Candidate Q&A DeKalb County Commission District 5

Hopes to construct a new Lucious Sanders Recreation Center in Lithonia. Additionally, plans to renovate the Lithonia Amphitheater to attract more visitors.

- Hopes to construct a new Lucious Sanders Recreation Center in Lithonia. Additionally, plans to renovate the Lithonia Amphitheater to attract more visitors.

Public Services

Supported raising the minimum wage to $15 as County Commissioner.

Does not support the creation of new cities in DeKalb County.

- Supported raising the minimum wage to $15 as County Commissioner.
- Does not support the creation of new cities in DeKalb County.

Economy

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

Education

Voted in favor of pay increases and other benefits for public safety employees in DeKalb County.

- Voted in favor of pay increases and other benefits for public safety employees in DeKalb County.

Public Safety

Said, "I remain committed to working with our city, development authority and other partners to ensure that our residents have access to affordable housing."

- Said, "I remain committed to working with our city, development authority and other partners to ensure that our residents have access to affordable housing."

Housing & Urban Development

Wants state laws that ensure the safe handling of coal ash as it transports through DeKalb County.

- Wants state laws that ensure the safe handling of coal ash as it transports through DeKalb County.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Mereda Davis Johnson

AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

Wants to improve government transparency by increasing community engagement and inclusion; supports holding board of commissioners meetings in the evenings to "allow more opportunities for public comment and participation."

Said, "Someone in each department should be assigned to respond to open records requests within the time frame proscribed by law, and evaluated on responsiveness as part of their job duties."

- Wants to improve government transparency by increasing community engagement and inclusion; supports holding board of commissioners meetings in the evenings to "allow more opportunities for public comment and participation."
- Said, "Someone in each department should be assigned to respond to open records requests within the time frame proscribed by law, and evaluated on responsiveness as part of their job duties."

Supports creating opportunities for small business development using tax dollars.

- Supports creating opportunities for small business development using tax dollars.

As of May 7, 2024, Gina Smith Mangham’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Candidate Q&A: DeKalb County Commission District 5

Advocates increasing pay packages for police officers, firefighters, and 911 operators.

Hopes to increase and improve code enforcement.

Wants to increase resources for neighborhood watch and community-based initiatives, address root causes of crime like mental health, and invest in youth programs.

- Advocates increasing pay packages for police officers, firefighters, and 911 operators.
- Hopes to increase and improve code enforcement.
- Wants to increase resources for neighborhood watch and community-based initiatives, address root causes of crime like mental health, and invest in youth programs.

Said, "We must educate our citizens on affordable housing options, and then solicit input from existing residents on which alternatives best fit our respective neighborhoods. We do not have to sacrifice quality to reach affordability."

Wants to support the unhoused population through "the creation of smaller, authorized facilities similar to personal care homes, with wrap-around services from both public and private mental health, life-skill, and job training."

- Said, "We must educate our citizens on affordable housing options, and then solicit input from existing residents on which alternatives best fit our respective neighborhoods. We do not have to sacrifice quality to reach affordability."
- Wants to support the unhoused population through "the creation of smaller, authorized facilities similar to personal care homes, with wrap-around services from both public and private mental health, life-skill, and job training."

Supports extending the MARTA rail to South/East DeKalb to stimulate economic development.

Said, "I propose new ordinances for increased signage and penalties for littering, street lighting utilizing SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) dollars, and issuing a landscaping contract for public spaces that includes long-term, ongoing maintenance."

- Supports extending the MARTA rail to South/East DeKalb to stimulate economic development.
- Said, "I propose new ordinances for increased signage and penalties for littering, street lighting utilizing SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) dollars, and issuing a landscaping contract for public spaces that includes long-term, ongoing maintenance."

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Gina Smith Mangham

- 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.