What is your name?

David Cavender

Tell us more about yourself.

I am 47 years old, married and have a baby girl that just turned one. I have been in the Army Reserves for 17 years and with the Cobb County Police Department for 15 years, with a decade on our SWAT Team. The sanctity of public office and the safety of our community is important to me. Words like "accountability" and "transparency" are more than just buzz words to me. I expect the community to remember what was promised and hold elected officials accountable to what they said they would do.

What office are you running for?

Cobb County Sheriff

What is your party affiliation?

Republican

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

Graduated Lovejoy High School, attended some college courses at GHC and SPSU prior to it becoming part of KSU. I've also attended several professional development courses in the Army.

Provide the link to your campaign website.

https://www.cavender4cobb.com/

What is your job/occupation?

Law enforcement

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Kennesaw

Is this your first time running for office?

Yes

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

My military and police experience, especially on the SWAT team, shaped my leadership philosophy. Learning from exemplary leaders, I believe in setting standards, leading by example, empowering others and being accountable. I welcome community scrutiny and urge voters to hold elected officials to their promises.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

Reduce spending by reallocating manpower, mounted unit (horses) and the sheriff's personal executive protection staff will be disbanded and put in positions to provide a benefit to the taxpayers, not just a financial burden. I will reimplement the 287(g) program. This program is crucial to the safety of Cobb County since we have had an open southern border for the last several years. I will fully staff the jail, which will ensure a higher level of safety for the deputies as well as the inmates, and may actually lower the in custody deaths. Reallocating resources will help to cut overtime costs. I will ensure civil papers are served efficiently.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

The word "transparency" has become a buzzword among politicians, and one that few follow through with. I will work to build relationships with community leaders across the county and across political lines to ensure we have a shared understanding of how we want to move forward as a community. Part of this will include uncomfortable conversations, which often times lead to real understanding and positive change.

Do you believe Georgia elections are secure and what additional security measures can be taken?

I believe in safeguarding elections against fraud. There should be no shredder trucks at polling sites until all results are verified by all parties. If I can get a receipt emailed instantly, why not my ballot? Online access to ballots for accuracy is crucial. Enforce strict penalties for election fraud: lifetime voting bans, fines and political bans. Without real integrity and transparency, words are just empty promises from politicians.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

I honestly don't have a great answer for this question. On one hand, I am a firm believer of individual freedoms and individual responsibility. And on the other hand, I understand and am empathetic to the struggles of a large portion of our society. Inflation is out of control. It takes a fairly substantial salary in order to live somewhat comfortably, and that salary goes up tremendously for one income households, especially with children. To answer, I would say any decision that is going to disproportionately affect any group of our community should be scrutinized with the elected officials and put to a vote.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

In general I would say yes, the Freedom of Information Act is a very useful tool. I do believe that some records are much more difficult to get and that should not be the case. I believe annual reports showing how your money was spent should be available online and easily accessible. After all, it's your money that is being spent, you should be able to see where it goes. In cases of active and ongoing investigations, the information will never be available as fast as some would like.