WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
APRIL 28, 2018 • PAGE 5
ELECTION COVERAGE
A slew of incumbents face challengers in local elections State Rep. Michele Henson, District 86 State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams, District 87 State Rep. Pam Stephenson, District 90 State Rep. Karen Bennett, District 94
Larry Johnson L-R: Judge Courtney Johnson and her opponent Attorney Genet Hopewell at a candidate forum. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan
D
by Valerie J. Morgan
eKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson is being challenged by long-time Attorney Genet Hopewell in the non-partisan election on May 22. Johnson is seeking her third term. She was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Hopewell is a partner at Johnson Hopewell Coleman, where DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is also a partner in the law firm. She has sat as a judge in DeKalb’s recorder’s, magistrate and juvenile courts. The hotly contested race is one of several local races where DeKalb incumbents are facing challengers including:
Gregory Adams
Earnest “Coach” Williams
DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson DeKalb District 7 Commissioner Gregory Adams DeKalb School Board District 2 Board member Marshall Orson State Sen. Fran Millar, District 40 State Sen. Steve Henson, District 41 State Sen. Gale Davenport, District 44 State Sen. Tonya Peterson, District 43 State Sen. Gloria Butler, District 55 State Rep. Taylor Bennett, District 80 State Rep. Scott Holcomb, District 81 State Rep. Howard Mosby, District 83
At a recent candidates’ forum, the contest between Hopewell and Judge Johnson got heated. Hopewell criticized Judge Johnson for refusing to allow a public defender to take a break during a trial last June, forcing the woman to “pee” on herself. Hopewell said she would bring more fairness and compassion to the bench. The Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission is investigating the incident. “There are some of my political opponents who are making allegations against me that are untrue and are false allegations. I have always treated everyone who has appeared before me with fairness, dignity and respect,” said Judge Johnson, who said she hopes she will be judged on record and her experience. The race to fill the seat of retiring Superior Court Judge Dan Coursey has lots of choices. Six candidates are vying for the seat: Tunde Akinyele, Gina Bernard, Roderick Bridges, Kirby Clements Jr., Latisha Dear-Jackson and Nicholas Smith. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, the runoff will be held on July 24.
DeKalb, Rockdale elections officials appointed to commission to review Georgia’s next voting system Details on the calendar of meetings and locations for the commission will be released at a later date, according to Kemp’s office. The SAFE Commission’s members include the following: Co-Chairs Secretary of State Brian Kemp State Representative Barry A. Fleming (R – Harlem)
H. Maxine Daniels
Cynthia Welch
H. Maxine Daniels, retired director of Voter Registration & Elections in DeKalb County, and Cynthia Welch, supervisor of Rockdale County Board of Elections & Voter Registration, have been appointed to Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s 18-member SAFE Commission. Kemp created the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission (SAFE) to study options for Georgia’s next voting system. The SAFE Commission will conduct thorough discussions on all options – including the feasibility of using all hand-marked paper ballots to all electronic machines with a voter-verified paper trail – and travel the state to solicit feedback from stakeholders. Members will conduct cost analysis of market options, research post-election audit procedures, and provide legislative recommendations to lawmakers before the next session of Georgia’s General Assembly. "This distinguished group of public servants is diverse, knowledgeable, and ready to engage with stakeholders to research the options for our state's next voting system," said Kemp. "It is an honor to serve alongside these individuals, who are committed to an open, transparent, and inclusive process where we set our politics aside and focus on how we can keep Georgia’s elections secure, accessible, and fair.” Daniels, who retired last year as DeKalb’s elections supervisor, said she is looking forward to serving on the commission and developing a report for the future. “Even though I have retired, I am still very interested in the elections,” said Daniels. “I’m excited that I was selected for the commission. Welch said she also is looking forward to serving. “I really appreciate being selected.It will be the beginning of looking at improvements and establishing a timeline to implement those changes after receiving input from the community, ” said Welch.
