VOLUME 21 NUMBER 24
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SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
‘We Want Justice’
Community coalition blasts DeKalb’s public safety director By Joshua Smith A coalition of activists, attorneys and families who have lost loved ones in police-involved shootings are blasting DeKalb County’s Public Safety Director Cedric Alexander for slighting them. Members of the DeKalb County Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability (DCCJPA) are angry that Alexander failed to show up for a Sept. 10 meeting to hear their concerns. They also said they are upset that neither Alexander nor anyone else from the DeKalb Police Department has apologized to the families of those who have been killed or injured by police. “How can Mr. Alexander be on CNN like every other week giving his expertise on police practices across the country when Activists, attorneys and angry family members have united to demand answers and condolences from his own police department is DeKalb County Police. out of control?” said Makungu M. Akinyela. “What you see here is a refuse to acknowledge families and are in pain. Even today, Mr. Alexander sort of pattern to continue to resist and show some compassion. These families continues to kind of spit in the faces of
Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News
these families.” Jacquelyn Bradley is one of those who said she feels the pain. Her cousin, Troy Robinson, was tased by police after running from them in August. Robinson was on an eight-foot wall when he fell, broke his neck and later died after being tased. See Justice page 6
69 qualify for municipal races in DeKalb, Rockdale
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total of 69 candidates have thrown their names in the hat for the Nov. 3 municipal elections scheduled in 10 cities in DeKalb County and one city in neighboring Rockdale County. The qualifying period for the municipal seats was held Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. The city of Conyers in Rockdale is the only municipality among 11 cities where all three incumbents on the ballot face no opposition and will keep their seats. Supervisor of Elections Cynthia Welch says even with the unopposed seats, however, ballots still must be printed so that voters can participate in the special election to choose someone to fill the State Senate District 43 seat, which was vacated by Ron Ramsey. The former long-time state senator recently relinquished his seat to accept an appointment as an associate judge in DeKalb County’s new traffic court. District 43 covers Rockdale and portions of DeKalb and Newton counties. Here’s a look at the positions voters in DeKalb and Rockdale will be deciding: Avondale Estates
Election 2015 Important Dates: Sept. 22: National Voter Registration Day Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote Oct. 12-30: Early voting Nov. 3: Municipal elections, Special Elections for unexpired terms Dec. 1: Special Runoff Residents will elect a mayor and two city commissioners. In the city’s mayoral race, incumbent Jonathen Elmore is running unopposed. Residents will elect two at-large City Commissioners in a five-way race that includes incumbent John Quinn, Brian Fisher, John Pomberg, Todd Pullen and Adela Yelton. Brookhaven Residents will elect a mayor and two City Council members. Three people are running for mayor including incumbent Rebecca Chase Williams, Dale Boone and John Ernst. Two are running for City Council, District 1: incumbent Linley Jones and Eve Erdogan.
Incumbent Bates Mattison faces no opposition for the District 3 seat. Chamblee Three City Council seats are open and will be on the ballot. The City Council, District 2 race includes incumbent Leslie C. Robson and e Verl C. Van Hoozen. The District 3 race includes incumbent Thomas Hogan, II and Clara Azcunes de Ojeda. The council member at-large race contestants are incumbent Dan Zanger and opponent Darron Kusman. The City of Clarkston There are five challengers for three at large City Council seats:
incumbent Warren Hadlock, Beverly H. Burks, Birendra Dhakal, Awet “Howard” Eyasu and Mario Williams. City of Decatur Residents will decide on three seats for their City Commission and two Board of Education seats. City Commissioner, District 1, Post B race includes incumbent Scott Drake, Eric Tumperi and Valencia Monique Breedlove. City Commissioner, District 2, Post B are James M. Johnson and Brian Smith. Incumbent Kecia Cunningham is not seeking re-election. City Commissioner At Large candidates are Anthony “Tony” Powers and John P. Ridley. The Board of Education, District 1, Post B seat candidate is Christopher Garrett Goebel, who is running unopposed. The Board of Education, District 2, Post B race candidates are Tasha R. White and Thomas R. DeSimone See Election, page 6