DeKalbs CEO nominates union lobbyist to MARTAs board of directors

Candidate Q&A: DeKalb County Commission District 4

Wants to establish "Community Coalitions" to address any concerns residents may have.

- Wants to establish "Community Coalitions" to address any concerns residents may have.
- Wants to support animal shelters.

Public Services

Wants to create a benchmark property tax for seniors who have lived in their homes for more than 30 years.

Supports increasing pay and benefits, like paternity and maternity benefits, for DeKalb employees to attract and keep workers.

- Wants to create a benchmark property tax for seniors who have lived in their homes for more than 30 years.
- Supports increasing pay and benefits, like paternity and maternity benefits, for DeKalb employees to attract and keep workers.

Economy

Wants to establish apprenticeship and partnership programs to improve workforce development.

- Wants to establish apprenticeship and partnership programs to improve workforce development.

Education

Wants to improve "our county's 911 system."

Supports increased pay for police officers and firefighters.

- Wants to improve "our county's 911 system."
- Supports increased pay for police officers and firefighters.

Public Safety

Supports creating affordable housing through community initiatives.

- Supports creating affordable housing through community initiatives.

Housing & Urban Development

- Wants to improve public transportation.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Rita A. Scott

LinkedIn

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Build up partnerships with surrounding counties and cities to ensure that DeKalb county is a leader and partner among its county peers in the State of Georgia."

Supports developing partnerships with surrounding counties and cities. 

Said, "Highlight my role in bringing Juneteenth celebrations to the community as a testament to my commitment to promoting cultural awareness, community building, and inclusivity."

Helped establish Juneteenth celebrations to the local community. 

Supports racial equality and social justice policies aimed to alleviate systemic inequalities and uplift marginalized communities.

- Supports developing partnerships with surrounding counties and cities. 
- Helped establish Juneteenth celebrations to the local community. 
- Supports racial equality and social justice policies aimed to alleviate systemic inequalities and uplift marginalized communities.

AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

The candidate's website says, "Decreased the city’s millage rate from 22.27 mills in 2017 to 16.00 mills in 2023. This saves a homeowner with a $150K home $1,000 in taxes each year."

Said she helped reduce "the city’s millage rate from 22.27 mills in 2017 to 16.00 mills in 2023. This saves a homeowner with a $150K home $1,000 in taxes each year."

The candidate's website says, "Advocate for livable wages and fair working conditions for all residents and workers of Dekalb County."

Advocated for livable wages and sufficient working conditions for Dekalb County residents and workers.  

The candidate's website says, "Provided crucial leadership and support to local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic"

Helped support local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic. 

The candidate's website says, "Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan"

Said as Pro Tem Mayor, she "Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan"

Implemented 12-hour work shifts aimed to enhance officer's quality of life.

Said ensuring there is a strong economy in Dekalb county is a key issue, as she believes that helps address housing problems.

- Said she helped reduce "the city’s millage rate from 22.27 mills in 2017 to 16.00 mills in 2023. This saves a homeowner with a $150K home $1,000 in taxes each year."
- Advocated for livable wages and sufficient working conditions for Dekalb County residents and workers.  
- Helped support local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic. 
- Said as Pro Tem Mayor, she "Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan"
- Implemented 12-hour work shifts aimed to enhance officer's quality of life.
- Said ensuring there is a strong economy in Dekalb county is a key issue, as she believes that helps address housing problems.

As of March 23, 2024, Chakira Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The candidate's website says, "In 2022, raised the starting pay for officers to $50K"

As Pro Tem Mayor, she covered 100% of insurance premiums and increased pay for public safety officers, and increased starting salary to $50K. 

Provided Police Officers with tasers, body camera's, and GPS installation in all police vehicles.

- As Pro Tem Mayor, she covered 100% of insurance premiums and increased pay for public safety officers, and increased starting salary to $50K. 
- Provided Police Officers with tasers, body camera's, and GPS installation in all police vehicles.

