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Video shows Fulton chair endorsing Thorne, insulting rival By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A video is circulating online of outgoing Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts endorsing District 1 Commissioner Bridget Thorne in her reelection campaign and making disparaging remarks about her Democratic opponent, Maggie Goldman. Pitts, a Democrat, spoke in support of Thorne, a Republican, at an August campaign event where he credited her for “a lot” of the “great work at Fulton County.” He then called Goldman a “nutcase.” “I know that there’s probably at least one spy PITTS here who will repeat what I said,” Pitts said. “I want you to hear me clearly. Bridget’s opponent, Maggie Goldman, is a nutcase.” The video was posted on Facebook by Thorne supporter Betsy Shaw Kramer. In his comments, Pitts criticized Goldman’s stance on tax rates and spending priorities. Goldman also uploaded a video of the incident, shot at a different angle, to her YouTube account. The candidate said she captured the video through a screen recording of a since-deleted post on Nextdoor. Goldman later responded to Pitts through an Instagram video, saying she “respectfully disagrees” with the chair’s comments.
See FULTON, Page 18
CANDIDATE Q&A
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The 2026 voter guide By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com Appen Media Group proudly presents your voters guide for the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections. This work would not be possible without the support of our readers. If you value this resource, please consider contributing to our fall fundraiser by making a one-time contribution to the Appen Press Club. Learn more at appenmedia.com/join.
About this voters guide Our goal was to complete the bulk of our elections coverage by the start of early voting on Oct. 13. We have prioritized elections coverage for this issue, which means you will see minimal news coverage and no opinion pieces. However, we will still be keeping our community informed at appenmedia.com.
See GUIDE, Page 4
► PAGE 4: FULTON COMMISSION CHAIR ► PAGE 9: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 48 ► PAGE 10: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 14 ► PAGE 12: STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 48 ► PAGE 16: STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 50 ► PAGE 19: FULTON COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1
► PAGE 21: U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 7
2 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
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Woman with dementia loses $14,500 to FTC impostor
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ROSWELL, Ga. — A woman called the Roswell Police Department Sept. 23 to report her mother, who has dementia, had been scammed out of $14,500. On Sept. 5, the mother got a call from someone claiming to be with the Federal Trade Commission. The caller said they accidentally put $15,000 into her account instead of $500 and told her she would need to send back the difference. She was instructed to take out the amount in cash, place it inside a book and mail it to them. After shipping the money, she started getting calls asking her to send more. That’s when the mother realized she was being scammed. The daughter told police she has power of attorney over her mother’s affairs. The daughter said she does not know how her mother got to the Bank of America location on Alpharetta Highway or how clerks let her withdraw the money given her dementia. The daughter also told police she found a piece of mail showing a credit card had been opened in her mother’s name. The Barclays JetBlue credit card was opened Sept. 2 and had an $11,000 credit limit. There was a misspelling in the name on the card. It was never used. The daughter said she has spoken with the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration about the incident. She also asked Bank of America officials
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Officers hear gunshots during suspicious persons call ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police officers were dispatched to Roswell Creek Lane around 11:30 p.m. Sept. 21 after a resident reported a suspicious person pulling on the handles of vehicles and residences. When officers conducted a check of the area, they saw a 2007 Ford Explorer with its emergency lights flashing but did not observe any signs of forced entry or criminal activity involving the vehicle. While conducting the premises check, the officers heard around five gunshots coming from the woods behind one of the buildings. Additional officers responded to assist with checking the surrounding area for people who could have discharged the firearm. Due to potential risk to officer safety, they did not enter the wooded area. Instead, officers maintained positions around accessible portions of the area and monitored the surrounding locations to see if anyone would emerge from the woods. One officer made contact with several male residents seated outside their apartment. They reported seeing two subjects walking along the main entrance of the Roswell Creek apartment complex in the direction of the Holcomb Bridge Road entrance about 30 minutes before officers arrived on scene. Officers conducted an additional check of areas surrounding the apartment complex and from where
the gunshots were heard but were unable to locate any potential suspects or any individuals exiting the wooded area. — Hannah Yahne
Alpharetta man jailed for loitering, misrepresentation ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 45-yearold Alpharetta man was arrested on loitering and misrepresentation charges Sept. 2. Alpharetta police said officers were patrolling near a North Point Parkway hotel when they saw a vehicle parked with its windows open. Concerned because vehicle burglaries are common in the area, officers spoke with the driver. During the conversation, the man allegedly lied to officers about his residence, saying he was parked at the hotel for hours because he was fighting with his wife. Officers contacted the homeowner, who said the man no longer lived there. The man was charged and taken to the Alpharetta Detention Center. — Jon Wilcox
Conyers man charged for not paying restaurant bill ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 36-year -old Conyers man was charged with theft of service after he allegedly declined to pay a restaurant bill Sept. 5. Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the Haynes Bridge Road business a little after midnight. Officers asked restaurant staff whether the man could wash dishes to pay for the meal but staff asked to press charges if they did not receive payment. The bill totaled more than $90. — Jon Wilcox
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CANDIDATE Q&A
ELECTION GUIDE
Fulton County Commission Chair FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Commission Chair race is a countywide election. This year’s election features Republican Eric Tatum and Democrat Mo Ivory. The candidates’ responses have not been edited. What are your campaign website and social media pages? IVORY: moivory.com, IG @ themoivory TATUM: www.erictatumforfulton. com; X: rictatumforga; Instagram: erictatumforgeorgia, Facebook: Eric Tatum for Fulton Why are you running for this office? IVORY: Fulton County deserves leadership that’s not afraid to tell the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable. Our jail is in crisis, our budget needs oversight, and our communities have been waiting too long for the services they deserve. My entire life has been about one thing: helping people understand their power and use it. Whether in a courtroom, a classroom, or on the airwaves, I’ve dedicated my career
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to making complex systems accessible to everyday people. Now, as your Commissioner for District 4, I’m bringing that same commitment to local government— because what happens at the county level IVORY affects your daily life more than you might think. As Chair, I will do the same for all of Fulton County. TATUM: I have four daughters. Our family looks like Fulton County: different stories, different backgrounds, one TATUM home. I watch them grow up here and asked myself whether this county is doing its part for them. Right now the honest answer is no. Their parents’ tax bills climb every year and the was nearly raised again in January. The jail is under a federal consent
See CHAIR, Page 6
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Continued from Page 1 Appen Media Group sent Q&As to nearly 80 candidates running for state and local offices. Our focus is on the local races that are closest to you. While there are many sources for coverage of the large statewide races – like the race for U.S. Senate and governor – there are comparatively few resources for the races in your community. That’s the value we add to the discussion. We hope this voters guide will help you as you weigh your options in the voting booth. While we made sincere and per sistent efforts to get Q&A responses from every candidate before our print deadline, some candidates did not respond. We will make note of the candidates who did not respond in this voter’s guide. All our election coverage can be found at appenmedia.com/elections. If a candidate responds after this guide is published, we will update the Q&As published on our website with those responses. The responses have not been edited. How to use The voters guide Q&As will be
divided into sections for countylevel and state races. Each race will include a map so you can determine whether you live in that district. For the most accurate information about the races on your ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter page: mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ Important election information The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election was Oct. 5. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters must bring a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport or state-issued voter ID card. Advance voting for the election runs Oct. 13-30. To see a list of early voting locations visit (depends on the issue) • Fulton County: fultoncountyga. gov/inside-fulton-county/fultoncounty-departments/registrationand-elections/early-voting-locations If the Nov. 3 election requires a runoff, that election is set for Dec. 1. The registration deadline for the runoff is also Oct. 5 for most contests, though voters registering solely for a federal runoff race have until Nov. 2. ATTENTION - Double check ad for ALL content. Phone, web, address, coupons, etc. Assume nothing Reply back that ad is approved once ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR ACCURACY.
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6 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Chair:
ELECTION GUIDE
Continued from Page 4 decree. The elections office is under federal investigation. And the people in charge spend more time fighting than fixing. I’m running because my daughters, and every family in Fulton, deserve a county where what you look like and where you come from matter less than who you are and how hard you work. A county that tells the truth, spends your money like it is yours, and treats a family in Palmetto and Milton the same. I have spent 15 years as an attorey fixing problems for people who had nowhere else to turn. I want to do that for the county my girls call home.
