two many houses that are vacant. The main issue to tackle is economic development.” Adams said that residents should pick him on May 20 for positive change. “I am the ‘three P’ guy,” he said. “I am a preacher, police officer and politician. I left the comforts of the pulpit to hit the pavements to serve the people. As an elected official, I will be serving the people.”
Choose any school in the county for your child Complete Transparency of school district expenses Donation of Salary to Churches & Charities in DeKalb serving Children
www.electatticus.com Paid for by The Committee to Elect Atticus LeBlanc
Challenge to longtime legislator Jacqueline Adams says she is running for the District 86 House seat to bring representation to the district. She says that Henson, the longest continuously serving member of the DeKalb Delegation, has been absent and inaccessible to constituents. “We have taxation without representation,” Adams said. “She never responds to telephone calls or emails. She may do a good job at the Capitol but we don’t hear about it.” Adams, who owned a hair salon on Gresham Road for 23 years and a nonemergency transportation service for five years, said small businesses need help and she wants to champion them and children’s issues in the Legislature. She says she has watched Memorial Drive decline as businesses such as Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Publix and numerous shops in the Memorial Bend shopping center close and no one did anything about it. “I want to be your eyes and ears in the district,” Adams said. “I want to represent my community. I want to do economic development. I want to work with our commissioners and the Legislature to build up the neighborhood.”
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“This district has a place at the table to be a progressive advocate and to be a voice and not just be a vote.”
Variety of experience among four challenging appointed incum Voters in the DeKalb School Board District 3 will be picking a board member from a slate of four candidates that includes a businessman, a communituy activist, an educator, and a substitute teacher. Incumbent board member Dr. Michael Erwin, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Nathan Deal, is running for his first elected office. He is being challenged by Jerrie Bason, a substitute teacher with the school district, Jarrod Jordan, a non profit director, Atticus LeBlanc, a businessman and community volunteer, and Willie Mosley, Jr., a community activist, who has been trying for years to win a seat on the school board and the county commission. Erwin, was appointed to the seat in 2013, when Deal removed long-time district representative Sarah Copelin- Wood and five other boardmembers. Erwin, who is on faculty at Georgia Gwinnett College, says he wants to continue serving on the board to facilitate the positive momentum that he and other appointed boardmembers started. “We went from furlough days, from a
Jerrie Bason
Michael Erwin
Jarrod Jordan
deficit to a surplus,” he said at an April forum hosted by Leadership DeKalb. “We want to keep a balance budget. We want to keep putting the tools and resources in place to help our students succeed. We want to see academic growth.” While the school system has made progress, Bason it is still in a vulnerable position. If elected she said she will advocate for more decentralization and financial and educational reforms. “We must put more money in our schools if we want our schools to thrive and if we want to increase student performance,” she said.
Atticus LeBlanc
Willie Mosley, Jr.
LeBlanc says the May 20 school board election is an historic opportunity for the county. The father of three boys, said he is running because he is unsatisified with the board’s leadership and the results that we were gettingin DeKalb. “I understand a lot of the financial issues that we are facing today, and most importantly I am focused on improving student achievement,” he said. “I am volunteering my time for this position so that I an improve student achievement and get better results than what we see. Jordan, who graduated from Stephenson
High School in 1998, aid his teachers prepared him for college and life and he wants that for students today. “Over the last 10 years we have seen a precipitous decline in the quality of the public school system in DeKalb County,” he said. “ I don’t think the students in the system today have the same opportunities that I had 16 years ago when I graduated from high School.” The new School Board will hire the district’s next superintendent, and the four says they would look for someone with a track record of working in a system similar to DeKalb’s. Jordan said students need “wrap-around services” to support them. “The leadership in DeKalb still believe that we are a suburban county,” he said. “Well this problem that exist in the city now exist in DeKalb County, and we have to adapt our leadership to fit and match the new reality.” LeBlanc said the county new superitendent should be focussed primarily on improving student achievement. “We are moving to a charter system,” he said. “We should find someone who has experience in charter systems, especially experience in decentral-
What you should know about District 5 School Board candidates Vickie B. Turner 22 year resident of DeKalb. 24 years as an educator. Founder and headmaster of Augustine Preparatory Academy of Atlanta. Co-pastor of Augustine Chapel with her husband Robert Turner II. “I have a commitment to operate with the utmost integrity and teachers, students and parents will drive every decision that I make. I want people to know that I’m committed to stay the course and to stay focused and engage everyone at the table in productive dialogue for the good of the DeKalb County School system. And I will work as diligently as I can to find the right leader to be the next superintendent and take our school system to a place of prominence and excellence.”