As Pro Tem Mayer, she helped develop a new home construction/Hearthstone subdivision.

- As Pro Tem Mayer, she helped develop a new home construction/Hearthstone subdivision.

Renovated playground at McCurdy Park, repaved roads with SPLOST(Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds and completed draining projects aimed to improve infrastructure and essential services such as fire and police equipment.

Wants to prioritize enhancing infrastructure, including the water and sewer system, stormwater conveyance system and roads and bridges.

- Renovated playground at McCurdy Park, repaved roads with SPLOST(Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds and completed draining projects aimed to improve infrastructure and essential services such as fire and police equipment.
- Wants to prioritize enhancing infrastructure, including the water and sewer system, stormwater conveyance system and roads and bridges.

Chakira Johnson

Ballotpedia, Gabrielle Rogers

As Committee Chair of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, her chapter implemented 50 programs and provided $100,000 for Dekalb county families in Health, Economic Empowerment and Education.

Co-founded the Stone Mountain Action Coalition which aims to reduce memorializing confederacy in Stone Mountain Park.

Wants to alter voting process to ensure accuracy through replacing machines with legitimate paper trails, conduct election result audits regularly and implement cybersecurity training for elected officials.

Wants to streamline accessibility of public records

- As Committee Chair of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, her chapter implemented 50 programs and provided $100,000 for Dekalb county families in Health, Economic Empowerment and Education.
- Co-founded the Stone Mountain Action Coalition which aims to reduce memorializing confederacy in Stone Mountain Park.
- Wants to alter voting process to ensure accuracy through replacing machines with legitimate paper trails, conduct election result audits regularly and implement cybersecurity training for elected officials.
- Wants to streamline accessibility of public records

Advocated for small and minority-owned businesses and young professionals as a board member on the DeKalb Chamber.

Said primary areas of focus are economic development, public safety and housing.

Wants to attract new businesses to the area, support local businesses, and develop more job opportunities as she believes that will foster economic growth and improve quality of life for local residents.

Wants to increase affordable housing by stabilizing rent and offering programs helping low-income residents.

- Advocated for small and minority-owned businesses and young professionals as a board member on the DeKalb Chamber.
- Said primary areas of focus are economic development, public safety and housing.
- Wants to attract new businesses to the area, support local businesses, and develop more job opportunities as she believes that will foster economic growth and improve quality of life for local residents.
- Wants to increase affordable housing by stabilizing rent and offering programs helping low-income residents.

As of March 23, 2024, Gabrielle Rogers’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and community organizations in an effort to address crime.

- Wants to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and community organizations in an effort to address crime.

Supports increasing accessibility to affordable housing.

- Supports increasing accessibility to affordable housing.

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Gabrielle Rogers

Ballotpedia, Lance Hammonds

Plans to focus on community engagement by backing neighborhood organizations and increasing the number of community meetings.

Wants to develop county parks and residential gardens.

Wants to increase the number of walkable paths and trails.

Wants to alter Dekalb County transit to reduce congestion, shorten commute times, and promote mobility for county residents.

- Plans to focus on community engagement by backing neighborhood organizations and increasing the number of community meetings.
- Wants to develop county parks and residential gardens.
- Wants to increase the number of walkable paths and trails.
- Supports programs for youth and seniors.
- Wants to alter Dekalb County transit to reduce congestion, shorten commute times, and promote mobility for county residents.

 Decaturish, Candidate Q&A: DeKalb County Commission District 4

Plans to renovate Memorial Drive, as he believes that will attract business to the area and improve customer service .

- Supports mass transit.
- Supports small businesses.
- Plans to renovate Memorial Drive, as he believes that will attract business to the area and improve customer service .

As of March 23, 2024, Lance Hammonds’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said public safety is amongst key priorities, and wants to expand and increase pay for the police force, 911 operators, and animal control staff.

- Said public safety is amongst key priorities, and wants to expand and increase pay for the police force, 911 operators, and animal control staff.
- Wants to broaden community partnerships.

Lance Hammonds

- 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.