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What are your top priorities if you are elected? IVORY: Fix the Jail, Fund the Courts, Build Hospitals, Better Healthcare, Free and Fair Elections, Increase Budget Transparency. TATUM: Taxes and Budgeting- hold the millage rate at 8.87. benchmarks on every department budget, and justify yearly spending, and appropriately staff the Board of Assessors so high value properties pay appropriately. Public Safety- meet the Consent Decree, deliver on the need for ACDC as a short term fix and a long term diversion solution, and enhance accountability courts because I’ve seen them work; Economic Developmentmake Fulton the easiest county to build in while protecting our cities natural resources, and joint development agreements with cities. Public Health- make sure the county programs reach the people they are meant to serve, with appropriate reporting for all service priorities. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? IVORY: I will bring real solutions for decades long problems. I’m not running to make promises I can’t keep. I’m running because I know how to get things done. I’m an attorney, educator, businesswoman and former Fulton County Commissioner. I am more qualified than my opponent and my record shows that. TATUM: My opponent made the motion to raise the county’s tax ceiling 12.5%, was the only vote against holding the rate flat, then asked for 14.3% more in January 2026. Then said she’s “never voted to raise anyone’s taxes.” I won’t raise the millage rate. I will finish what I start. If elected for four years, I will serve for four years. I follow all the rules, file campaign documents appropriately, and has the financial discipline in life to manage a $1B budget, as I manage a multimillion dollar budget presently in my law firm. I will be accountable, and ensure
accountability for others. As property tax bills climb, residents have raised concerns about both how the county spends that money and the appraisal process. What changes would you make to how the county spends tax money and appraises properties?* First, appraisals. Homeowners see significant increases while some highvalue commercial and luxury properties are appraised well below sale values, which shifts the burden onto our families. The Board of Appraisals needs the staff, technology, and oversight to appraise properties correctly and prevent homeowner’s values from spiking. Second, spending. The general fund eclipsed $1B this year, and we need to have more measurable results for our budget expenditures. I will also listen to the constituents, hear their concerns, and act accordingly, in their best interest. As property tax bills climb, residents have raised concerns about both how the county spends that money and the appraisal process. What changes would you make to how the county spends tax money and appraises properties? IVORY: Fulton County manages billions of public dollars each year, yet the budget process is often difficult for residents to follow. Too many decisions happen out of public view, and people are left wondering where their tax dollars go and how priorities are set. When the process isn’t clear, trust erodes—and opportunities to spend smarter are missed. I will open the budget process with detailed, line-byline reviews that residents can easily access. Require clear explanations for major budget decisions so residents understand what’s being funded and why. I will make tough, informed choices to reduce waste and direct more resources to services that people rely on every day and strengthen oversight of county contracts to ensure fair competition, accountability, and responsible use of public funds. This is your money. You earn it, you pay it in taxes, and you deserve a government that treats it with care and respect. Budget transparency leads to better decisions, stronger services, and greater public trust. When residents can see how their money is spent—and have a voice in those choices—Fulton County works better for everyone. In January, the FBI seized roughly 700 boxes of ballots and records from Fulton County’s elections hub as part of its investigation into how the county handled the 2020 election. What is your opinion on the investigation and the county’s
See CHAIR, Page 8
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 7
8 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Chair:
ELECTION GUIDE
Continued from Page 6 response to it, and what would you do to reassure voters about the integrity of Fulton’s election administration going forward? IVORY: Elections should be straightforward and accessible, but too often the systems that support voting are stretched thin. When departments lack the resources they need, voters feel the impact through long lines, confusion, and uneven access. Fulton County’s responsibility is to make voting work smoothly for the people who rely on it. I will ensure the Department of Registration and Elections has the funding and staffing it needs to run elections effectively and consistently strengthen training and support for election workers so every polling location is prepared and well-run. I will expand early voting opportunities and polling access so working families, seniors, and caregivers can participate fully. Voting is how our voices shape the future of Fulton County. When elections are accessible and well-run, more people participate and communities are better represented. Protecting free and fair elections means protecting the right of every eligible voter to be heard—clearly, confidently, and without unnecessary barriers. TATUM: Election integrity is not partisan. Every voter, regardless of party, deserves to know their vote was counted accurately and that the county followed the law. The investigation should run its course, and the county should cooperate rather than treat it as a public relations problem, while protecting our poll workers in the process. The federal government should not have to step into a local elections office, and the way to make sure it never has to again is to run that office so well there is no reason to. That starts with a full, functioning Board of Registration and Elections. Taxpayers are spending $32 million on elections this year, up 82 percent, and they deserve a board at full strength overseeing every dollar and every procedure. It means documented poll worker training so procedures are followed the same way every time, and real transparency: chain-of-custody records, audit results, and board proceedings any resident can see. Food insecurity remains a persistent issue across Fulton County, affecting families and a rising number of seniors. What is your assessment of how well current county programs are reaching residents who need them, and what would you do to strengthen access to food assistance? IVORY: Our food programs are
APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO
reaching thousands of Fulton County residents on a monthly basis, like our food program Fulton Fresh. Along with other key partnerships, we are reaching thousands more. We can always do more. We can partner with more groups, increase funding and have a wider transportation networks to make drops to those that are in need. I will examine all of these options as Chair. TATUM: Fulton County has built real partnerships with food banks, nonprofits, and faith communities, and because of them many residents have weekly access to food. Credit where it is due. The gap is not only supply. It is information. If you are a senior without reliable internet, or a parent working two jobs, finding out where and when food is available should not take a research project. I would do three things. Keep one current county list of every food partner and distribution site, and put it where people already are: senior centers, libraries, MARTA stations, clinics, and houses of worship, on paper and not only online. Use the county’s senior services network and home-delivered meals to reach homebound seniors. And measure it: the county should report every year how many residents its programs reach and where the gaps are. Are there additional steps you think Fulton County can take to protect its senior population and enable them to age in place beyond the homestead exemption and 2026 senior schooltax exemption? IVORY: Make sure seniors are aware of all the services we offer as a county, from healthcare to transportation to in-home medical assistance. There are many services that seniors don’t use because they simply do not know about
them or have trouble accessing them. I plan to bridge that gap between education and the offerings so that more seniors can take advantage of all that Fulton County has for them. TATUM: Yes. The Board of Commissioners does not control school taxes, but it controls the county’s own rate, and that is where I can act. First, I will not raise the county property tax rate. When my opponent asked for a 14 percent increase in January, her own party’s Chairman said seniors on fixed incomes could not afford it. He was right. Second, the county already offers a $50,000 exemption from county operations taxes at 65 with no income test, and a full exemption from county operations taxes at 70 for seniors under the Social Security income limit. Too many eligible seniors never apply. I will make sure every one of them knows about these exemptions and receives them. Third, aging in place takes more than tax relief: senior transportation, in-home services, home repair help, and senior centers that are open and staffed. I would review each for reach and results and prioritize them in the budget. Seniors built this county. They should be able to stay in the homes they built. Fulton County remains under scrutiny from a federal Department of Justice investigation that found the county jail’s conditions violate detainees’ constitutional rights, citing overcrowding, inadequate medical care and high numbers of in-custody deaths. What is your assessment of the county’s criminal justice reform efforts so far, and what changes would you push for – beyond jail renovations – to address the underlying issues that were identified?
IVORY: The Fulton County Jail did not become overcrowded by accident. Decades of underfunding our courts have slowed case processing to a crawl, leaving people stuck in a system that cannot move them through it. The result is an overcrowded, understaffed jail that has been declared constitutionally uninhabitable and placed under a federal consent decree. This is a systemic failure—one that threatens public safety, drains taxpayer dollars, and violates basic standards of human dignity. I will work to fully fund the courts so cases move efficiently and legally through the system, partner with court leadership to reduce backlogs and unnecessary delays that drive jail overcrowding, implement immediate safety and staffing reforms to meet constitutional standards at the jail and expand mental health and behavioral health services to address crises before they escalate. I will implement and require transparent, public reporting on jail conditions and compliance with the federal consent decree.When the courts are underfunded, the jail becomes the bottleneck—and everyone pays the price. Overcrowding fuels unsafe conditions, increases costs, and undermines confidence in our justice system. Fulton County can and must do better. By funding the courts and fixing the jail, we protect public safety, respect the Constitution, and reaffirm our shared commitment to a system that works— fairly, efficiently, and humanely. I will also push for increased use of diversion services. TATUM: The Justice Department found the jail unconstitutional. Progress is real but slow. The biggest step forward this year is one I pushed for. When the county and the city were deadlocked over the Atlanta City Detention Center, I stood at the public comment podium on September 3rd and urged commissioners to buy it, because housing detainees in-county during renovations beats shipping them out to another county. Last week the county agreed, at $68 million. My opponent had her chance. On August 20, 2025 the board approved the $1.2 billion plan to fix Rice Street and build a new facility, 4 to 1. She was the one. She wanted ankle monitors instead. In June she said she “absolutely supports building a new jail.” You cannot be the only vote against the fix and then claim to support it. Beyond buildings: the consent decree calls for 200 net new officers a year; the county netted 34 through July. Fix pay. And 62 percent of people entering the jail have mental health or addiction needs: fund the Center for Diversion and Services and expand accountability courts. In 15 years of
See CHAIR, Page 9
ELECTION GUIDE
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 9
Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 48 The State Senate District 48 race features incumbent Republican Sen. Shawn Still and his Democratic challenger, Laura Murvartian. State Senate District 48 includes portions of Forsyth County and the cities of Johns Creek and Alpharetta. Appen Media sent both candidates our Q&A. Murvartian responded. Still did not respond. The responses have not been edited.
What is your occupation? MURVARTIAN: Executive Director of a non-profit
MURVARTIAN
What neighborhood do you call home? MURVARTIAN: Country Club of the South
Party affiliation: MURVARTIAN: Democrat Campaign website and social media pages: MURVARTIAN: www.lauraMurvartian.com, @ murvartian4ga, Laura Murvartian for State Senate
Why are you running for this office? MURVARTIAN: As an immigrant, I feel an obligation to give back to the country that has given me so much and to the state in which I raised my children. What are your top priorities if you are elected?
Chair:
are used, I oppose Fulton County using Flock cameras. A citizen’s privacy comes before a government’s convenience.
