- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county

Georgia

2024 Georgia General Elections

2024 GA Primary Election

2024 GA Primary Election Runoff

Taxes

Public Transportation

Public Services

Economy

Education

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

County Commissioner

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Part of the board that governs your county's public school system

Teacher Pay

College & Career Readiness

Access to Education

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

County Board of Education Member

The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.

The chief law enforcement officer in the county

Decatur

Jail Management

Criminal Justice

County Sheriff

Probate court judges are a type of judge in Georgia who decides a type of civil court cases called a "probate" case. Probate cases can be many things, like cases about people's wills, appointing guardians to children or the elderly, and managing estates. Probate court judges also sometimes decide whether to give out marriage licenses and gun licenses, and they can also decide traffic cases. 

Decides court cases for topics like wills, licenses, and traffic tickets

Judicial Efficiency

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Probate Court Judge

- Magistrate Courts hear civil cases only in amounts less than $15,000. There are no jury trials in Magistrate Court. 
- Magistrate Courts hear landlord tenant dispossessory cases (i.e. a case where a landlord is seeking an eviction of their tenant) and can order evictions. 
- The Chief Magistrate can determine procedures for managing the cases in front of the Magistrate. For example, in Fulton County the Chief Magistrate informs parties in landlord tenant dispossessory cases on the benefits of mediation and provides on-site mediators to resolve landlord tenant disputes before the parties appear in front of the judge. 
- Magistrate Courts only have jurisdiction over their respective counties. Each county has its own magistrate court. Magistrate Court Judge term lengths vary per county, however most serve four year terms. Local Superior Court Judges set parameters for Magistrate Courts. 

Local Judges who hear low-value civil cases and eviction cases

Chief Magistrate

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 


2024 Georgia candidates

Decatur County Commissioner, District 2, Republican Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Decatur County Commissioner, District 5, Republican Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Decatur County Board of Education Member, District 5

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Decatur County Sheriff, Republican Primary

1 candidate

Decatur County Commissioner, District 2, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Decatur County Commissioner, District 3, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Decatur Probate Court Judge

1 candidate

Decatur Chief Magistrate

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Decatur State Court Judge

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Decatur County Board of Education Member, District 3

1 candidate

How this impacts you