What is your name?

Khadijah Abdur-Rahman

Tell us more about yourself.

Before my role as commissioner, I established myself as a prominent figure in the social justice movement. Growing up in Atlanta, I witnessed firsthand the city's struggle for equity and empowerment with my parents who were deeply involved in the civil rights movement. I take on many critical issues, including public safety, criminal justice reform, senior services, environmental justice, public health, economic development, and mental health. One notable example of my collaborative skills was joining forces with Georgia's first lady, Marty Kemp, and the state's attorney general to address human trafficking.

What office are you running for?

Fulton County Board of Commissioners, District 6

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- B.S., Criminal Justice, Ambassador Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, 2013-2015 - Southwest Atlanta High and Benjamin E. Mays High, 1978-1982

Provide the link to your campaign website.

https://weneedkhadijah.com/

What is your job/occupation?

Business owner

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Chalet/Peyton (Southwest Atlanta)

Is this your first time running for office?

No

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

Being the daughter of Victoria Travis Jackson, a legend in the archives of America's civil rights movement, I grew up in the throes of Atlanta politics. From this foundation, I have gained the respect for what has been described as Warrior style leadership. I served as the District 6 Commissioner during the “unknown time” — the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the pandemic, I passed legislation that provided Fulton County employees a pandemic relief bonus check, secured enhanced funding for the sheriff's office and the office of the district attorney, and passed the voter-rights legislation to protect the rights of one man, one vote.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

Fiscal responsibility is my top priority. As the chief legislative body for the county, it is imperative that the board of commissioners do a better job of managing the taxpayer resources. There are many individual issues and challenges that come before us, and they are all impacted by how responsible we are with taxpayer resources.

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

We need strengthen our infrastructure to ensure that all our financial systems are airtight. We must create a fail-safe that ensures there are no loopholes in any departments and offices, that allow for unauthorized spending. Additionally, we must encourage our citizens to access our digital platforms and track our budget activity online.

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

I have the utmost confidence in the Fulton County Elections Department. However, as technology evolves, I think we must also improve our security measures.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

Housing is an essential need, so government should definitely provide protections against price gouging and exploitation. Furthermore, I believe that it is my responsibility as an elected official is to ensure the economy is balanced, in that we have employment, education and work training opportunities that will support residents buying and renting homes in their preferred neighborhoods and communities.

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

Society is transitioning to rely more on technology, convenience, and accessibility. Fulton County is on the trajectory. However, there is always room for improvement. Safety is key. We must ensure the proper systems are in place to protect residences secure information.