Continued from Page 8 family and juvenile law, I have seen what those programs can do when funded and run well. Nationwide, Flock Safety cameras have come under fire for privacy concerns and for being misused by police officers. What are your thoughts on both Flock Safety and the backlash it has caused? IVORY: Safety cameras should not be used for anything other than there intended purposes. As a attorney, I am deeply troubled by the privacy violations and the use of these systems to gather information on citizens which can then be uses in an unlawful manner. TATUM: I understand why law enforcement wants these tools; in theory a license plate reader is a faster set of eyes. In practice, the story nationally has been misuse: plates run for personal reasons, data shared with agencies far outside our county without a warrant, and no meaningful oversight. That is government overreach, and I will not support it. Privacy is not partisan; it is constitutional, and the backlash is coming from the left and the right for good reason. Fulton County should not expand or renew any surveillance camera contract without enforceable guardrails: short data retention, no sharing outside the county without a warrant or court order, a public log of every search and who ran it, independent audits, and the right to cancel the contract the moment it is abused. Because those safeguards have failed nearly everywhere the cameras
MURVARTIAN: Affordable health insurance, better wages, lower property taxes, attainable housing, thriving schools, and protecting our civil rights,
5) I will prioritize hard working Georgia families while maintaining a strong business environment. Both are possible. 6) I will be more accessible to the voters of SD48. I will have regular community events to hear from the voters of SD48 and to keep the voters informed. 7) Besides having experience as a small business owner, I have a strong corporate and educational background: I have a Master’s in Public Policy with a focus on international economics, my first job out of graduate school was at the Federal Reserve Bank. I was an executive at Georgia-based corporations where I negotiated IT and data deals worth up to $50M, I was a small
What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? MURVARTIAN: 1) My values and policy priorities are more in line with the current demographic makeup of SD48 and with the current economic and political realities in our state. 2) I have a clean record and have never been indicted for attempting to interfere with our elections. 3) I will propose and support legislation that benefits all Georgians, not just a select few. 4) I believe in the separation of church and state.
See SD48, Page 10
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10 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
ELECTION GUIDE
Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 14 FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The State Senate District 14 race features Democrat Kevin Abel and Republican Michael Dvorscak. Senate District 14 includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Sandy Springs. The candidates’ responses have not been edited. ABEL
expand insurance coverage in Healthcare and support our first responders. What are your top priorities if you are elected? ABEL: My top priorities are affordability, healthcare, and transportation. I will work to increase attainable housing, protect working families from rising costs, and pursue a fair tax system that does not favor the wealthiest Georgians. I will fight to expand Medicaid, lower healthcare costs, protect reproductive freedom, and close the coverage gap. I will also use my experience on the Georgia Department of Transportation Board and as founder of Mobility Atlanta to advocate for stronger state investment in regional transit, safer roads, and reduced congestion. Strong public schools— and a modernized QBE funding formula—will be a central focus as well. DVORSCAK: Fiscal responsibility, public safety, healthcare, education and affordability.
What are your campaign website and social media pages? ABEL: www.abelforgeorgia. com, https://www.facebook. com/KevinAbelForChange, IG abel4ga DVORSCAK: FriendsofMikeD. com/Dvorscakga
Why are you running for this office? ABEL: I am running because Senate District 14 deserves a DVORSCAK strong, practical voice focused on solving problems rather than scoring political points. My wife, Cindy, and I have lived in North Fulton for 35 years, raised our family here, built a business here, and provided jobs and benefits to hundreds of employees. I have also served this community and our state through civic, transportation, business, immigrant-support, and nonprofit leadership. I want to bring that experience to the Capitol to make Georgia more affordable, expand access to healthcare, strengthen public education, and build the transportation system our
SD48: Continued from Page 9 business owner contributing more than $7M to Georgia’s economy. 8) I have a wide-range of lived experiences and have a strong work ethic: I came to the U.S. when I was 8-years old and worked in the bean fields and corn fields while in middle school; and in corn processing and chicken processing plants while in high school. I worked my way through college. Gov. Brian Kemp has told government agencies to submit level budgets as they prepare for next year’s budget cycle. Kemp has also cut income taxes. Do you support continuing to reduce government spending while also cutting taxes? If so, what is your plan to provide services with less revenue? MURVARTIAN: No. I support reducing corporate tax breaks and investing more in education, in subsidized childcare, and in affordable
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growing region needs. DVORSCAK: I have always wanted to serve. Under Governor Kemp our State has made enormous progress. I want to see us continue the legacy he has left us. I also see opportunities to lower taxes, improve education, lower costs and
healthcare. Do you support changing the constitution to allow for the creation of new school districts? No. We run the risk of underfunding the existing districts as a whole by creating new school districts which may take away resources in a disproportionate manner. Data centers are a contentious topic for many communities. Do you support the creation of more data centers in Georgia? Why or why not? What data center regulations should be in place, if any? MURVARTIAN: I support the right of local municipalities to determine if they want a data center in their jurisdiction; as long as any approved data center has the appropriate economic and environmental protections to ensure Georgia residents are not taking on any of the financial burden and are protected from any potential environmental harm or disproportionate use of environmental resources. And that there is a material economic benefit to people of that district.
What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? ABEL: I bring a combination of business experience, public service, and deep roots in North Fulton. I built and ran a successful Georgia business for more than two decades, understand how to balance budgets while taking care of employees, and have worked across political and civic lines on transportation, economic development, healthcare, immigration, and community service. I know this district, I understand how state government works, and I have relationships across the region and under the Gold Dome. I will be an experienced, independent, and effective advocate
Georgia recently expanded access to its medical cannabis program, allowing new patients to receive medical cannabis cards and adding new products for patients. Do you support expanding the program further and allowing the sale of cannabis for recreational use? Why or why not? MURVARTIAN: Yes, I support allowing the use of regulated and taxed recreational use of cannabis. I believe people have the right to make their own decisions regarding their use of cannabis as long as it is regulated and taxed by the state. Georgia continues to debate how state elections are conducted and every year there is new legislation on this topic. What changes to our current election system do you support, if any? MURVARTIAN: To the extent that there is a debate in Georgia about this topic, it is due to the fact that Republicans continue to make unfounded claims that there is material election fraud in our state. They then use this pretext to propose legislation which results in limiting access to the ballot.
See SD14, Page 11 Georgia has secure elections. In order to stop the unnecessary legislations which makes it more difficult for Geogian’s to exercise their right vote, we need a bipartisan election board and bipartisan oversight throughout the process. If you are elected, what will you do to help your constituents who are struggling due to inflation and other rising costs? What can the state do to make Georgia more affordable? MURVARTIAN: Reduce property taxes, eliminate sales tax on food, reduce the cost of health insurance, subsidize childcare. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? If you are elected, what will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? MURVARTIAN: Yes, I commit to being ethical and transparent. To promote ethics and transparency, I would push to hold those accountable who are not acting ethically and I would push to have legislation that requires that all legislation pass a transparency test before being put up for a vote.
SD14: Continued from Page 10 for District 14 from day one. At the end of the day, though, I trust voters to determine which of us is the better candidate. DVORSCAK: I have personally knocked on over 5,000 doors of voters in District 14 so far. I have listened to the problems and concerns of our citizens. They are looking for someone who will reduce taxes, improve healthcare and reduce its cost, support our first responders and keep criminals off our streets. They want someone who will listen to them, then deliver on these issues. I am that person. Gov. Brian Kemp has told government agencies to submit level budgets as they prepare for next year’s budget cycle. Kemp has also cut income taxes. Do you support continuing to reduce government spending while also cutting taxes? If so, what is your plan to provide services with less revenue? ABEL: I support disciplined budgeting and eliminating waste, but I do not support an ideological race to cut taxes and services regardless of the consequences. Georgia should fully fund public education, healthcare, public safety, transportation, and other core responsibilities before approving additional tax cuts—especially cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest residents. Our state has had substantial reserves and surpluses; those resources should be used responsibly to address longterm needs, modernize government, and provide targeted relief to working families. Efficiency matters, but balancing a budget by shifting costs to local governments, schools, hospitals, or families is not genuine fiscal responsibility. DVORSCAK: I am going to look at spending from the point of view of the people who have to work the hardest to pay their taxes. People who do physically demanding work. I will ask this question, “Is this something those people would want their tax dollars spent on?” There are a lot of special breaks for big business, waste and programs that we do not need to be funding. If we approach spending this way, we can continue to cut taxes and make life more affordable for all Georgians. Do you support changing the constitution to allow for the creation of new school districts? ABEL: I would not support a
ELECTION GUIDE constitutional change without strong evidence that it would improve educational outcomes and without safeguards protecting existing public schools. Creating new districts may provide greater local control, but it can also fragment communities, deepen inequality, and weaken the financial stability of existing systems. Any proposal must include a transparent fiscal analysis, equitable treatment of students and taxpayers, and a clear plan for facilities, debt, employees, and services. My priority is strengthening every public school—not creating winners and losers through district boundaries. DVORSCAK: I have not heard from my fellow citizens that they want new districts. I do not feel that this is necessary. Data centers are a contentious topic for many communities. Do you support the creation of more data centers in Georgia? Why or why not? What data center regulations should be in place, if any? ABEL: Data centers are part of our digital future, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of our quality of life. I only support these projects if the local infrastructure—power, water, and emergency services—can actually handle them. We need clear regulations that protect residents from noise and spikes in their utility bills. That means requiring full disclosure of energy use, enforceable noise standards, and a “pay-toplay” model where the companies, not the taxpayers, cover the cost of infrastructure upgrades. Most importantly, we have to ensure these centers don’t drive up rates for everyday families. DVORSCAK: I support the right of individual communities to permit the development of data centers with safeguards. Data Centers are a major source of real and personal property tax revenue. Cities and counties that do not have large commercial tax bases can benefit greatly from a data center. I oppose taking that opportunity away from them. Georgia recently expanded access to its medical cannabis program, allowing new patients to receive medical cannabis cards and adding new products for patients. Do you support expanding the program further and allowing the sale of cannabis for recreational use? Why or why not? ABEL: I support expanding our medical cannabis program so Georgians can get the relief they need without jumping through unnecessary hoops. It should be treated as a healthcare issue, guided by doctors and data. When it comes
