What is your name?

Sonya Russell Ofchus

Tell us more about yourself.

I'm a proud Atlantan, mother and grandmother, married for 27 years and with decades of public service. Raised in District 4 of Fulton County, I attended King Middle School on Hill Street, where I now live. I attended Carver High and grew up at Capital Ave. and Vanira. I volunteered as an AAU girls basketball coach at Carver High, mentoring and tutoring players. I currently volunteer with seniors in Peoplestown, Mechanicsville and Midtown. My career in public service began when I served the community as an Atlanta Police Officer and detective, combating crime in the community. I retired as a federal agent where I investigated fraud, waste and abuse.

What office are you running for?

Fulton County Commissioner, District 4

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- Carver High School, 1979 - Northside High School, 1980-1982 - B.A., Criminology, St. Leo University - Postal Inspection Service Training Academy May 2004 - Federal Law Enforcement Criminal Investigator Undercover Training, October 2003 - Federal Inspector General Training Program, February 2003 - Federal Law Enforcement Criminal Investigator Training Program (FLETC), June 2002 - U.S. Probation Officer Academy, June 2000 - Dignitary Protection Training, City Of Atlanta Police Department, July 1995 - Asset Forfeiture, City of Atlanta, 1995 - Narcotics Undercover Operations Training, October 1994 - City of Atlanta Police Academy. December 1987

Provide the link to your campaign website.

www.sonyaofchus.com

What is your job/occupation?

Retired public servant, business owner, and volunteer

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Grant Park

Is this your first time running for office?

No

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

- Decades of public service in law enforcement addressing fraud, waste and abuse - Government contracting: monitoring, evaluating, auditing, and overseeing federal public funding. - Private businesses: creating jobs, dealing with taxation, commercial property ownership and affordability.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

Strategically promote business growth and job creation while balancing equities. There are many important issues, effectively tackling this issue would also address other issues related to employment, homelessness and crime. We want business investments and job growth and we want sustainable, affordable housing. District 4 is a vibrant and diverse community. All of the areas are seeing massive growth in population density which puts pressure on supply and demand driving prices and affordability. Importantly, we have to think creatively on how land will be zoned, annexed and developed so that legacy homeowners are not priced out.

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

Public trust and integrity are essential for District 4 to thrive. The way to restore trust and accountability is by using our tax dollars efficiently and effectively. Any use of government funds should be available for review to the public. I will advocate for public oversight with regular audits and reviews of county operations. I will propose stiffer penalties for inappropriate behavior or misconduct and make sure code of ethics are followed and updated including commissioners. With open government, ethical leadership, and public oversight, trust will be restored in Fulton County Government.

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

Yes. The current political climate requires a more robust security posture. Additional security measures which could be taken include added surveillance of voting venues, interior and exterior, with the hard copies of ballots, as well as, the electronic cybersecurity, interagency election response teams, and a Fulton County cellphone app, specifically for election workers only. These security measures must not be mutually exclusive but integrated taking into consideration risks to poll workers and election officials, as well as cybersecurity breaches. Make sure (SOPs) are in place and current.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

The government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing may be more significant in one part of the county than another. The government's responsibility is context dependent. Government incentives like homestead exemptions and abatements may be leveraged to support affordable housing. In particular, we have to assess what makes housing unaffordable in a specific area and what programs are out there to assist citizens who are at or below the area median income (AMI) in order to obtain affordable housing in a specific area. When affordable housing is out of reach, higher rates of homelessness, crime, and unemployment are a risk.

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

Fulton County has a website to submit public records request forms. OCGA § 50-18-72 and § 50-18-70 is self-explanatory. However, like all FOIA requests, the agency doing the search may bill the requesting party, but the requesting party may not know the level of effort actually expended. Furthermore, there is no time frame on receiving information. The use of enhanced public disclosures and better online platforms to track spending, policy changes and other updates would assist in bringing trust and accountability between the community and the government.