Keep Your Current School Board Members
As voters go seat to identify
R. Alexander Fitzhugh Grew up in DeKalb and graduated from Towers High School. A parent, community volunteer and long-time activist in the school system. Has served every year since 1999 on PTAs, school councils. Is a member Father Being Involved (FBI) and other countywide educational planning committees. “I want the people to know that I am connected to the community through my involvement with the PTA. I’ve proven that I am trustworthy and care about the education of our children and will bring those qualities to the board. And I am a deeply religious man and all decisions and my conscience will not allow me to do anything that is detrimental to the well being of our students.”
Thad Mayfield [In A senior partner at FOCOM, inc., business development firm. A resident of and a long-time participant in DeKalb Georgia business communities and ci Served three terms on the Georgia Commissi
“I have volunteered 28 years of service to DeKalb Schools and through SPLOST to build new schools. I’m a business person who b district is off academic probation and on solid financial ground, we performance.”
District 42 Senate hopefuls s Melvin Johnson District 6
Joyce Morley District 7
Karen Carter District 4
Michael Erwin District 3
We currently serve on the DeKalb County School Board. Along with the other Board members, we have made major accomplishments over the course of the past fourteen months! To date, this Board has: • Put students first • Moved from accreditation probation to accreditation warning • Improved the budget development and monitoring process • Established a balanced budget
• Eliminated draining legal expenses • Reduced work place reduction (furlough) days • Helped to increase and improve operational efficiency • Helped to reestablish community trust and confidence
We need your support and your vote, in order to continue the excellent progress made thus far, in our efforts to return the DeKalb County School District back to its previous status as one of the highest-ranking systems in the nation.
★ Election Day May 20th ★ Paid for by Friends of Melvin Johnson, Joyce Morley 4 School Board, Friends of Karen Carter and Michael Erwin 4 School Board
By Ken Watts
Attorney Kyle Williams and nonprofit executive Elena Parent are vying to replace Sen. Jason Carter in District 42. At a May 6 forum at Agnes Scott College, the two Democrats sought to convince voters Elena Parent that they would be a stronger progressive voice for the district that stretches from Buford Highway to the north, Candler Park to the west, East Lake to the south, and Decatur to the east. Parent, who lives in Chamblee, is a former state representative who unseated a Republican in 2010 to take the House District 81 seat.
She left the House in 2012 rather than run against her friend and former law firm co-worker, state Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta), after Republicans redrew the political map and combined their districts. If she wins the seat on May 20, Parent said that after electing Kyle Williams Carter governor in November, she intends to champion a number of issues. “We’re going to go down to the Capitol and fully fund the school year, fully fund and expand pre-k, raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid and I can do all that with your help,” she said. Williams, who works with a Decatur law firm that handles land
May 17, 2014
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mbent in School Board District 3 izing the control process within county.” LeBLanc, a self-described “big proponent” of school choice, says principal should be empowered to manage their schools, and their teachers. “And teachers should be free to teach the way they want to teach,” he said. “They know the students better than we do and better than any board member ever would.” Bason says the superintendent should come from a district with similar demographics as DeKalb. “I think the person needs to be more of a listener,” she said. “I also believe the person need to make a long-term commitment.” Erwin said the district needs to find a superintendent who will continue the initiatives put in place by the school board. “We need a superintendent who will continue to build community and business relationships,” he said. “We need a superintendent, who is going to be able to deal with a diverse community such as ours, who will be a great manager of people.” Mosley said his superintendent must be a leader, not a follower. “He must have four basic things: discipline, leadership, priority, and accountability,” he said. “He must be able to respond on the spur of the
moment, and must be able to work with the board.” For the district to return to full acrediation, Erwin said board has “to stay in its lane” and not to be the day-to-day manager of the school system. “That was one of the major conflicts that we had with SACS.” he said. “The second thing is to follow the action items given by SACS.” Bason said that a strong board that takes a district-centered approach to decision making important. “It is going to be imperative that the board remain united in building consensus and compromise,” she said. “Sometimes we can get us in trouble when we are not listening to each other.” Jordan said Deal’s appointment of the board members was sobering for the county. “That wake up call allowed our county to elicit better qualified candidates to be on the school board,” he said. “So I don’t think we are going to have an issue in terms of the old board, new board and completing the SACS requirements.”
o to the polls on May 20, we asked the five candidates for the District 5 De Kalb School Board three things they want every voter to know about them before they cast their ballots.
Jesse “Jay” Cunningham Former School Board member. 50-year resident of DeKalbs. Lives in Lithonia. “I was founder and co-president of the South DeKalb Parent council and served as PTSA president at Martin Luther King High School. I was elected to two terms on the DeKalb School Board first in 2006 and re-elected in 2010 with over 65 percent of the vote. I was able to secure $280 million in construction for new schools, renovations, additions and elimination of school trailers and updating technology district-wide.”