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 11
to recreational use, we should look at the data from other states regarding public health and safety, while also addressing the unfairness of low-level possession records. DVORSCAK: I support the use of medical cannabis, and making it easier to obtain for those who need it. I do not support the sale of recreational cannabis. Cannabis that is sold today is extremely potent and has been linked to mental health problems, particularly in young people. Georgia continues to debate how state elections are conducted and every year there is new legislation on this topic. What changes to our current election system do you support, if any? ABEL: Georgia should stop rewriting election rules every year for partisan advantage. I support secure elections that are accessible to every eligible voter: adequate early voting, reasonable absentee-ballot access, sufficient polling places and equipment, professional election administration, and meaningful protection against intimidation. I also support auditable paper ballots, transparent post-election audits, and stable rules established well before an election. The state should help counties recruit and train poll workers and upgrade systems rather than burden local administrators with unfunded mandates. Election policy should be based on evidence, transparency, and voter confidence— not conspiracy theories or efforts to make voting harder. DVORSCAK: As someone who has worked in the polls in every position from clerk to manager and been a poll watcher, I have a little different perspective than most people. The Dominion system is complicated for poll workers to run and not very transparent to voters. Other states have considered using the Dominion system and rejected it as not safe enough. Georgia is the only state that uses it statewide. I would be in favor of moving to a system of hand marked paper ballots that are scanned, like the majority of other states have. If you are elected, what will you do to help your constituents who are struggling due to inflation and other rising costs? What can the state do to make Georgia more affordable? ABEL: Affordability must be a governing priority, not a campaign slogan. I will work to expand attainable housing through responsible tax credits and incentives, strengthen renter stability, address barriers that prevent essential workers from living near their jobs,
and protect homeowners from sudden tax increases without starving local schools and services. I will fight to expand Medicaid and lower healthcare costs, invest in public transit and transportation choices that reduce household expenses, support affordable childcare and workforce training, and protect consumers from price-gouging and unfair fees. Tax relief should be targeted to working and middle-class families, not structured primarily for those already doing well. DVORSCAK: Fiscal responsibility is where it starts. If we cut the fat, waste and special tax breaks we can easily cut taxes. With more tort reform we can lower health insurance costs. By eliminating the certificate of need program we can get the bureaucracy out of making decisions about who can make a major investment in healthcare equipment and facilities. This will increase the supply of services, lowering costs and providing greater access to services. These are just a few ways we can bring down costs for all Georgians. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? If you are elected, what will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? ABEL: Absolutely. I’ll be open about my priorities, explain why I vote the way I do, and keep the door open for my constituents. That means town halls, prompt responses to questions, and a commitment to keeping money and special interests from drowning out the voices of the people I represent. In public service, you work for the voters—and they deserve to know exactly what you’re doing on their behalf. DVORSCAK: I have been ethical and transparent from the start of this campaign. When I filed my financial disclosure, I did not simply state what investments that my wife and I have that are $5,000 or more. I filed a copy of my most recent statement of our investments. The people can see what I have down to the penny. When I have spoken to voters that have asked tough questions or clearly hold a different position on an issue, I have been completely honest about my position, even though I know I may not get that vote. I am not running on contributions from special interests. I promise to tell you the truth. If I am wrong I will correct myself. I will be accessible. I believe we need civility in government. I will advocate strongly for the things I believe in. But I will not say things to rile things up or call people names. Rather I will treat others with respect. And I will give you the best I’ve got every day for District 14 and for Georgia.
12 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
ELECTION GUIDE
Candidate Q&A: State House District 48 The state House District 48 features incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Hilton and his Democratic challenger Adam Cleveland. House District 48 includes the cities of Roswell and Johns Creek. Both candidates responded to Appen Media’s Q&A. Their responses have not been edited.
taxes, providing property tax relief, reducing unnecessary regulations and lowering healthcare and energy costs. I will also support policies that help young families achieve the dream of homeownership and allow small businesses to grow and create jobs. Every child deserves access to a great education, regardless of their ZIP code. I will continue supporting strong public schools, fully funding education, investing in our teachers, expanding school choice and empowering parents. I will also continue working to create classrooms where students can focus and learn without unnecessary distractions. Finally, keeping our families and communities safe will remain a top priority. I will continue supporting our law enforcement officers, strengthening school safety, holding criminals accountable and giving local communities the resources they need to protect their residents.
Party affiliation: CLEVELAND: Democrat HILTON: Republican
CLEVELAND
HILTON
Campaign website and social media pages: CLEVELAND: Website- https://www. adamcleveland.com/ Instagram- www.instagram. com/adamforgeorgia/ , Facebook- www.facebook.com/adamforgeorgia/ HILTON: www.ScottHiltonGA.com www. Facebook.com/ScottHiltonGA https://x.com/ scotthiltonga https:// www.instagram.com/ scotthiltonga/
What is your occupation? CLEVELAND: Attorney and small business owner HILTON: Small Business Owner What neighborhood do you call home? CLEVELAND: Riven Glen in Johns Creek HILTON: Amberfield (Peachtree Corners - Gwinnett) Why are you running for this office? CLEVELAND: I'm running so my daughters can have leadership that will fight for the Georgia we all deserve. Whether in my work as a maintenance man, lawyer, or small business owner, I have spent my career fixing problems. Right now, the problems I see are my daughters’ generation having fewer rights than mine, a state government giving way to authoritarian overreach, and a representative in House District 48 who’s actively sacrificing others’ rights and our state’s independence in pursuit of his own political ambitions. I believe we owe it to my daughters and all the children in our state to end the notion of political careers so that they inherit a government that protects them, answers to them, and very soon, will be in their hands to shape. HILTON: I am passionate about public service and giving back to our local community. We need more leaders who serve with common sense, compassion and dignity. Our
IMAGE OBTAINED VIA LEGIS.GA.GOV.
elected leaders should serve as role models who unite us around issues that move our state forward. Our family loves Georgia and wants to keep our state the best place to live, work and raise a family. Serving as a legislator is the honor of a lifetime. I love the work and have dedicated myself to the commitment it requires. After six years in office, constituents know my record of delivering on meaningful, bipartisan issues, such as removing the distraction of cell phones from our classrooms. During my tenure, I have earned recognition as one of the most effective legislators and quickly risen to leadership in the House. At the same time, I serve on some of the most influential committees, including Education, Healthcare and Ways & Means. These accomplishments are important for our community because they give us an even greater voice at the Georgia Capitol. As State Representative, I work tirelessly to give our community the voice it deserves—often the first to arrive at the Capitol and the last to leave. Our team is committed to delivering world-class constituent services, being visible in the community and accessible whenever a constituent has a need. I am running to continue the great work we’re doing on behalf of the beautiful communities of Johns Creek, Roswell, Alpharetta and Peachtree Corners. What are your top priorities if you are elected? CLEVELAND: My top priorities are restoring reproductive rights for women
in Georgia, wiping out the school voucher programs siphoning funds from our public education, and changing our political system in Georgia to one that stops giving away Georgians’ self-determination in favor of serving the whims of one party or just one person. I grew up in a Georgia where our votes were counted and their outcome was upheld no matter for what candidate, where no person was considered beyond the reach of the law, where those of us who chose to stay in this state had well-funded public education, could work a single job for a living, afford healthcare, and invest in our own futures because we could afford to buy a home, I will defend our elections from federal overreach and from legislators within our own state who would seek to suppress or obscure our votes through redistricting, voter intimidation, or promulgating lies about our elections. Beyond that, I hope to improve our electoral system through policies like ranked choice voting and term limits to ensure that our representatives advocate for causes, not for their own careers. Finally, I’m running to give my daughters and all children in Georgia a better future, which means increasing affordability across the board and strengthening our public education system so that they and their families will be set up for success right here in Georgia. HILTON: My top priorities reflect what I hear from constituents in our community every single day – we need to keep making Georgia more affordable, strengthen our schools and keep our communities safe. I will continue to fight to lower the cost of living for Georgia families by cutting
What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? CLEVELAND: I am the best candidate for District 48 because I hope to end political careers, including my own, to empower Georgia’s voters and protect its people from the pervasive corruption in our government. My opponent was voted out of office by his own Gwinnett neighbors after one term in his original district and needed his party to redraw the maps to include our Fulton County cities in order to make him viable again. He has sacrificed our rights by abstaining from difficult votes and consistently voting to help his president attack our Georgia elections, drive up costs, and endanger the future opportunities of our youth. I’m running because our children deserve leadership willing to lose the job in order to actually DO the job. I will have the integrity to hold our children's interests at the forefront of every decision I make: investing in our public schools, restoring reproductive freedom, expanding medicaid, advancing gun safety, and enacting the reforms like ranked choice voting, independent districting, and terms limits that will protect our public offices from those who seek to use them for their own benefit, not the collective good. HILTON: I believe voters deserve a State Representative they know, trust and can count on to show up and deliver results. After six years in office, I have a proven track record of bipartisan success on issues that matter most to our community. My opponent is largely an unknown quantity. His limited experience at the Capitol was spent advocating for his own business interests, while I have spent years working across the aisle on policies that lift our entire community.
See HD48, Page 13
HD48: Continued from Page 12 There are also legitimate questions about whether he will consistently show up and do the job. According to Georgia Secretary of State records, he has failed to vote in at least 11 elections. His limited history of participating in elections raises serious concerns about his commitment to civic engagement and whether voters can count on him to be present when it matters. Finally, a significant portion of his campaign funding is coming from outside Georgia. I believe our community deserves a representative whose priorities and accountability are rooted here at home—not one whose campaign is being fueled by interests from outside our state. This election is ultimately about trust. I have a proven record, deep experience and six years of showing up for our community. Voters know they can count on me to do the job for them. Gov. Brian Kemp has told government agencies to submit level budgets as they prepare for next year’s budget cycle. Kemp has also cut income taxes. Do you support continuing to reduce government spending while also cutting taxes? If so, what is your plan to provide services with less revenue? CLEVELAND: I agree with reducing
ELECTION GUIDE wasteful government spending. Reducing taxes is a separate question. If we are to reduce the financial burden on Georgia’s families, we must invest what tax income we get into services or programs that allow newer families to get ahead while ensuring that those who have already benefitted from such services are contributing their fair share. For example, Republicans’ Pathways to Coverage plan for medical care funding pays 90% of its tax funds - a cost to voters - TO THE FIRM THAT ADMINISTERS the plan. That’s wasted funds we could put back in voters’ pockets while finding. Also, by eliminating the voucher program that siphons public funds to private schools, we would also stop a tax waste and support the service those funds were intended to reach. I do believe in tax relief for working families and seniors, but blanket income-tax reductions serve the wealthiest and shift the burden to the neediest. HILTON: First and foremost, thanks to Governor Kemp’s sound fiscal management, our state successfully navigated COVID-19 and 40-year-high inflation while maintaining a healthy rainy-day reserve fund. I believe we should continue this same discipline—cutting taxes, controlling spending and growing our state’s economy. Under this approach, we have been able to provide historic teacher pay raises, fully fund public education, invest billions in new infrastructure and expand healthcare education in Georgia. At the
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same time, we have helped make life more affordable for Georgians by delivering billions of dollars in tax rebates and property tax relief. My plan is to continue prioritizing spending on education, infrastructure, public safety and healthcare, while seeking ways to eliminate wasteful spending. We can protect essential services and continue investing in Georgia’s future while also protecting your hard-earned tax dollars.
tion, give students access to the best educational opportunities possible, and respect the wishes of local communities. Any change to the Constitution should also protect the funding and stability of students who remain in the existing school district. At this point, the question is largely hypothetical, as there is not currently sufficient support in the General Assembly to advance such an amendment.
Do you support changing the constitution to allow for the creation of new school districts? CLEVELAND: I do not support the creation of new school districts, as doing so would only perpetuate the inequality already present in our public school system, unless you consider merging districts a “creation.” With property taxes as the basis of school funding, expanding and merging rural districts would allow for a more even distribution of resources so that every child, regardless of their geographic home in Georgia, can have access to the opportunities they deserve. To truly invest in our public schools, we must stop the siphoning of public funds into private schools through vouchers. We must give our teachers a raise and ensure they are better supported in preparing our children for life. HILTON: As a leader in education policy in the House, I support changes that empower parents in their children’s educa-
Data centers are a contentious topic for many communities. Do you support the creation of more data centers in Georgia? Why or why not? What data center regulations should be in place, if any? CLEVELAND: I believe that before creating more data centers, we must place stricter regulations to ensure they will not harm any residents - financially or physically. Without the full story of the impact a project will have on a community, subjecting any community to such a significant change is outrageous. Transparency is part of the basic accountability that data centers ought to be subject to, and metrics should be reported regularly to ensure that data centers are keeping their promises to the neighborhoods that surround them. They must also be prohibited from passing costs onto Georgians, whether that is through increased stress on our energy grids, greater environmental destruction,
See HD48, Page 14
Gun Violence is the #1 killer of children in Georgia Why does Georgia consistently have one of the highest per capita rates of Gun Violence in the US? We have weaker laws than almost every other state. It’s not complicated. States with lower rates of Gun Violence have laws that work. Georgia can have that, too, with legislators who pledge to work on our Gun Violence Crisis.
Georgia Majority thanks the following candidates who pledge to work on solutions:
Michelle Au
House District 50
To see who signed the pledge, visit georgiamajority.org.
Adam Cleveland House District 48
14 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
HD48:
ELECTION GUIDE
House District 48 candidates meet for a heated debate
Continued from Page 13 or tax rates that drain our state’s public resources. A community in need of tax revenue or jobs may choose to have a data center, but that choice should only follow independent study of the impact on the area and on the state. HILTON: Data centers in Georgia must meet clear conditions that protect Georgia families and local communities. First, we must protect residential energy ratepayers. Data centers should be required to pay their own way and not impose any new energy costs onto consumers. Second, data centers should be required to minimize and offset their environmental impact, with a goal of being net-positive for the environment. Third, local communities should have a meaningful voice in decisions about zoning, noise and whether a proposed data center is appropriate for their community. Data centers can bring significant investment and jobs to Georgia, and they can provide an important economic opportunity for our state. But that growth must be done responsibly—protecting ratepayers, respecting local communities and ensuring that the benefits of these investments are shared broadly. Georgia recently expanded access to its medical cannabis program, allowing new patients to receive medical cannabis cards and adding new products for patients. Do you support expanding the program further and allowing the sale of cannabis for recreational use? Why or why not? CLEVELAND: I do support expanding this program to allow the sale of cannabis for recreational use. Our justice system is already overextended, and should not spend its resources on a law like this
By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The Georgia House District 48 election race between Republican incumbent Scott Hilton and Democratic challenger Adam Cleveland will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. The pair met for a debate to state their case. Moderated by Appen Media executive editor Dan Whisenhunt, both Hilton (Peachtree Corners) and Cleveland (Johns Creek) gave their takes and showed their vast difference in opinions on the current state of the economy, education, Medicaid, election results, term limits and several other topics. The elected official will represent Roswell, Johns Creek and parts of Gwinnett County of the Georgia House of Representatives for two years. To view the district map, click here. Both Hilton and Cleveland secured their positions on the ballot through uncontested primary races earlier this year. The district has previously seen several closely contested races in prior elections. In 2018, Democratic candidate Mary Robichaux defeated Republican Betty Price by 0.6 percent. After serving for two terms, Robichaux was defeated by current Rep. Hilton in 2022 with the help of a Republican-led redistricting map signed off by Governor Brian Kemp, which was created the year prior. one that has strong racial biases in its enforcement. HILTON: I support Georgia’s medical cannabis program for patients who can benefit from it, but I do not support legalizing cannabis for recreational use. First, public safety should remain a top priority. We should be cautious
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Every House District 48 election has ended with a gap of less than 9.8% between candidates since 2016. The two candidates came out flying their political party flags in their opening statements. Hilton began by likening his views to Gov. Brian Kemp and said his knowledge and experience should attract voters tired of the “bickering and nonsense” at the national level. “If you've enjoyed the last eight years under Gov. Kemp's leadership, if you have watched what's going on in [Washington], D.C. right now, just all the bickering and nonsense and nothing getting done, and you want someone here locally who knows the issues, cares about our community, and has a proven track record of getting things done, then I'm your candidate,” Hilton said. Cleveland shared the opposite sentiment. He hopes the state rejects Republican leadership on Nov. 3, and that his vote is a vote against Donald Trump. “I am hoping that we can make the state one that rejects Donald Trump and everything he's about, which is the problem I have with my opponent currently,” Cleveland said. “So, if you want to vote against Donald Trump and Republicans who led us to the situation we're in, I'm the candidate.” Responding to a question about whether candidates will accept the election results win or lose, Cleveland said
he would 100% accept and pointed out that Hilton had voted to remove Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger from being a vote certifier after he certified the 2020 election. Trump had urged Raffensperger to overturn the results after Joe Biden defeated him. “I’m running against somebody who has actually voted to take the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger out of the position of certifying, or decertifying, our votes in the Board of Elections specifically,” Cleveland said. “His vote to do that was a vote in favor of Donald Trump or whoever else wants to be an authoritarian figure in this country.” Hilton countered that he would accept any election results and jabbed that Cleveland has missed elections in the past. “There are election conspiracists on both sides of the aisle, and I think we need to reject that,” Hilton said. “I will absolutely accept the results. I think the better question, though, I would have asked my opponent, ‘Does he plan to vote in this election?’ He has a history of missing elections.’” While both disagreed throughout the debate, they agreed that data centers should not receive tax credits. Hilton believed communities should decide if they want data centers, and Cleveland agreed, saying he believes in that very strongly and that Hilton’s thought is “belated, but good.”
about expanding access to recreational marijuana in ways that could contribute to impaired driving or create additional challenges for law enforcement. Second, we should consider the impact on children and families. I do not believe Georgia should move toward a system that makes recreational cannabis more widely available or normalizes its use, particularly among young people. Finally, I believe we can continue improving access to medical cannabis for patients who need it while maintaining a clear distinction between legitimate medical use and recreational use. Georgia can support patients without moving to full recreational legalization.
for office, and removing the incentive for politicians or corporations to place their own interests above ours. With policies like ranked choice voting, independent redistricting, and term limits, we can ensure that our government is truly serving us, and make better progress on all the issues that are important. HILTON: As legislators, I believe we should look for ways to strengthen confidence in Georgia’s election system. I was proud to sponsor two pieces of legislation that would bring greater transparency and predictability to our elections process. First, H.B. 1235 requires candidates who receive a majority of their campaign funding from outside Georgia to disclose that fact in their political advertising. If a majority of a campaign’s funding is coming from outside our state, voters have a right to know. Second, I introduced H.B. 728, which limits when the State Election Board can put new rules or regulations into effect before an election. Election rules should be clear and predictable, and voters, candidates and election officials should not be faced with significant changes immediately before an election.
