What is your name?

Arefeen Chowdhury

Tell us more about yourself.

Arefeen Chowdhury's life story is a testament to the American dream. In 2003, he legally immigrated with his family to the United States. Today, he stands as a shining example of resilience, hard work and community leadership. He earned a B.S., M.S., and M.B.A. in finance from Georgia State University in Atlanta. His dedication to service is further exemplified by his years spent in the Georgia National Guard. Arefeen is a seasoned professional in financial accounting and risk management. He worked for many Fortune 100 companies. Arefeen is happily married to his wife, Dr. Maliha Munir. Together, they have a daughter.

What office are you running for?

Gwinnett Tax Commissioner

What is your party affiliation?

Republican

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- M.B.A., Finance, Georgia State University, J. Mack Robinson College of Business. - Certificate, Disaster Management, Georgia State University, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies - M.S., Biology, Georgia State University - B.S, Biological Science, Georgia State University

Provide the link to your campaign website.

https://www.votearefeen.com

What is your job/occupation?

Financial accounting and risk management

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Lawrenceville

Is this your first time running for office?

Yes

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

My experiences in Fortune 100 corporations and my time served in the Georgia National Guard.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

1. Replace the 21-year-old software in the Gwinnett tax commissioner's office. Secure the taxpayer sensitive personal data from hackers. Gwinnett can't afford to be like Fulton County! 2. Enhance customer service. By extending weekend hours, simplifying the online payment system, and making official tax documents available upon request in various languages, we can better serve the growing diverse population in Gwinnett. 3. Seek creative solutions. I will ensure our office seeks and utilizes all options available to ease the burden of taxes on our citizens while also lobbying for new exemptions. I will also introduce TC App for mobile device.

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

I will conduct a thorough audit on every single procurement, overhead expenses and personnel expenses in my first 100 days in the tax commissioner office. I will also inform the constituents on any promotions, pay raise and appointment of tax commissioner office employees.

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

Let the GBI and/or FBI cybersecurity team audit the vulnerability of our existing system.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

Reduce taxes by identifying waste/abuse and ensuring our government resources are used wisely.

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

No, I would like to see a more transparent and innovative process in place to ensure public access to public records in Gwinnett.