Pia “Chaz Afzal” Bhatti, who is also a candidate for the District 5 seat did not respond.
ncumbent] a Georgia-based f Lithonia since 1984, b, Metro Atlanta and ivic organizations. ion on Equal Opportunity.
communities. I have helped raise over $1 billion believes in getting things done and now that the e need to improve teacher morale and student
stump as a progressive voice use issues, is a veteran community activist. He has served on the city of Decatur Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Zoning Rewrite Task Force; on DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ transition team; and on the board of the Decatur Education Foundation. The 10-year Decatur resident ran unsuccessfully for the Decatur City Commission District 2 in 2009. If elected, he would become the state’s first openly gay male senator. Williams wants to continue District 42’s long tradition of progressive advocacy on issues such as education, civil rights, marriage equality, and the environment. “This district has a place at the table to be a progressive advocate and to be a voice and not just be a vote,” Williams said. “This district has a position to speak up and say
that gutting our schools is unacceptable, disrespecting our teachers is unacceptable, listening to politicians as opposed to our own educators, scientists and our own doctors is unacceptable. That’s why I’m running.” Both candidates are well-funded headed into the primary. As of March 31, Parent had the edge with $140,965.19 cash on hand to Williams’ $104,464.51. Parent has received endorsements from more than a dozen state lawmakers and DeKalb County officials. Williams’ campaign has taken a more doorto-door approach, shaking hands with local residents and talking to community leaders. “We’ll build the grass-roots support to win this,” Williams said. “Don’t get distracted by who’s supporting who – what matters is who turns out on Election Day.”
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May 17, 2014
Candidates for sheriff share their visions for the office As voters head to the polls on May 20, we asked the eight candidates for DeKalb sheriff what they would like the voters to know about them before they cast their ballots. Here are their responses. Vernon Jones’ response was taken from his Web site.
Dale Bernard Collins, 55 MARTA Police training coordinator 40-year resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Conley. 26 years of service. Retired from DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office in 2010 as a lieutenant. Now MARTA training coordinator. Took leave of absence to run for sheriff. “I am a 26-year veteran of the DeKalb Sheriff Office. I worked, managed, trained and supervised in every division. I have worked in the jail’s emergency service. I managed court services and the jail divisions, and I am ready to work. I have vast experience. No one else that’s running has my experience. “I haven’t sat behind the desk. I have been on the streets. I have worked in every division. “And most importantly, you need someone who is going to do the right thing. “I know what’s going on, and I know what needs to be done.”
R. Tony Hughes, 42 DeKalb Police officer Born and raised in DeKalb County. Lives in Stone Mountain. 18-year veteran of the DeKalb Police Department and a former detention officer with the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office. “I am an experienced law enforcement officer. I am an honest man with the experience to move this county forward. I have a realistic, comprehensive plan to bring about change in public safety in the county. “If elected, I will collaborate with the police departments to keep our streets and schools safer and cleaner. DeKalb wants a leader of public safety, not a politician. We need someone who is committed to our public safety and will not abandon this early to go to seek another job. “If you vote me in for four years, I am obligated to serve you for four years. I believe this county is ready for a public servant who is a leader of public safety and not a politician and that’s who I am.”
Ted Golden, 54 Retired federal agent 24-year DeKalb County resident. Lives in Lithonia. Raised three boys in DeKalb School District and was president of band booster clubs at Southwest DeKalb and M.L. King Jr. High School. Retired with 28 years of service from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration on Jan. 25, 2014, to run for DeKalb sheriff. “I am committed to this county and to solving our problems. “I possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job. My background is both local and federal law enforcement, which makes me extremely qualified. “I want to put a cop in every school because parents should know that their kids are safe at school. “More than 70 percent of the people in the jail have not finished high school. There is an open door between the schoolhouse and the jail house and our kids are crawling through. We have got to cut it off. It takes a village to raise a child and it’s time to call out the village. “If we can fix our issues with education, it will solve a lot of the problems in the jail and I will collaborate with the school system, the CEO and the police to make this happen.”
Vernon Jones, 53 Consultant 30-year resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Lithonia. Former DeKalb County CEO for eight years and served as a state representative for eight years. Self-employed consultant. “As your next sheriff, I will clean up our streets, keep our citizens safe and make DeKalb a better place. I am committed to protecting seniors. I will reduce daytime crimes involving youth, create ‘Clean DeKalb’ detail and deputies will be visible in your neighborhood. “As your sheriff, I will commit to increasing the Sheriff Department’s participation in DeKalb County’s war on crime. “I will be committed to supporting and augmenting not only the DeKalb County Police Department, but all of the law enforcement agencies throughout DeKalb.”
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Larry Johnson DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Celebrating 12 Years of Dedicated Service!
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Serving Decatur, East Lake, Edgewood, Ellenwood, and Kirkwood. I will continue to work hard for you.
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The future depends on YOU!