Georgia continues to debate how state elections are conducted and every year there is new legislation on this topic. What changes to our current election system do you support, if any? CLEVELAND: It's not enough just to fight back against voter suppression, gerrymandering, and the corrupting influences in politics. To truly live our American values, we must create a government that works for all of us. That means lower entry barriers and more opportunities for diverse candidates to run
See HD48, Page 15
HD48: Continued from Page 14 Both measures focus on transparency and stability in our elections process and are intended to give Georgia voters greater confidence in how our elections are conducted. If you are elected, what will you do to help your constituents who are struggling due to inflation and other rising costs? What can the state do to make Georgia more affordable? CLEVELAND: As a father and an employer, I know how expensive it has gotten to raise a family and how rarely workers today have access to the wages and benefits other generations regularly enjoyed. I support tax relief for working families and seniors, policies to make housing more affordable and accessible, and legislative measures to encourage small businesses and support those they employ. Furthermore, I believe Georgians deserve medical care without financial ruin. In addition to efforts to reduce the staggering new costs of business and personal health insurance plans, Georgia must immediately opt-in for Medicaid Expansion to bring our own tax dollars back to Georgia. The Republicanpassed alternative spent 90% of its 2025 tax-funded budget on administrative and consulting costs. Medicaid pays out ap-
ELECTION GUIDE proximately 80% of its funding for patients' treatments. No responsible legislator should subject Georgians to a plan that costs more to deliver less. HILTON: Inflation has made everyday life more expensive for Georgia families, and as a legislator, I will continue to focus on putting more money back in your pocket and lowering the cost of everyday essentials. First, we should continue cutting taxes. Georgia has successfully lowered its income tax rate, provided billions in tax relief and rebates, and capped property tax increases to give homeowners more predictability. I will continue fighting to keep taxes low and return surplus revenue to the taxpayers who earned it. Second, we need to address the costs that are driving up household budgets. This year, we passed major insurance reform to hold insurance companies accountable and help lower insurance costs. This effort built on our work last year to reduce frivolous lawsuits that drive up healthcare costs. We must continue this fight by reducing unnecessary regulations and red tape that increase the cost of goods and services and finding additional ways to lower energy costs. Finally, we should make it easier for families to get ahead. I support creating first-time homebuyer savings accounts to help young families achieve the dream of homeownership and pursuing policies that encourage more housing and
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 15
economic growth. Today, more Georgians are employed than ever before. We need to continue creating economic opportunities while focusing on lowering costs. While Washington, D.C., may be a mess, Georgia is on the right track—and we need to keep it that way. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? If you are elected, what will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? CLEVELAND: I promise to be ethical, transparent, and respectful of the wishes and interests of my constituents. Gathering the input of my constituents so that I can represent them in a meaningful way began long before I’m elected– through the relationships I’ve built living and working in my district for the past 14 years, and in this state for the past 48 years, as well as representing my neighborhood on its board, and my legal area of practice at the Capitol, and my state in our national trade organization’s board of directors. I’m committed to keeping my door open, attending community events, and remaining accessible to my neighbors across the district. Every voter I meet gets my personal cell number. I don’t see myself as a politician - I see myself as a mouthpiece for the community, under a profound obligation to be the instrument of their collective will. Most importantly, I will conduct community education - as I’m doing now - on issues I believe are vital to voters’ interests, like the
existence and righteousness of rankedchoice voting, and the need - and ease of adoption - for further measures to bolster our democracy like lowering barriers to third-party and non-party candidates on the ballot, ending partisan gerrymandering, and adopting term limits for every office. These changes will also make our elections more robust, in turn demanding a higher standard of ethics and transparency from any elected officials or candidates we would have in the future. HILTON: Absolutely. To me, being ethical and transparent isn’t a promise—it’s a prerequisite for serving in public office. Voters deserve to know that their elected officials are acting in the public interest and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. I will continue to lead with honesty, integrity and accountability. That means being transparent about how I vote, how taxpayer dollars are spent and the decisions being made on behalf of our community. I will support strong ethics laws, clear financial disclosures and meaningful accountability for public officials. Most importantly, I believe transparency starts with being accessible and accountable to the people you represent. I provide my personal cell phone to all voters and welcome anyone to reach out with questions or concerns. Public service is a privilege, and I believe those entrusted with that responsibility should hold themselves to the highest ethical standards.
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16 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
ELECTION GUIDE
Candidate Q&A: State House District 50 The state House District 50 race features incumbent Democratic rep Michelle Au and her Republican challenger, Azure Duan. House District 50 includes the city of Johns Creek. Party affiliation: Democrat Campaign website and social media pages: https://auforga.com, https:// www.facebook.com/AuforGA, https://x. com/AuforGA, https://www.instagram. com/auforgeorgia What is your occupation? Physician AU What neighborhood do you call home? My family and I live in Wards Crossing. We moved to metro Atlanta in 2008 and chose Johns Creek because of its diverse community, strong public schools, and safe, welcoming neighborhoods. All three of my children have attended Fulton County Public Schools.
Why are you running for this office? I became a doctor because I wanted to help people and solve difficult problems. Over time, I learned that health is shaped by much more than what happens in an exam or operating room. Access to health care, education, economic opportunity, public safety, and the conditions in our communities all affect whether people can thrive. That realization led me to earn a master’s degree in public health and, eventually, to public service. I am running for reelection because decisions made at the State Capitol have an enormous effect on families’ everyday lives, and there is still more work to do. I bring the same approach to legislating that I bring to medicine: listen carefully, look at the evidence, understand the problem, and work toward practical solutions. That includes working across the aisle when we can find common ground and standing firm when we do not. For four years, I worked with Republican colleagues to close a gap in Georgia law that left patients vulnerable to surprise ambulance bills, and this year that protection became law. I've also made gun safety a priority. I authored safestorage legislation that received the first substantive hearing on gun-safety legislation in the Georgia General Assembly in a decade, and I’ve introduced legislation to provide a tax credit for secure firearm storage and require universal background checks. For me, public office is about doing the work, finding practical solutions, and being useful to the people. I represent. What are your top priorities if you are elected? My priorities are centered on the health, safety, and economic well-being of Georgia families. First, affordability. Families are feeling pressure from housing, property taxes, insurance, health care, child care, and everyday expenses. I’ve supported tax relief while also working to address the underlying costs that strain family budgets. Second, accessible, affordable health care. As a practicing physician with a master’s degree in public health, I will continue working to lower health care costs, strengthen our health care workforce, protect patients from surprise bills, improve maternal and children’s health, and expand access to coverage. Third, excellent public schools. My three children attended Fulton County public schools, and I believe Georgia should fully support public education, educators, student
IMAGE OBTAINED VIA LEGIS.GA.GOV.
mental health, literacy, school safety, and need-based opportunities after high school. Finally, safe communities. That includes addressing youth nicotine addiction, advancing practical gun safety measures as well as supporting law enforcement and first responders, and improving mental health resources. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? The clearest way to compare us is by looking at our experience, records, and stated priorities. I’ve served in the Georgia General Assembly since 2021, first in the Senate and now in the House, while continuing to practice medicine. I am a board-certified physician practicing anesthesiology with a master’s degree in public health. Cur rently I serve on the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Public Health, and Special Rules committees. I am a Democrat with a record of supporting fully funded public schools, expanded access to affordable health care, reproductive health care, practical gun safety measures, and tax relief that preserves essential public services. I’ve also worked across party lines when there is an opportunity to find common ground and deliver practical results. My opponent, Azure Duan, is a MAGA Republican, licensed acupuncturist, and small-business owner who founded an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine practice. Her website emphasizes
property and income tax relief, expanding school choice through charter schools and vouchers, reducing regulations on businesses, and limiting government spending. At the September 16 Student Leadership North debate, she stated her opposition to background checks as a gun safety measures. These are meaningful differences in our professional experience, records, and approaches to education, health care, taxes, and the role of state government for voters to consider. Gov. Brian Kemp has told government agencies to submit level budgets as they prepare for next year’s budget cycle. Kemp has also cut income taxes. Do you support continuing to reduce government spending while also cutting taxes? If so, what is your plan to provide services with less revenue? Tax relief and effective government are not mutually exclusive, but recurring tax cuts create recurring revenue effects. We should be honest about that math and make decisions based on evidence rather than slogans. Georgia’s current budget instructions require agencies to hold spending at current levels while preparing FY 2028 requests. I support responsible tax relief, but I do not support reducing government spending simply for the sake of reducing it or asking agencies to provide the same essential services indefinitely with fewer resources.
See HD50, Page 17
HD50:
ELECTION GUIDE
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tion 2 applies to redistricting in Louisiana v. Callais, Georgia lawmakers were called into another special session to consider redrawing the maps, though legislative leaders ultimately declined. That uncertainty strengthens the case for a more independent and transparent process. Election changes should be based on evidence and allow adequate time for testing, funding, training, public education, and input from local election officials. Every eligible voter should be able to cast a ballot simply and securely, and trust that the result is accurate.