State Legislators State Representative James Beverly (D – Macon) State Senator Lester Jackson (D – Savannah) State Senator Brian Strickland (R – McDonough) Elections Officials Lynn Bailey, Executive Director, Richmond County Board of Elections Nancy Boren, Director of Elections & Voter Registration, Muscogee County H. Maxine Daniels, retired director of Voter Registration & Elections, DeKalb County Deidre Holden, Supervisor of Elections & Voter Registration, Paulding County Darin McCoy, Probate Judge and Election Superintendent, Evans County Cynthia Welch, supervisor, Rockdale County Board of Elections & Voter Registration Office Information Technology and Cyber Security Expert Wenke Lee, Co-Executive Director, Georgia Tech’s Institute for Information Security & Privacy (IISP) Political Party Representatives Michael Jablonski, General Counsel, Democratic Party of Georgia John Monds, Libertarian Party of Georgia, Executive Committee Vincent Russo, Deputy General Counsel, Georgia Republican Party Voter Accessibility Expert Amy Howell, Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel, Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Voters At-Large James “Jimmy” McDonald, Managing Principal, McDonald Firm, LLC Sheila Ross, director of Capital Litigation, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia
Photo by Glenn. L Morgan
Stacey Abrams for Governor kicks off Early Voting bus tour
O
n Monday, April 30, the first day of early voting, candidate for governor and former House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams will kick off a bus tour throughout Georgia. She will be joined by Uzo Aduba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Aisha Hinds, Rashida Jones, and local leaders as they visit Atlanta, Albany, Macon, Fort Valley, Columbus and Atlanta. The bus tour stops in Macon, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 1501 Mercer University Dr. Abrams and the group will be in Fort Valley, 10:15-11:15 a.m., at 1005 State University Drive. The bus will be in Albany from 12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Ray Charles Memorial Riverfront Trail. From 3 to -4:30 p.m., the group will be at the Emmanuel Christian Community Church, 1819 Midtown Drive, Columbus. The tour wraps up in Atlanta, where the group will gather from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Gathering Spot, 384 Northyards Blvd. N.W. Abrams has picked up several key endorsements including the Georgia Association of Educators, Care in Action, which represents 2.5 million domestic workers, the Caring Across Generations Action Fund, a project of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, announced and the board of Georgia Equality, which announced its choice for the 83rd governor of the Peach State on April 19. Abrams, a Democrat, was minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017, the first African-American to serve in that position. She was first elected to the Georgia House in 2007. If elected, Abrams would become the nation’s first African-American female governor. According to the board of Georgia Equality’s press release, Jeff Graham, executive director, said “I’m very excited that the board has chosen to endorse Stacey Abrams. Not only is she exceptionally strong on LGBTQ issues, I believe she has an effective strategy to win in November. “It is important for the LGBTQ community and our allies to recognize the importance of this race in terms of continuing to keep Georgia free of anti-LGBTQ laws. Stacey Abrams has not only supported our issues, she has actively supported openly LGBTQ candidates at the legislative level and has been instrumental in building the progressive infrastructure across issues that will make Georgia a better place for all to live, work, and visit.”