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Experience, solutions among criteria cited most often Melody Maddox, 47 Former college assistant police chief Lifelong resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Decatur. Has 24 years of law enforcement experience. Spent the past six years as assistant chief of police with Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Pursuing a doctorate in business administration. Resigned in November 2013 to run for sheriff. “I will move quickly to address concerns of residents and employees. I will establish strong partnerships between all county law enforcement agencies and schools. I will include youth educational programs and post-release inmate development initiatives. “I will run an efficient, customer-friendly administration and improve departmental morale and relations between employee and employer. I will bring leadership with a level of integrity, honesty and humility and justice. I am no-nonsense and I believe in transparency. I will be the positive leadership that is needed in DeKalb County today.”
Jeff Mann, 51 Lawyer and incumbent sheriff 23-year resident of DeKalb County. A former DeKalb assistant county attorney, he ran the day-today operation of the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office Jail, Field, Court and Administrative divisions for 14 years. He was chief deputy sheriff, highest non-elected position in the office, for 10 years before his appointment as sheriff on Feb. 28. “I am the only candidate with 14 years of executivelevel management experience running the day-to-day operations of the department. That experience translates into an unblemished record. There has been no hint of impropriety, fiscal or otherwise. There has been no hint of mismanagement. And we have obtained and maintained the triple crown accreditations that only one percent of sheriff departments nationally have. We are operating on excellence, recognized by the National Sheriff Association. “Keep me your sheriff because of those factors.”
JACQUELINE L. ADAMS
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 86
VOTE
REPRESENT • ADVOCATE FOCUS
MAY 20TH
I will represent District 86, and work with legislators to continue to make our county a place we all can live, enjoy, and raise our families. As an advocate, I will work to improve the quality of life in DeKalb County,focus on improving our education system, and continue to pursue quality healthcare to Georgia families. I will work to assist the DeKalb Ethics Board and independent auditors' agencies that work to establish public trust. I will work with residents, businesses, and churches to address issues that affect us the most:
YOU HAVE THE POWER • TIME FOR A CHANGE PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JACQUELINE L ADAMS
Affordable and Accessible Healthcare • Quality Education • Quality Jobs
LEARN MORE WWW.ADAMS4ACTION.COM
V te
Tuesday, May 20
Watch the Board of Education candidate videos and find out more about your candidates at
www.itsforthemdekalb.org.
Melvin Mitchell, 53 Atlanta Police officer 20-year resident of DeKalb County. Has more than 30 years experience with Atlanta Police Department, was executive director of the Police Athletic League. “I am compassionate about people. I want people to feel safe in DeKalb County again. I want to ensure that the violent offenders who are wanted are apprehended and taken off the street. “And I am passionate about working with youths to give them an alternative from drugs, crime, jail and gangs. I have worked with the Police Athletic League for six years to foster and mentor youths. I will partner and collaborate with all the police chiefs in the county to ensure it’s safe.”
LaSalle Smith, 66, business owner Lifelong resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Lithonia. Has 40 years in law enforcement with the Atlanta Police Department, the FBI and the GBI. President and CEO of his own security firm, Georgia Security Professionals LLC. “I am committed to work to make DeKalb County the safest place in the nation for individuals and families to live, play and work and for businesses to run and be productive without fear of becoming victims of criminal activity. I want to put professionalism back into politics. “As your sheriff, I will do all within my powers, working in concert with all entities, law enforcement, other criminal justice and governmental agencies, the school system, businesses, communities, neighborhoods and faith-based organizations, in an effort to make DeKalb County the greatest county in these United States of America to live, conduct business, work and enjoy life as a whole.”
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CrossRoadsNews
May 17, 2014
E N DOR SED BY PRESID EN BARACK T OBAMA
Rep. John Lewis: “We need Hank’s leadership...his vision...his commitment. We need his dedica�on now more than ever before. He will always do the right thing. I know where this young man stands. I know his heart. He will never, ever let the people of this district down.” –– Rep. John Lewis Hank delivers for veterans, seniors and families – with more than $32 million in cons�tuent services.
Hank delivers on the House Judiciary and Armed Services commi�ees, and is known as a champion of consumers, workers and the middle class.
Hank delivers for homeowners, helping more than 1,700 prevent foreclosure and Hank was named one of the 100 Most keep their homes. Influen�al Georgians by Georgia Trend Hank delivers for the Fourth District with magazine. more than $250 million for teachers and schools, public safety, roads, bridges and transporta�on.
Hank takes care of home first by helping the people of the Fourth Congressional District with large and small issues affec�ng our daily lives.
Hank’s growing seniority in Congress posi�ons him strategically to be even more effec�ve for us – and for all of Georgia.
Let’s deliver Hank back to Washington on May 20 so he can continue working for us. HankForCongress.com 404-447-7475 Paid for by the Commi�ee to Re-Elect Henry “Hank“ Johnson for Congress.
ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA