VOLUME 21 NUMBER 36
FREE
DECEMBER 5, 2015
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
VanNess wins Senate District 43 in very close runoff
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By Valerie J. Morgan
epublican JaNice Van Ness edged out Democratic challenger Tonya P. Anderson in a close runoff to represent Senate District 43, which covers DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton counties. Van Ness, a Conyers resident who formerly served on the Rockdale Board of Commissioners, defeated Anderson, a Lithonia resident who formerly served as the House representative for District 92, by 88 votes. The Dec. 1 special election was held to fill the unexpired term of Ron Ramsey, a Democrat who stepped down in July to accept a judge’s appointment in DeKalb. “I’m just so thankful. We worked so hard. Every day we were up at 5 a.m. and we worked late every night,” Van Ness said of her supporters. “I think being engaged with voters is what really paid off.” Van Ness and her supporters waited for the results to come in at the Seven Gables restaurant in Conyers. There was food and beverages. The mood, however, was cautious—not celebratory. Even after all of the results were in, Van Ness had not yet declared a victory. Instead, she made her way around thanking and hugging supporters. Others didn’t waste time celebrating her victory, though. “Tonight’s victory in Senate District 43 proves that Georgia Republicans can win anywhere,” said Georgia GOP chair John Padgett. Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Matt Walter echoed Padgett. Walter sent out a news release praising Van Ness for turning a once staunchly blue district red again. “A civic leader, education activist, and smallbusiness owner, I am thrilled to welcome JaNice Van Ness to the ever-growing ranks of Republican state legislators today. In a district that President Obama carried with 72 percent of the vote, it’s clear that JaNice’s impressive resume and conservative message resonated with voters — enabling her to turn a once staunchly blue district red again, while expanding our majority in the chamber,” Walter said in the release. Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter could not be reached for comment, despite an e-mail and calls to his office. Porter, however, saw a critical need to support Anderson, endorsing her for the runoff. “Rep. Tonya Anderson has a proven record of fighting for Georgia’s families, championing the principles and values that ensure that no Georgian is ever left behind.
JaNice Van Ness hugs a supporter during a low-key celebration at the Seven Gables restaurant in Conyers, where she waited for results to come in on election night. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
“I think being engaged with voters is what really paid off.” – JaNice Van Ness For years, Tonya has demonstrated a deep commitment to her community with hard work and an unwavering advocacy for the people she represents. She is driven by a sense of duty, exemplified by her military service. Tonya is the serious, proven public servant that SD 43 deserves, and I am proud to give her my endorsement and full
support,” Porter had said in a statement. Anderson dominated in DeKalb, receiving 91.75 percent or 1,023 votes, and in Newton County, where she received 50.67 percent or 1,052 votes. Van Ness, on the other hand, received 49.33 percent (1,024) in Newton and captured Rockdale with 61.75 percent (2,748), winning the runoff. Van Ness said she believes she received many crossover votes because she worked to educate people and she has served the entire community. “I worked my own homebase. I focused on Rockdale where residents know who I am and what I stand for. I was a commissioner for eight years in Rockdale. I have worked for the entire community,” said Van Ness. Van Ness said the tentative date for her swearing-in ceremony is Dec. 18. She said she would provide more details as information becomes available.
InComm to invest $20 million in Atlanta expansion, create 275 jobs ATLANTA – InComm, an innovator in payments and transactions technology, will create 275 jobs and invest $20 million in metro Atlanta starting immediately and continuing through 2016, city officials have announced. “Our city has emerged as a major hub for the Financial Technology industry and as a center of innovation because of our world-class colleges and universities, our strong pool of local talent, and our support of startups and entrepreneurs,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “InComm has taken advantage of these resources to build its business and become the industry leader it is today. InComm is part of the Atlanta community, and we look forward to growing and prospering together.” InComm plans to add at least 50,000 square feet of office space, which will include its downtown Atlanta and Alpharetta offices, adding 100 new jobs at its Peachtree Corners call center and opening a new data center in Suwannee. The Georgia Department of Labor will assist InComm throughout the hiring phase of the project. “Our company is continuously being recruited by states across America to expand our workforce or deepen infrastructure investments away from InComm’s Atlanta headquarters,” said Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Scott Meyerhoff. “However, the state of Georgia and several local governments have demonstrated their commitment to keeping us here by creating a favorable economic environment for us to develop talent through our innovative internship program and university partnerships with Georgia Tech, Georgia State, University of Georgia and Kennesaw State.” Gov. Nathan Deal applauded InComm’s university partnerships and investments into the metro area. “Today, 70 percent of the country’s financial transactions are processed through systems operated by Georgia-based companies,” said Deal. “Georgia’s
students are among the best and brightest. Their talent and skills paired with the established infrastructure for technology in our state offer valuable resources for innovative and growing high-tech companies. InComm’s decision to continue investing and creating jobs in Metro Atlanta speaks to Georgia’s status as a hub for the financial technology industry.” Since InComm launched in 1992 in a garage with a single computer, it has grown into a $30 billion-plus company with 1 billion consumers. The company offers reloadable debit cards, gift cards, digital music downloads and prepaid wireless products, just to name a few of its services. Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Director of Entrepreneur & Small Business Development for Region 3 Mary Ellen McClanahan represented the Global Commerce division on the expansion project and worked with Invest Atlanta, Georgia Power and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “We congratulate InComm on its significant growth and are thrilled that the company has chosen metro Atlanta for its expanded operations. InComm’s decision to invest in our region and create jobs is another example of Atlanta’s strength as a leading FinTech hub,” said Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.