PAGE 6 • APRIL 28, 2018
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
eKalb County Board of D Commissioners: District 3
Dee Dawkins Haigler
Larry Johnson
Stacey Abrams
Felton Wright
Larry Johnson, Incumbent Public Health Educator
Why are you running for re-election? I want to continue to use my over 25 years in public service, experience and effectiveness to build on the great assets of the people of District 3 by getting our roads paved, cutting county taxes, help in recruiting strong businesses, making our parks and recreation stronger for our children and seniors and building a strong public safety and prevention infrastructure. Some of my key accomplishments include supporting: • $100,000,000 investment in infrastructure improvements in District 3 including the pavement of roads, more sidewalks and parks and greenspace. • $7.2 million to clean the buildup of grease and the removal of oils along the more than 5,000 miles of water and wastewater pipes. • Investment in public safety by securing funding for the new South Precinct Headquarters, supporting pay increase for sworn police, fire and medical examiner employees, 3 percent cost of living adjustment and holiday pay incentive. If re-elected, what are your goals? I will continue to work toward ensuring DeKalb has world-class infrastructure. Rebuilding our roads, shoring up and replacing bridges, establishing walking/biking trails, making our communities walkable through sidewalk installations and above all, incorporating rail in our transit plans remain a top priority. I plan to continue to focus on building an innovative economy by providing resources, education and training to continue to grow our workforce and assist entrepreneurs to meet the needs of the 21st Century. Some examples of the work that I have done include support of the creation of the East Metro and Conley Commercial Improvement District, the First Source Jobs Ordinance, Blackhall Movie Studios ($70 million investment). I will push for initiatives that promote healthy living and support the arts including the Grady Health Clinic at Kirkwood, the amphitheater planned for the Porter Sanford Performing Arts & Community Center and the opening of the Intergenerational Center at Exchange Park. I will make community-oriented policing interconnected with prevention that leads to the most productive district and county as a whole. Last but not least, we must stress community-oriented policing interconnected with prevention that leads to the most productive district and county as a whole.
Felton Wright
Retired AT&T Communications Why are you seeking this position? I am seeking this position to make the government in this district efficient. District 3 needs leadership. The commissioner in District 3 should respond to the people and be accountable to the citizens in District 3. If elected, what are your goals? After I'm elected, I will work for litter control, a much more efficient Sanitation Department (and other departments), and reduce crime.
Triana Arnold James
Janice Laws
Black girl magic Dee Dawkins Haigler is running for Georgia’s Secretary of State. The former State Representative, who is a Democrat, is a standout: She’s the only female in a race with five men: two Democrats and three Republicans. Dawkins-Haigler, who lives in Lithonia, is part of the black girl magic. She joins three other black women who are running for statewide seats: Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams; Triana Arnold James, who is running for Lt. Governor; and Janice Laws, who is running for insurance commissioner.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
APRIL 28, 2018 • PAGE 7
Ride to the polls
eKalb County Board of D Commissioners: Super District 7 Gregory Adams, Incumbent Bishop, Reserve Deputy Sheriff
Why are you seeking re-election? As Commissioner of District 7, I have led the efforts to rebuild DeKalb County by investing in parks, roads, seniors and families of DeKalb. I have successfully handled constituent concerns for over 350,000+ residents. I currently oversee hundreds of millions of dollars that are allocated for DeKalb’s infrastructure and growth. I am the ONLY candidate in this race who has successfully managed and allocated millions of dollars of taxpayer funds. I have faithfully served all of DeKalb County. If re-elected, what are your goals? In my next term I plan to lead efforts to: decriminalize simple use and possession of marijuana, invest more in our parks & recreation, provide additional tax relief for residents, provide real raises to all of DeKalb County’s hard-working employees, increase economic development opportunities by investing in real mass and light transit and securely protect our seniors, children and furry family members.
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
VP Business Development for Atlanta Daily World and Atlanta Tribune Why are you seeking this position? I’m seeking the District 7 Commissioner seat because DeKalb County is in a unique position to recruit industry and move the county forward, but we need the right people at the table. With the election of our new CEO Michael Thurmond there is a renewed confidence in DeKalb government. We need commissioners who understand the landscape of our community and are willing to work together to find solutions to tough problems to achieve meaningful change and growth.
Gregory Adams
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
If elected, what are your goals? My top priority is economic development. We need to leverage our resources to recruit new industry. Many areas of DeKalb lag behind our counterparts and we are not seeing the business growth we should in our communities. Beyond economic development, education in every sense is a fundamental factor in both personal and professional development, so we must focus on education. When you have strong schools, property values increase and communities thrive on all levels. Additionally, public safety is a top concern as violent crime is on the rise in our county, so I plan to work with local police to provide the resources they need to ensure safe streets in our communities.
John Tolbert Jr.
Regional manager at General Motors Why are you seeking this position? I’m seeking this seat again to ensure transparency as it relates to the allocation of county monies for items such road improvements to where it’s needed the most, making sure our police officers can remain in DeKalb instead of leaving to work for competing counties with higher wage offers/benefits and being a real voice for the people who often are ignored. We must make the necessary improvements to drive better businesses/consumers to the county to increase revenues to make much needed improvements. My corporate experience will help me work with other teams in order to bring effective change that the people seek.
John Tolbert Jr.
Ed Williams
If elected, what are your goals? My goals are to listen and execute the initiatives of what the constituents of District 7 want; build the right relationships, which will benefit District 7; and adhere to the ethics of DeKalb County and provide real leadership.
Ed Williams
University Professor Why are you seeking this position? I am seeking this position to bring some leadership, integrity, honesty, accountability and commitment to the Board of Commissioners (BOC) for residents of DeKalb. I want to make the mission of DeKalb County government and BOC a reality. When I vote on an issue you will know that I have done my homework, and asked the questions that are relevant before I vote. I want to give the people’s government back to them. If elected, what are your goals? My primary goals are to improve public safety, Watershed Management, Automatic County Services, and make county government more efficient, accessible, transparent and open to the residents of DeKalb County through robust oversight and legislation. I will not complain about my compensation or abuse the office or my oath of office.
Stonecrest City Councilwoman Diane Adoma is inviting voters who need a ride to the polls to join her on the Blue Bus Diane Adoma on Election Day, May 22. The Blue Bus (www. catchthebluebus.com) will provide free transportation. Adoma will meet constituents at the Arabia Mountain trail, located near the intersection of Evans Mill Road and Salem Road in the city of Stonecrest. Please arrive by 11:30 a.m. The bus departs at noon and will return by 3:30 p.m. “There will be a free catered lunch and water provided. Anyone can join us,” Adoma said. To RSVP and for more information, email dadoma@ stonecrestga.gov
DeKalb NAACP to give rides The DeKalb NAACP plans to offer rides to the polls on May 22, Election Day. Branch President Teresa Hardy said those who need a ride may call the office and leave a message with their address and approximate time they would like to be picked up: 404-271-8006 or they may email naacdek@comcast.net.
PAGE 8 • APRIL 28, 2018
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Upcoming Political Forums
DeKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson, Incumbent Why are you seeking re-election? I am seeking re-election to the DeKalb County Superior Court because serving the citizens of this county for the last 8 years has been an honor and a privilege. My experience as a former Assistant District Attorney, Assistant Solicitor, and Advocate for Victims of Domestic Violence make me uniquely qualified to hold Judge Courtney Johnson this position. I have worked in the court system in DeKalb County for the last 17 years and I understand the importance of having someone on the bench who not only knows the law but is competent and compassionate in applying it. I have been a public servant my entire career and I want to continue to use my legal experience, education, and sense of fairness to serve the county that I have called home for over 40 years. If re-elected, what are your goals? If I am re-elected I will continue the work that I have been doing the last 8 years, including streamlining the disposition of cases in my courtroom so that they are handled as efficiently as possible. Also making the courthouse accessible to all citizens by expanding resources for self-represented litigants including additional information sessions for those needing assistance with family law cases. Additionally, I will also continue to work to expand the services offered by the DeKalb County Accountability Court Program. The program services individuals accused of non-violent offenses whose criminal behavior is driven by addiction or mental health issues. Since I was first elected the program has expanded to not only include the Drug Court, but also the Mental Health Court and Veteran’s Court. I currently preside over the Drug Court; however I will work to expand the entire program to ensure that those individuals who suffer from addiction and mental health issues have alternatives to incarceration. I will also continue to mentor young people in the community by serving as a mock trial judge and hosting high school interns in my chambers each summer.
Coffee with the Candidates
Genet McIntosh Hopewell
Attorney and Partner at Johnson Hopewell Coleman, LLC Why are you seeking this position? DeKalb deserves judges who are competent, fair and impartial and will treat litigants, witnesses and attorneys with respect, no matter what their lot in life. The incumbent, Courtney Johnson has deviated on a number of occasions on these core principles, causing the Genet McIntosh Hopewell County to pay out 1.1 million dollars in the Burrell Ellis case, and refusing to allow a defense attorney a bathroom break causing the attorney to urinate on herself in the courtroom. Lastly, I am disturbed by the words, of our own Ambassador Andrew Young in describing his experience testifying in Courtney Johnson’s courtroom “I have testified before the toughest of the tough and the meanest judges in the country. I have never felt so disrespected in a courtroom in my life.” All of these reflect negatively of the County in which I grew up and which I love. I am uniquely qualified for this position. I have served on the Magistrate, Recorders and Juvenile Courts of DeKalb County. I have also sat by special designation as a Superior Court Judge. I am a graduate of Notre Dame University and received my law degree from Catholic University. I am co-founder of the DeKalb Lawyers Association, Lifetime Member of DeKalb NAACP and a graduate of Leadership DeKalb. If elected, what are your goals? I will treat every person who come before me fairly with dignity and respect. I will respect the rule of law and apply the same to the facts and decide each case on its individual merit. I will make sure that the Justice System works in a fair and impartial manner for everyone regardless of who they are or what their economic status is.
Candidate questions complied by Valerie J. Morgan and Travis Hudgons
State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick will host a Coffee with the Candidates on Thursday, May 17, 7 to 9 a.m., FunXcess, 8000 Rockbridge Road, Lithonia. The forum will include candidates who are running for office in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. RSVP at www. kendrickforgeorgia.com
State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick
DeKalb League of Women Voters, Antioch A.M.E. Church The DeKalb League of Women Voters and the Social Action Committee of Antioch A.M.E. Church will host a candidates’ forum on Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m., 765 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain. Candidates from the following races have been invited to the forum: U.S. Congressional District 4 DeKalb County Superior Court Divisions 1 & 7 DeKalb School Board Districts 2 & 6 DeKalb Board of Commission Districts 3 & 7 Georgia Senate District 40, 41, 43, 44, 55 Georgia House Districts 83, 86, 87, 90, 94
DeKalb NAACP and the Dream Center The DeKalb NAACP and the Dream Center, 2600 H F Shepherd Drive, Decatur, are planning to host a forum. The tentative date is May 15. DeKalb NAACP President Teresa Hardy said she is looking forward to the event because it will be an opportunity to get young people involved in the elections. The church’s congregation is primarily comprised of young people ages 19 to 34. Hardy said the DeKalb NAACP held a voter registration drive on April 15 and registered 54 people at The Dream Center. For more information on the forum, contact the church at 770-396-9884 or the DeKalb NAACP at 404271-8006 or email naacdek@comcast.net.
Compassionate. Respectful. Fair.
Early Voting Begins April 30th
Election Day May 22nd judgecourtneyjohnson.com
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
Where should residents in the new city of Stonecrest vote? Early Voting will be held at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, for residents in the new city of Stonecrest who would like to cast their vote in person. The precinct will be open May 14-18, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Stonecrest residents who plan to vote on Election Day, May 22, however, must go to their regular precinct to cast their ballot. Those precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. No votes will be counted after 7 p.m. If you are unsure of your precinct, visit My Voter Page at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do.
APRIL 28, 2018 • PAGE 9
Key Dates for the 2018 Elections April 30 - Advanced (Absentee In-Person) Voting begins for the General Primary/Non-Partisan/ Special Election. May 10 - Earliest day to apply for an absentee ballot for Nov. 6 General Election.
We’re with Genet Hopewell, The Better Choice for DeKalb Superior Court Endorsed by more than 50 elected officials and community leaders
Ambassador Andrew Young
Congressman Hank Johnson
Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson
Gale Walldorff, former DeKalb County Commissioner
Representative Earnest “Coach” Williams
Commissioner Kathy Gannon
Vote for a better DeKalb. Early voting now-May 18. Election Day is May 22nd.
✔
www.electgenetjudge.com
Democratic Sample Ballot
May 12 - Mandatory Saturday Voting for the General Primary/ Non-Partisan/Special Election May 18 - Last day for a registrar to issue absentee ballots for the General Primary/Nonpartisan/ Special Election. June 25 - Last day for a person to register and be eligible to vote in the General Primary Runoff for Federal Races.
July 2 - Advanced (Absentee In-Person) Voting begins for the General Primary/Non-Partisan/ Special Runoff Election. July 24 - General Primary/ Non-Partisan/Special Runoff Election.
PAGE 10 • APRIL 28, 2018
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
DeKalb County Board of Education - District 2 Marshall D. Orson, Incumbent
The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections has approved advance voting locations in DeKalb County for the upcoming general primary and nonpartisan elections. Beginning Monday, April 30, through Friday, May 13, in-person advance voting for the May 22 election will be as follows:
What's your current occupation? I am a consultant and attorney. I am a five-year incumbent of the DeKalb County School District Board of Education. Why are you seeking re-election? I am running for re-election because I want to ensure DeKalb County School District’s progress continues. We need to continue improving outcomes for all students, continue to focus on fiscal responsibility, ensure equity throughout the county, and continue our commitment to enhancing educational opportunities through state of the art technology. We face looming threats to our stability from potential annexations by Atlanta and Decatur as well as the diversion of state education funding to private institutions. As a resident of DeKalb for over 30 years, my experience and proven commitment to serving DeKalb and its children are especially critical now. If re-elected, what are your goals? If re-elected, I will continue our work to: 1. Ensure equitable access to technology and a high quality education for all children. 2. Continue improvement in the graduation rate and state testing benchmarks. 3. Prepare all students for post-graduation, whether college, career or the military. 4. Improve safety and security for students and staff. 5. Continue support for a range of education alternatives offered by DeKalb County School District including: International Baccalaureate;magnet schools such as DSA and Arabia Mountain; DeKalb County authorized charters schools such as the International Community School, The Museum School, Globe Academy and Tapestry Public Charter School; and dual track programs preparing students for college and career specific opportunities after high school. 6. Expand opportunity for DeKalb schools to customize offerings to meet specific needs of their student populations as well as broaden autonomy in decision-making of schools. 7. Defend DeKalb County Schools’ tax base from being diverted to Atlanta Public Schools and City Schools of Decatur through annexations as well as protect against diversion of state funding to private institutions.
Advance Voting Dates
Marshall D. Orson
Candice McKinley
Candice McKinley What is your occupation? Litigation attorney at Stewart, Seay, and Felton Law Firm Why are you seeking this position? As a mother, educator advocate and civil rights attorney, I believe education is the greatest equalizer. I never thought I would run for office but my experience in finding my children the right educational fit drove me to seek a seat at the table to have a voice for all. In 2015, my son began sixth grade at a middle school on the East side of DeKalb with very low performance scores. My son would come home almost daily crying because there was a fight at school. He could not focus in the chaotic environment. In a matter of months, I had to make a change and moved to the north side of DeKalb. The change was like night and day. The academic rigor was unparalleled, the aura of high expectations danced through the halls of the schools from the teachers/staff, and the school was rich with diversity. It took us moving to a more affluent ZIP code for my son to have access to a high-quality education. I am running in District 2 because I care for all our children. I have honed my legal skills as a practitioner in the areas of education and civil rights law. Now, it’s time for me to step up, express the bold ideas I have for change, and push the status quo. If elected, what are your goals? When elected, I will prioritize school safety and secure learning environments to protect our students from gun violence; fund all schools in our district equitably and bring transparency and fairness to disciplinary processes so all students will have an equal chance at staying in school.