Continued from Page 16 This year, I voted for legislation accelerating Georgia’s income-tax rate reduction to 4.99% and for a one-time tax rebate. At the same time, I’ve been clear that major changes to taxes and spending should be treated as fiduciary decisions. We should project costs, conduct fiscal analysis, hear from affected stakeholders, and understand the long-term consequences before we vote. My priority is protecting the services Georgians rely on, including public schools, health care, public safety, transportation, and services for vulnerable residents. Before cutting those services, the state should review tax expenditures and special-interest exemptions, eliminate inefficient spending, maximize federal dollars available to Georgia, and use reserves responsibly for appropriate onetime needs. Do you support changing the constitution to allow for the creation of new school districts? At this time, I would not support changing Georgia’s Constitution to allow the creation of new independent school systems without a compelling, evidence-based case that doing so would improve outcomes for students. Georgia’s Constitution currently explicitly prohibits the creation of new independent school systems. Any proposal to make such a fundamental change should answer basic questions about how assets, debt, facilities, transportation, special education services, employees, and local tax bases would be divided, as well as what the change would mean for students in both the new and remaining districts. My starting point is always whether a policy improves educational opportunity and strengthens public schools. I’ve consistently supported fully funding public education and protecting the resources that make our local schools strong. I would not support a constitutional change unless transparent fiscal and educational analyses demonstrated that it would improve outcomes without shifting costs, weakening existing schools, or creating new inequities for students. Data centers are a contentious topic for many communities. Do you support the creation of more data centers in Georgia? Why or why not? What data center regulations should be in place, if any? I am not categorically opposed to data centers. They are part of the modern economy and can bring substantial private investment. But Georgia should not approve or subsidize them on autopilot, particularly when they can place significant demands on the electric grid, water systems, and local infrastructure. A state audit estimated that Georgia’s data-center sales-tax exemption resulted in $474.2 million in forgone state revenue in FY 2025. The same analysis estimated that only 30% of existing data-center activity could be attributed to the exemption and identified potential strains on electric, water, and sewer infrastructure. I support preserving and strengthening protections that require large-load customers to pay the infrastructure costs they create rather than shifting those costs to households and small businesses. The Public Service Commission has already adopted rules intended to accomplish that for electricity costs. I also support transparent reporting of electricity and water use, meaningful local input on siting and land use, enforceable job and investment commitments, and regular review of tax incentives. Data-center proposals should be evaluated case by case. Economic development should create measurable
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value for Georgia communities, not leave taxpayers or ratepayers absorbing private infrastructure costs. Georgia recently expanded access to its medical cannabis program, allowing new patients to receive medical cannabis cards and adding new products for patients. Do you support expanding the program further and allowing the sale of cannabis for recreational use? Why or why not? I supported Senate Bill 220 in 2026, which expanded Georgia’s medical cannabis program by adding qualifying conditions and additional regulated products for registered patients. As a physician, I believe patients with qualifying conditions should be able to access treatments that are clinically appropriate, evidence based, and subject to meaningful safety standards. I support continuing to evaluate the medical program as the evidence and needs of patients evolve. Georgia’s expanded program took effect July 1, 2026, while recreational marijuana remains illegal under state law. Recreational cannabis is a separate policy question. I am not prepared to support recreational sales without a detailed regulatory framework and a clear public-health analysis of the consequences. Any serious proposal would need to address age restrictions, product testing and labeling, potency and dosing, marketing to minors, impaired driving, workplace and public-safety concerns, local authority, data collection, and funding for prevention and substance-use treatment. I would evaluate any specific adult-use proposal on the evidence and the details of the regulatory structure rather than treating legalization as an inevitable extension of the medical program. Georgia continues to debate how state elections are conducted and every year there is new legislation on this topic. What changes to our current election system do you support, if any? Our election system should be accessible, secure, auditable, and workable for voters and the local officials who administer elections. I continue to support same-day voter registration and voting, expanded automatic voter registration, adequate polling locations, and absentee-ballot drop boxes. I’ve also sponsored a constitutional amendment to establish an independent redistricting commission, so our maps are drawn fairly and transparently rather than by the politicians whose districts are at stake. Georgia has redrawn its congressional and legislative maps twice since the 2020 Census. The 2021 maps were challenged in federal court, and in 2023 a federal judge found that they violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and ordered new maps. You may recall I was once the State Senator for district 48 until I was redistricted in 2021. This year, after The Supreme Court narrowed how Sec-
If you are elected, what will you do to help your constituents who are struggling due to inflation and other rising costs? What can the state do to make Georgia more affordable? Affordability has been a focus of my work throughout my six years in the General Assembly as families feel rising costs everywhere: at the grocery store, at the gas pump, in child care, in insurance premiums, and when they need health care. I’ve voted repeatedly to put money back into Georgians’ pockets, including suspending the state gas tax, supporting income-tax reductions, and most recently voting to accelerate Georgia’s income-tax rate reduction to 4.99% three years ahead of schedule. I’ve also focused on costs families cannot avoid. After four years of work on surprise ambulance billing, legislation based on our efforts passed this year to protect insured patients from out-ofnetwork charges for emergency ambulance transportation. In 2025, I supported changes to Georgia’s civil liability laws aimed at addressing insurance costs while preserving access to the justice system. I’ve co-sponsored legislation to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket insulin costs and create a child-care tax credit. I also supported the creation of Georgia’s new DREAMS Scholarship, the state’s first needbased higher education scholarship program, complementing our existing HOPE Scholarship. I’ve also been a strong advocate for full Medicaid expansion, which would lower health care costs for the state, taxpayers, and consumers while expanding access to care. Making Georgia more affordable means continuing this work: reducing unavoidable costs while protecting the essential services families depend on If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? If you are elected, what will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? Yes. Ethics and transparency should be baseline expectations for anyone entrusted with public office. I’ve made public engagement a central part of how I represent. I hold frequent town halls and listening sessions, livestreaming and archive many of them, publish detailed legislative updates, and teach constituents how to find bills, follow committee hearings, and contact their lawmakers. Government works better when people can see how decisions are made and know how to participate. You can find past newsletters and streamable community events at auforga.com and my social media pages at @ auforga. I also believe transparency has to exist inside the legislative process. Major legislation should receive adequate public notice and time for lawmakers and the public to read it, understand its fiscal impact, hear from stakeholders, and debate it. I’ve publicly objected when major tax legislation was presented shortly before a floor vote because that is not a responsible way to govern. I will continue to comply fully with ethics and campaign-finance requirements, disclose conflicts when they arise, support accessible public records and open processes, and communicate candidly about my votes. Constituents should be able to know what their government is doing, what it will cost, and where their representative stands.
18 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
The other City of Johns Creek advertisement in this printed edition regarding property taxes is required by Georgia law. The advertised millage rate of 3.492 is the current millage rate,and it may or may not be the final rate adopted by Council. The rate advertised (of 3.492) is the maximum rate that the City Council can adopt without readvertising. Public Hearings are scheduled for October 15 and October 26, 2026. The public is encouraged to participate in the public hearing or submit comments via email to public.comment@johnscreekga.gov. NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The City of Johns Creek has tentatively adopted a 2026 millage rate, which will require an increase in property taxes by 1.70 percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the Public Hearing on this tax increase to be held at the Johns Creek City Hall, Council Chambers located at 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, Georgia on October 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The second public hearing will be held on October 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and a third and final Public Hearing on this proposed tax increase will be held at the Johns Creek City Hall, Council Chambers the same day at 7:00 p.m. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 3.492 mills, an increase of 0.058 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate would be no more than 3.434 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $625,000 is approximately $14.15 and the proposed tax increase for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $625,000 is approximately $14.50. NOTICE The City of Johns Creek does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, GA on October 26, 2026, at 7:00PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
Fulton: Continued from Page 1 “But if caring this much about fair property taxes, fixing our jail, improving our water system, addressing homelessness and making Fulton County government work for the people makes me a little different, I can live with that,” Goldman said. Mo Ivory, a former Fulton County District 4 commissioner, backed Goldman in her own Instagram video. “[Bridget Thorne] is a thorn in our side, and she has got to go,” Ivory said. “And I have some good news for you. There’s a better option waiting for you at the polls, and her name is Maggie Goldman.” Ivory, who resigned her commission seat to run for chair, defeated Pitts in the Democratic primary runoff election. She earned 65% of the vote compared to the incumbent’s 35%. Ivory faces Republican Eric Tatum in the November general election. Thorne and Goldman are locked in a heated battle for the District 1 seat. The race is a rematch from 2022, when Thorne edged out Goldman by fewer than 400 votes. According to The New York Times, Democratic turnout is surging in states like Geor gia while “Republicans have not kept up.” Cook Political Report, along with other news outlets conducting election analyses, is predicting a “blue wave” in November. Thorne, in remarks emailed to Appen Media Sept. 30, said she appreciated “Chairman Pitts’ personal endorsement, and I’m proud to accept it.” Her full remarks are posted below: “Over the past four years, we’ve built a respectful working bipartisan relationship. We don’t agree on every issue, but we do agree on doing the work: studying the issues, working across the aisle, and making decisions that benefit all the people of Fulton County. I’m grateful that he recognizes that work. I don’t campaign through personal insults, and Chairman Pitts can speak for himself about his choice of words. I’m asking voters to judge my record: holding the line on the county millage rate, opposing tax breaks for new data centers, protecting North Fulton taxpayers from long-term giveaways, and bringing health and senior services closer to home. Chairman Pitts has worked alongside me for four years and chosen to support my re-election. Voters will make their own choice based on the work we’ve done and what we’ll do next.”
