Serving DeKalb & Metro Atlanta Volume 17 Number 16
www.ocgnews.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2011
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DeKalb launches Lithonia elections: ‘A big mess’ secondhand smoke campaign
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eKalb County is launching a campaign this month to educate the public on the dangers of secondhand smoke. The DeKalb County Board of Health’s Picture DeKalb Healthy campaign will include radio, online and newspaper Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford advertisements in English and Spanish. The campaign, supported by the agency’s DeKalb Putting Prevention to Work program, will also host special events to help residents understand more about exposure to secondhand smoke. “There is simply no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke,” said Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, DeKalb County Board of Health’s district director. “Picture DeKalb Healthy demonstrates our commitment to helping residents breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives.” Despite DeKalb having a low rate of people who smoke – 11 percent in DeKalb vs. 21 percent of adults nationally – everyone is at risk for exposure to secondhand smoke, officials said. Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals and can cause numerous health problems, including cancer, heart disease, asthma attacks, respiratory and ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can be dangerous, health officials say. “Through this campaign, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of reducing secondhand smoke exposure and motivate people to look for ways to create and support smoke-free environments in their communities,” said Arlene Parker Goldson, chair of the DeKalb County Board of Health. “It is one step in our multi-pronged approach to helping residents live tobacco-free.” Health officials, along with elected officials, community partners and residents will unveil the print advertising aspect of the campaign at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts and Community Center on Nov. 17 at noon. The event will also showcase artwork developed by DeKalb students who participated in the Board of Health’s Red Ribbon Week art contest. For more on the student contest winners, see page 8. Get Involved Residents interested in creating and supporting smoke-free environments are encouraged to join Live Healthy DeKalb, a group of organizations, agencies, faithbased groups, businesses and residents working together to create a healthier DeKalb County. For more information on Live Healthy DeKalb, visit www.dekalbhealth. net. Residents looking for support and resources to quit smoking are encouraged to call the Georgia QuitLine at 1-877-270-STOP. INSIDE
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City Attorney Winston Denmark
Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen de Cocq
U.S. Department of Justice never gave clearance for city’s special elections By Valerie J. Morgan
LITHONIA— Across DeKalb County, the Nov. 8 municipal elections ran smoothly for the most part, Elections Director Maxine Daniels said. But three days after the elections—Nov. 11— turmoil erupted in the city of Lithonia so much that residents there are uncertain when or if the top picks will join mayorelect Deborah Jackson on the Council. Two of those elected—Pat Miller, a registered nurse who received 132 votes, and Tracy-Ann Williams, an office administrator who earned 101 votes—were supposed to be sworn in on Nov. 14. Their installations were abruptly canceled after a special called City Council meeting was held Nov. 11. City attorney Winston Denmark told the council the special election that Miller and Williams won could be thrown out. Lithonia never submitted the proper documents—city minutes or a resolution—to the U.S. Justice Department to fill the unexpired terms of Deborah Jackson and Al Franklin, who left their seats to run for mayor. “I cannot emphasize to the city enough that this is a critically important issue. The elections could be voided,”
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Voters and candidates crowd the doors of the Union Missionary Baptist Church precinct in anticipation of election results.
Deborah Jackson
Shameka Reynolds
Darold P. Honore’ Jr.
Denmark said. Additionally, questions are being raised about the residency of funeral director Shameka Reynolds, who overwhelming won a four-year seat in the city’s General Election. At the council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen de Cocq said Reynolds qualified to run with an address that straddles the city’s boundaries with only a tiny portion of the property located within the city limits. Property tax records show the address as one located in unincorporated DeKalb with taxes being paid to the county—not the city. Residents who live in the city limits have the burden of paying two property taxes—those that go to city, as well as those that go to county.
Patricia L. Miller
Tracy-Ann Williams
And in yet a third upset, three hours after the special called Council meeting, write-in candidate Drucilla Woods was eliminated from the elections. The DeKalb Elections Board decided at its 4:30 p.m. meeting that Woods’ notice of intention to run in the city’s General Election was not published in The Champion newspaper, the legal organ, by the proper deadline. With the board’s decision not to certify any of the votes Woods received, Darold Honore’ was officially declared the winner. Even without the board’s decision, however, Honore’ received 89 votes versus Woods’ 86 votes, official elections results show. See Lithonia, page 5
Sunday alcohol sales gets nod
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By Joshua Smith
hen Sundays roll around, the lights in the beer and alcohol sections of stores and other businesses will be turned on—not off—in Snellville and Lawrenceville. Sunday alcohol sales in both cities start on Nov. 20. Both Gwinnett County cities are among the first in the metro Jerry Luquire Atlanta area to take advantage of the referendum residents passed on Nov. 8 permitting packaged alcohol sales on Sundays. The City of Decatur will be the first in DeKalb County to permit Sunday sales starting on Nov. 27. Other cities, including Lithonia and city of Atlanta, plan to wait until the New Year to let businesses turn their alcohol lights on seven days a week. Restaurants in the metro area have long been permitted to pour on Sundays. “It will take a bit of patchwork across the state as jurisdictions work on the legal and bureaucratic procedures to officially begin
Sunday sales in their cities,” said Jason Bragg, government affairs manager with the Georgia Food Industry Association. “Several local governments have yet to decide when they will actually begin selling packaged beer and liquor.” The Sunday alcohol sales bill, Senate Bill 10, was not on the Nov. 8 ballot statewide. State lawmakers this year ended the recurring debate over one of the country’s few remaining blue laws by giving local communities the power to decide for themselves. The Distilled Sprits Council of the United States estimates Sunday sales will raise $4.8 million in taxes
statewide. In the Barrow County city of Winder, where Sunday sales began on Nov. 13, many residents say more liquor sales will mean more economy. “I think this will help city profits and put money back into the pockets of our small business owners,” said Christopher Heard, a 29-year-old construction worker. Not everyone is glad the referendum passed. Some, including Jerry Luquire, president of the Georgia Christian Coalition, were very disappointed. “I was perplexed that more voters at the polls didn’t support our opposition to Sunday alcohol sales,” Luquire said. “More people buying alcohol on Sundays will increase the chance of deaths and more alcoholrelated tragedies for families.” Luquire, who has headed the coalition since 2006, says the coalition plans to continue to urge voters in other parts of Georgia to vote against packaged alcohol sales on Sundays. The fight, he said, is about saving more lives—not selling alcohol. Voters in counties such as Cobb and Rockdale are slated to decide on March 6 if Sunday alcohol sales will be permitted in their counties.