Central DeKalb: Voter Registration & Elections Office (Two areas–one exclusively for senior and disabled voters) 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur Monday through Friday, April 30-May 18, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and May 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, noon to 4 p.m. North DeKalb: Dunwoody Library 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Monday through Friday, April 30—May 18, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5 and 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, Noon to 4 p.m. South DeKalb: The Gallery at South DeKalb Mall 2801 Candler Road, Decatur Monday through Friday, April 30—May 18, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, May 5 and 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, noon to 4 p.m. The following locations will be added for one week, May 14-18, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Atlanta: Coan Recreation Center 1530 Woodbine Avenue SE, Atlanta Brookhaven: Briarwood Recreation Center 2235 Briarwood Way NE, Brookhaven Chamblee: North DeKalb Senior Center 3301 Malone Drive, Chamblee Decatur: First Christian Church of Decatur 601 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur East DeKalb: Berean Community Center 2440 Young Road, Stone Mountain
Advance Voting Dates Stonecrest: Stonecrest Library 3123 Klondike Road, Lithonia Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library 5234 LaVista Road, Tucker Voters who wish to vote in person on Tuesday, May 22, must go to their regular precinct from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to cast their ballots. All early and absentee voting will end on Friday, May 18. Polling places and sample ballots can be viewed on the “My Voter Page” at www.sos.state.ga.us.
To vote by mail, voters can obtain applications at www.dekalbvotes.com or by calling the Voter Registration & Elections office at 404-298-4020. Applications can be mailed or hand delivered to 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032; faxed to 404-298-4038; or emailed to voterreg@ dekalbcountyga.gov. Absentee applications will be accepted on Friday, May 18, until 4 p.m. Check the county website at www. dekalbvotes.com and look under “Current Election Information” for updates.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
Republican Sample Ballot
APRIL 28, 2018 • PAGE 11
Know Before You Go
What’s on the Democratic ballot? by Mackenzie N. Morgan In addition to electing local, state and federal officials, DeKalb voters who pull a Democratic Party ballot will have four straw poll questions to answer. The questions on the ballot are to gauge popular opinion about certain issues. Here are the questions and a short summary of their background or origin: Should the sale and distribution of bump stocks be prohibited in the state of Georgia? This bill deals with blocking the sale of bump stocks--firearm modifications used to convert semiautomatic weapons into high powered military-style rifles allowing users to fire at the rate of a machine gun. This was the same device used by the Las Vegas gunman in 2017 who carried out one of the largest mass shootings in U.S. history. Should Georgia pull down our federal tax dollars to save rural hospitals and create more than fifty thousand jobs by expanding Medicaid? This bill would allow for the usage of federal tax dollars to fund hospitals that make healthcare convenient for residents and travelers in small towns. It is believed that this would also create jobs in rural areas, as well as make healthcare convenient for those in life-threatening situations. Should Georgia allow voters to elect our own representatives by amending our Constitution to place the power of drawing district lines under the authority of an independent, non-partisan commission? Georgia Democrats are pushing to create legislation that would transfer the power from state lawmakers to draw district lines to a an independent commission to prevent giving political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries. Should Georgia alleviate traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and better connect communities by investing a substantial amount of existing tax dollars in mass transit? This question gauges whether or not taxpayers would support the expansion of mass transit services to ease traffic delays as well as lessen air pollution and its impact on the air quality.
PAGE 12 • APRIL 28, 2018
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Passionate About Justice. Qualified. Thoughtful. Fair. Tunde Akinyele is a respected attorney, advocate and jurist in DeKalb County. Tunde is running for Superior Court Judge because he is passionate about working in the court system to reduce recidivism, especially among our youth.
Vote Early, Starting April 30th Election Day is May 22nd
Tunde is also committed to supporting adequate alternative solutions that can better prepare those who have paid their debt to society to re-enter the community successfully. Tunde will be a judge that is respectful and fair.
Join the Movement! Visit the website tundeforjudge.com Paid for by The Committee to Elect Tunde Akinyele
Tunde For Superior Court Judge