Japera is from Queens, New York. She attended Spelman College and the University of Georgia. She lives with her husband and three stepdaughters in East Point. 

Japera oversees funding for various cities, nonprofits, and institutions.

Japera's campaign for East Point City Council Member, Ward A is her first entry into politics.

Supports passing an Open Government Ordinance that requires each department to publish quarterly reports detailing costs, results, and impact.

Supports requiring plain-language budgets that clearly show "where money goes and what results to expect."

Supports leveraging FIFA 2026 to showcase East Point and boost local economy.

- Supports passing an Open Government Ordinance that requires each department to publish quarterly reports detailing costs, results, and impact.
- Supports requiring plain-language budgets that clearly show "where money goes and what results to expect."
- Supports leveraging FIFA 2026 to showcase East Point and boost local economy.

Economy

Supports passing a Civility Rule Ordinance with enforceable standards for council behavior and expanding the Ethics Board’s role to provide council training in city history, ethics, teamwork, conflict resolution, and conduct.

Supports publishing public dashboards so residents can track city decisions and services.

Wants to publish public dashboards so residents can track city decisions and services.

Supports funding technology that enhances data-driven decision-making and public transparency.

Supports partnering with Fulton County to open school buildings for summer programming.

Supports expanding the Parks and Recreation budget to serve at least 20% of local youth.

Plans to establish a Department of Public Arts & Cultural Affairs to lead citywide programming.

Plans to renovate the Historic Civic block into a hub for arts, culture, and pride.

Plans to host a year-long 140-year reunion celebration of the city's history, culture, and community.

- Supports passing a Civility Rule Ordinance with enforceable standards for council behavior and expanding the Ethics Board’s role to provide council training in city history, ethics, teamwork, conflict resolution, and conduct.
- Wants to publish public dashboards so residents can track city decisions and services.
- Supports funding technology that enhances data-driven decision-making and public transparency.
- Supports partnering with Fulton County to open school buildings for summer programming.
- Supports expanding the Parks and Recreation budget to serve at least 20% of local youth.
- Plans to establish a Department of Public Arts & Cultural Affairs to lead citywide programming.
- Plans to renovate the Historic Civic block into a hub for arts, culture, and pride.
- Plans to host a year-long 140-year reunion celebration of the city's history, culture, and community.

Public Services

Believes in protecting housing in East Point to ensure families are not displaced.

Supports expanding the Senior Utility Discount so more seniors qualify for relief.

Plans to pass a Habitability Ordinance mandating a “fit for human habitation” clause in every rental lease, enforced when utilities are activated.

Supports strengthening enforcement and penalties for absentee landlords who neglect properties.

Supports requiring the city to track and publish data on housing conditions and landlord compliance.

Supports creating a Home Stability Fund to assist seniors and families with short-term housing and utility needs during city-wide crises.

- Believes in protecting housing in East Point to ensure families are not displaced.
- Supports expanding the Senior Utility Discount so more seniors qualify for relief.
- Plans to pass a Habitability Ordinance mandating a “fit for human habitation” clause in every rental lease, enforced when utilities are activated.
- Supports strengthening enforcement and penalties for absentee landlords who neglect properties.
- Supports requiring the city to track and publish data on housing conditions and landlord compliance.
- Supports creating a Home Stability Fund to assist seniors and families with short-term housing and utility needs during city-wide crises.

Housing & Urban Development

As of September 8, 2025, Japera Hemming’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Supports increasing funding to update aging water and power infrastructure.

- Supports increasing funding to update aging water and power infrastructure.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports publishing annual reports on departmental collaboration for beautification and revitalization, with clear performance metrics.

Plans to launch a “One East Point” identity campaign with street toppers and beautification projects.

- Supports publishing annual reports on departmental collaboration for beautification and revitalization, with clear performance metrics.
- Plans to launch a “One East Point” identity campaign with street toppers and beautification projects.

Energy & the Environment

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Japera Hemming

Japera Hemming has a bachelor's degree in political science from Spelman College and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Georgia. She lives with her husband and three stepdaughters in East Point. 

Believes in protecting housing in East Point to prevent families from losing their homes.

As of September 8, 2025, Japera Hemming did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Sharon Shropshire is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She has called East Point home since 1985.

Sharon is currently an East Point City Councilmember, Ward A. She was first elected in 2013 and is currently serving her third term. She previously served three terms as Mayor Pro-tem.

Advocated for "intelligent spending" to reduce debt and maintain a balanced budget.

- Advocated for "intelligent spending" to reduce debt and maintain a balanced budget.

Supports initiatives that enhance the quality of life for seniors, such as food delivery, lawn services, self-defense training, and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Created the 
"Clean City Initiative" to provide lawn service to eligible senior citizens and disabled residents to promote health and safety.

As a County Commissioner, introduced a resolution to enact the CROWN Act, which prohibits employment and educational opportunity discrimination based on hair texture.

- Supports initiatives that enhance the quality of life for seniors, such as food delivery, lawn services, self-defense training, and COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Created the 
"Clean City Initiative" to provide lawn service to eligible senior citizens and disabled residents to promote health and safety.
- As a County Commissioner, introduced a resolution to enact the CROWN Act, which prohibits employment and educational opportunity discrimination based on hair texture.

As a city council member, initiated a higher tax on property owners with abandoned housing to reduce blight.

- As a city council member, initiated a higher tax on property owners with abandoned housing to reduce blight.

As a proponent of community policing, sponsored a public-private partnership allowing police officers to live rent-free in a high-crime apartment complex to reduce criminal activity.

As a council member, facilitated the installation of cameras in the park to address tagging and graffiti while deterring other criminal activity.

- As a proponent of community policing, sponsored a public-private partnership allowing police officers to live rent-free in a high-crime apartment complex to reduce criminal activity.
- As a council member, facilitated the installation of cameras in the park to address tagging and graffiti while deterring other criminal activity.

Led efforts to include the majority of East Point streets in the upcoming Fulton County Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST).

- Led efforts to include the majority of East Point streets in the upcoming Fulton County Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST).

As of September 8, 2025, Sharon Shropshire’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Sharon Shropshire

Sharon Shropshire is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She has called East Point home since 1985. CM Shropshire completed her education in the Atlanta Public School System, and has had the pleasure of working in various capacities during the span of her career. Currently, she is employed with the Federal Government.

As of September 8, 2025, Sharon Shropshire did not have a website or any information online.

Sharon is currently a council member for East Point, representing Ward A. She was first elected in 2013 and is currently serving her third term. She previously served three terms as Mayor Pro-tem. 

As a city council member, initiated higher tax on property owners with abandoned housing to reduce blight.

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 