VOLUME 21 NUMBER 25
FREE
SEPTEMBER 19, 2015
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Cabral Franklin, son of former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, dies of cancer
Diane Adoma
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ondolences are pouring in from around the country via social media for Cabral Franklin, political advisor and son of former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Cabral Franklin died Tuesday (Sept. 15) from complications of lung cancer. News of his sudden death stunned many in Georgia political circles who had learned last year that he was diagnosed with lung cancer, though he was not a smoker. He was 41 years old, married and the father of two daughters. Shirley Franklin, who was mayor of Atlanta from 2002 to 2010, thanked those who have been praying for her family. “My dear son passed away today surrounded by his family. He was deeply loved. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” the former mayor said in a statement on Tuesday. Charles Steele, president and CEO of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said Cabral Franklin was one who was destined to become a “major political player.” “Cabral was a political genius much like his late father, David Franklin, a pioneer Black political kingmaker who orchestrated the historic election of Mayor Maynard Jackson,” said Steele. “Cabral represented a new generation of Black, brilliant, behindthe-scenes Southern political strategists who were children and beneficiaries of the Civil Rights Movement. Cabral was destined to become a major political player; he was destined to make a major difference in our nation. My sincere condolences.” The state’s Democratic Party considered Franklin, managing partner of Franklin Communications LLC, one of the party’s most important members. “It’s difficult to make a statement about the passing of a friend and a colleague who is admired as much as Cabral Franklin. The sadness is profound. Cabral was a stalwart for Democratic politics and policies. He was brilliant, See Franklin page 6
Sharon Sawyer
Tonya Anderson
Marcus Jordan
Angela Moore
Rodney Upton
JaNice Van Ness
Stanley Williams
State Senate District 43 draws a crowd of challengers, shuffling begins By Valerie J. Morgan and Joshua Smith
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ine contestants have qualified for the state Senate District 43 seat including State Rep. Tonya Anderson; Janice Van Ness, chair of the Rockdale Republican Party; and Stanley Williams, vice chair of the Rockdale Democratic Party, all of whom are giving up their positions to run. The candidates in the special election, set for Nov. 3, are vying for a chance to represent about 44,000 residents in Rockdale, 40,000 in Newton, and about 22,000 residents in DeKalb. The winner will replace Ron Ramsey, who was serving his fifth term in office and had another year left on his two-year term, which expires at the end of 2016. Ramsey vacated the seat in July to accept Gov. Nathan Deal’s appointment as a judge in DeKalb County’s new traffic court. Deal called for the special election
earlier this month to replace Ramsey and a floodgate opened. “We’re definitely surprised by the number of candidates who have gotten in the race. There clearly is a lot of interest in it,” said Cynthia Welch, director of Rockdale’s Board of Elections & Voter Registration Office. “With so many in the race, I think we’ll see a runoff.” If required, a runoff would be held Dec. 1 to narrow the nine-way race to the two top vote-getters. Although nine are in the race now, 10 candidates actually qualified. Sherri Washington, a Conyers resident and attorney, qualified on Sept.15 but withdrew after State Rep. Anderson qualified the next day. Washington said she decided instead to run for Anderson’s seat—House District 92. Washington said she plans to put her name in the hat when the governor announces the qualifying period for the House District 92 special election. The
announcement is expected soon because the special election also will be held on Nov. 3 with several municipal elections are scheduled. Washington previously ran for State House District 92 and former State House District 94. Meanwhile, most of the candidates running for District 43 are declaring their party affiliations, even though the special election is non-partisan. Diane Adoma, a Lithonia resident, is among them. She announced that she is running as a Republican in the race. Just last year, Adoma ran as a Democrat. She was defeated in the 2004 Democratic Party primary in her bid for State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler’s seat. “When it really comes down to it, I’m purple. I support views on both sides of the aisle,” said Adoma, an H& R Block franchisee. “After really sitting down and See District 43, page 6
Sherry Boston announces bid for DeKalb District Attorney DeKalb County Solicitor-General Sherry Boston has announced she will seek DeKalb District Attorney Robert James’ seat in 2016, promising to root out corruption and restore a broken system. “I am seeking a new day for the people of DeKalb County. I want anyone, anywhere at any time to be proud to say that you live, work, visit DeKalb County,” said Boston. “DeKalb’s current crisis didn’t just suddenly appear like some bolt from the blue. They’re the product of years of failure, by this District Attorney to safeguard public integrity through his own incompetence or his complicity with a broken system.” Boston, who was flanked by several supporters, announced her candidacy on Sept. 16 on the steps of the DeKalb Histo- Sherry Boston was flanked by State Sen. Elena Parent, State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams, family members ry Center in downtown Decatur. and other supporters at the DeKalb History Center, where she made her announcement. Boston criticized James for not complying with open records requests, to give special documents to investigators County government. saying he must hold himself to the same Mike Bowers and Richard Hyde, who standard as any other elected official. She were hired by interim CEO Lee May See Boston, page 8 said James was uncooperative when asked to look into corruption within DeKalb