VOLUME 22 NUMBER 35
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DECEMBER 10, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Low voter turnout for District 7 runoff
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o one knows for sure whether rain or apathy is to blame for the low voter turnout in the Dec. 6 District 7 runoff, but DeKalb County Elections Supervisor Maxine Daniels says she wasn’t surprised that only 3 percent of the 212,000 active voters on the rolls participated. “It’s about what I expected because it was right after the General Election. They (voters) did all they were going to do by voting in the Presidential election in November,” said Daniels. “They just weren’t coming back in December for a smaller election. That’s typical.” Daniels said each of the 101 precincts in District 7 averaged about 50 voters on election night. At one point, Gregory Adams was leading by just one vote. He had 317 votes. Randal Mangham had 316. Also, not one voter showed up at the Clarkston precinct on election night. “It was in Clarkston, where we didn’t have anyone to come out and vote but there were only 163 voters in that part of Clarkston that were eligible to participate any way,” said Daniels. “When you look at the fact that we were only averaging 50 voters at some of the larger precincts, it’s not surprising that Clarkston didn’t have any voters.” Adams said low turnout or not, he feels blessed that his supporters made it to the polls. “God is good and I am so thankful. He helped me to come through this,” said Adams, who is not only a police officer but a pastor as well.
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Adams wins DeKalb’s District 7 runoff, ready to go to work
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By Valerie J. Morgan
regory Adams says he plans to attend his first meeting as DeKalb County’s newly-elected Super District 7 commissioner
on Dec. 13. Adams, an Emory University police officer who has never before held public office, received 3,539 votes (52.24 percent of the 6,790 total votes), beating his opponent, Randal Mangham, a former state legislator who received 3,236 votes (47.7 percent), according to unofficial results from the DeKalb Supervisor of Elections Office. Adams thanked his wife, family and supporters for their hard work on his campaign. “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my wife of 36 years, Jacqueline Adams, and our six children for pushing me and believing in me throughout this campaign,” said Adams. “Additionally, I would like to thank those who were sound supporters of our campaign, including, but not limited to: the love of my life, Jacqueline Adams, Commissioner Larry Johnson, Councilwoman Anne Lerner, Representative Karla Drenner, Sheriff Thomas Brown, Superior Court Clerk Debra Deberry, Mayor Donna Pittman, Attorney Gina Mangham, Diane Adoma, George Chidi, Paul Maner, and our campaign consultant, DeUndre Eberhart.” Adams congratulated his opponent on a hardfought campaign, a race that began with nine candidates vying for the seat in the general election. Adams received 26 percent of the vote and Mangham 16 percent in the nine-way race. Since neither candidate received more than half the votes, a runoff was required. Adams said a dedicated campaign team kept him focused on his message to voters.
Gregory Adams gets a hug from his wife, Jacqueline, at his victory party, which was held at Marlow’s Tavern in Atlanta. Photo provided.
“Our campaign remained focused on reclaiming, reviving and rebuilding DeKalb--and that’s what I plan on working with my fellow commissioners and the residents of DeKalb County to do,” said Adams. Adams said he plans to start immediately in his new position and will be sworn in as soon as the election numbers are certified. “We have a lot of pressing issues that must be adSee DeKalb’s District 7, page 6
State Rep. Dawkins-Haigler poised for global role
tate Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler is poised to do more to expand her role in spreading global networking and fostering economic development opportunities around the world. At the Capitol on March 7, Dawkins-Haigler honored Segun Ogunsanya, the CEO of one of the largest telecommunications companies in Nigera, as she announced the U.S. launch of the Organization of World Leaders (OWL). Dawkins-Haigler founded the consortium of global leaders in business, government, health and law last year while visiting Dubai and decided to expand OWL with its launch in the U.S. “Most people see me only in my legislative role and not for the global work that I have been doing for the past 12 years,” said Dawkins-Haigler, who will be returning to Dubai on Dec. 10 to induct ambassadors and prime ministers from around the world into the Women’s International Hall of Fame, another effort she founded.
State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler and members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus honored Segun Ogunsanya Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
The Dubai trip is one of several that Dawkins-Haigler has scheduled abroad as she wraps up her tenure this month as a state legislator and turns to a new chapter in her life. She says she’ll be taking others with her abroad, including Africa, through an initiative called “Global Give Back.” “The goal is to take people to the continent who have never been
before,” said Dawkins-Haigler. “We want to show people how to build wealth and showcase the success of others. We want to change the world one leader at a time.” Dawkins-Haigler said that Ogunsanya is one of those success stories. As CEO of Airtel Network, Limited, the third largest telecommunications company for subscriber-based cus-
tomers and the second largest in Nigeria, Ogunsanya’s Airtel earns $1.5 billion in revenues per year. Dawkins-Haigler said she met Ogunsanya in London during a conference of leaders from around the world. State Sen. Gloria Butler, who, as the out-going vice chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, helped to welcome Ogunsanya, applauded Haigler for her global work. Butler was one of the state lawmakers who traveled with Dawkins-Haigler last year to Nigeria and in 2014, she traveled with Dawkins-Haigler to Dubai. “I had never been to Africa so I was glad that I made the trip. I met many people that I learned a lot from. I enjoy learning. You’re never too old to learn and I think we should take advantage of these opportunities,” said Butler. “I’m excited for Dee as she continues the global work that she was involved in before coming to the State Legislature.”