ELECTION GUIDE
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Candidate Q&A: Fulton County Commission District 1 Fulton County Commission District 1 includes Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Roswell. To see a map of Fulton County commission districts, click here. This year’s election features incumbent Bridget Thorne, a Republican, facing Democratic challenger Maggie Goldman. Appen Media Group sent questions to all of the candidates running for Fulton County Commission this year. Thorne and Goldman both responded. Their answers have not been edited. To see all of our elections coverage, visit appenmedia.com/elections Help support our coverage of your community. Sign up to become an Appen Press Club member today. Learn more at appenmedia.com/join. GOLDMAN
Party affiliation: GOLDMAN: Democrat THORNE:
Campaign website and social media pages: GOLDMAN: https:// www.facebook.com/maggie4fulton https://www. instagram.com/maggieTHORNE 4fulton/ https://www. tiktok.com/@maggie4fulton https://www. youtube.com/channel/UC17mym32OZtjeSd1sFaQ8eA https://www.maggie4fulton.com THORNE: BridgetThorne.com, Instagram: @thorne4Fulton, Facebook: Bridget Thorne What is your occupation? GOLDMAN: Realtor THORNE: Software Designer What neighborhood do you call home? GOLDMAN: The Ridge off Brumbelow THORNE: Kimball Farms, Alpharetta Why are you running for this office? GOLDMAN: I’m running because Fulton County should work for you – with fair taxes and accountability, county services that work, and free, fair and secure elections. When I see a problem, I learn how the system works, help people understand it, bring people together, and act. I have spent years helping residents understand complicated systems and solve problems from property tax appeals to homelessness and housing instability. I have done that work without an elected title and am ready to bring the same hands-on approach to the Fulton Commission. Residents should not need insider knowledge to understand their taxes, navigate county government, or get the services they already pay for. And that brings me to the choice in this election, Bridget Thorne is a Republican who
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supports Trumps agenda and is focused on the past. I am a Democrat focused on you. Bridget has had four years and Fulton still has serious problems that need attention right now and haven’t made significant progress. THORNE: I ran in 2022 because North Fulton needed a commissioner who would treat tax dollars like they come from you, because they do. I am running for reelection because that work is not finished, and because together we have shown that progress is possible. I have lived in North Fulton for more than 30 years. My husband Kenny and I raised our family here. I am a Georgia Tech athlete and a professional software designer who came to this job from the community not from a career in politics. My standard is simple: do the job, show your work, don’t spend taxpayer money unless the need is real. I’ve fought for lower taxes and affordability; better health and senior services close to home; a responsible solution to our jail crisis without writing a blank check; and greater transparency and accountability. There is more to do. I’ll keep protecting taxpayers, strengthening public safety, delivering services in North Fulton, and making government accountable to the people it serves. What are your top priorities if you are elected? GOLDMAN: First, we need fair taxes and accountability. Homeowners should not carry an unfair share of the burden because the system is difficult to understand or a property is not being assessed fairly. I know this issue from years of working directly with homeowners. I will fight for fair assessments, transparency, and responsible use of taxpayer money. Second, county government needs to get the basics right. We need to fix the jail and properly fund the justice system. We need to address homelessness and housing
instability before people fall further into crisis. And residents should be able to rely on the county services they are already paying for. My approach is simple: fund what is necessary, measure whether it works, and demand results. Third, we must protect free, fair and secure elections. Fulton County conducts free, fair and secure elections. Eligible voters cast their ballots. Those ballots are counted. And the results reflect the will of the people. Our responsibility is to keep it that way. That means supporting professional election workers, providing the resources necessary to run elections well, communicating clearly with voters, and protecting the process from partisan interference. THORNE: My priorities come directly from what North Fulton residents have shared with me. They come down to building bridges between taxpayers and government, neighbors and the services they rely on: Protect Taxpayers. Hold the line on the property tax rate. Stop long-term giveaways of county revenue, and ensure commercial property is valued accurately so homeowners don’t carry someone else’s share. Public Safety. Finish the jail work responsibly: renovate Rice Street, build a facility for mental health and medical needs, add capacity through the Atlanta City Detention Center purchase, and keep case moving through the court. Health, Seniors and Families. Strengthen connections to care and wellness through the new Alpharetta Health & Human Services facility, and nurture partnerships like Meals on Wheels so help stays close to home. Community Life. Strengthen our community by supporting non-profits who serve our kids, seniors, veterans and families in need, local arts programs and animal protection. Good Government. Respect our cities and homeowners, demand transparency, and put contracts and supporting documents before the public before votes. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? GOLDMAN: I have been invested in our community since the day I lost this very same election in 2022 by under 400 votes. My work as Chair of the Fulton County (Homeless) Continuum of Care Board and as a Board Member of Family Promise of North Fulton/Dekalb have driven my passion for improving the services available to those individuals facing housing insecurity. I’ve organized the Point-in-time-Count for Fulton for the last three years and I will work to provide case management services to the individuals we count, because we are counting them and not providing very much assistance. I would open up county facilities for several opportunities to receive on demand
help with tax appeals. I’m planning to have year-round education about how the 3% cap works to keep our actual property taxes bills low year after year. I’d like to offer the community service fairs directly in the vicinity of areas of need such as apartment complexes and not just at the county offices. I will immediately get to work solving the problems with the jail and the justice system. We should be working collaboratively with our cities, our mayors & councils and that is not the case today. Simply put – these problems have persisted through the incumbent’s term and there have been few efforts to actually provide solutions. Not only will I work towards needed solutions, I will be hands on in our community making sure we are serving every resident’s need pertaining to the county. THORNE: This job requires hard votes about other people’s money. For nearly four years, I’ve done the work: budgets, long-term financing, and projects that will shape this county for decades. As a fiscal conservative, I have consistently opposed every property tax rate increase while building relationships across the aisle to deliver for North Fulton. My opponent has never carried this responsibility, and she clearly doesn’t understand the job. She has dismissed the county budget as “fluff,” aligned herself with candidates and officials who push higher taxes, including the $2 billion jail plan that could require a significant tax increase, and even admitted that people see her as divisive. My record is clear. I voted against Atlanta’s 30-year TAD extension, ended tax breaks for new data centers, opposed property tax increases and rejected the $2 billion jail proposal. I also supported stronger contract transparency, limits on using county staff for commissioner events, directing passport fees to the General Fund, investments in mental health, senior services, local arts programs, and protections for animals. That’s the difference between talking about governing and actually doing it. As property tax bills climb, residents have raised concerns about both how the county spends that money and the appraisal process. What changes would you make to how the county spends tax money and appraises properties? GOLDMAN: First, we need a full forensic audit of the county budget. We do not feel there has been transparency in how money is spent and on what priorities in the current administration. The budget should include priorities we actually intend to fund and that are needed, not placeholders for money that won’t be spent on purpose, that can be re-allocated to fill budget
See COMMISSION, Page 20
20 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Commission: Continued from Page 19 shortfalls midyear. We need to completely review and likely overhaul how commercial appraisals are processed. The county is leaving hundreds of millions of dollars uncollected because the appraisals of specific commercial properties are too low and therefore their tax bills are not representative of the value of the properties. I also plan to find a easy way of explaining how the residential property values are created because everyone wants to know and there hasn’t been a clear understandable answer. The unfortunate situation of the county not having a proper tax digest is ultimately, the fault of the Commission. They appoint the members of the Board of Assessors, who hire and manage the Chief Appraiser, and they need to take responsibility for the fact we are all faced with the complexity of temporary tax bills. I’d like to ask the state legislature to increase the Board of Assessors to 7 members from 5 and allow each Commissioner their own Board appointment. This will help each Commissioner have a direct line on contact to the Board and take responsibility for the work product produced on behalf of the county. THORNE: Property taxes are one of the biggest concerns I hear from North Fulton residents. People shouldn’t feel punished for staying in a home they already paid for. County commissioners do NOT appraise property. Assessments are set by the independent Fulton County Board of Assessors, and elected officials should never influence an individual homeowner’s value. Commissioners control spending and the property tax rate. That’s where taxpayers should hold us accountable. I’ve consistently resisted efforts to raise the tax rates. Rising property values shouldn’t become an excuse for government to simply spend more. I voted against Atlanta’s proposed 30-year TAD extension after Fulton County taxpayers had contributed more than $413 million to Atlanta redevelopment since 2013 and I ended tax breaks for new data centers. I’ll continue pushing for accurate commercial assessments, so homeowners aren’t carrying someone else’s share while also demanding transparency and fiscal discipline. Keep assessments independent and fair. Make the process transparent. Hold commissioners accountable for every tax dollar. In January, the FBI seized roughly 700 boxes of ballots and records from Fulton County’s elections hub as part of its investigation into how the county handled the 2020 election. What is your opinion on the investigation and the county's response to it, and what would you do to reassure voters about the integrity of Fulton's election administration going forward?
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GOLDMAN: My biggest concern regarding the investigation of the FBI seizure of ballots is that Commission Thorne provided testimony for the FBI affidavit which was used to secure the warrant the FBI then executed to seize the ballots. As the county planned its legal fight against the Trump administration, Commissioner Thorne is sitting in executive session privy to the planning. I believe it is a conflict of interest for her to be present for executive session discussions about the county’s legal defense given her participation with the FBI. She should have recused herself on the basis that when she originally gave that testimony she was a private citizen, but today she is a sitting Commissioner and her participation could be seen as a bias to the courts. Her argument that she would be perjuring herself I believe is incorrect. Recusing herself would simply require her to neither confirm or deny her testimony. No one is expecting her to recant her testimony. Fulton County conducts free, fair and secure elections. Eligible voters cast their ballots. Those ballots are counted. And the results reflect the will of the people. Our responsibility is to keep it that way. That means supporting professional election workers, providing the resources necessary to run elections well, communicating clearly with voters, and protecting the process from partisan interference. THORNE: Federal investigations should be left to the federal process. Fulton County Commissioners do NOT manage elections. That authority belongs to the independent Elections Board and Director. Commissioners make funding decisions. Fulton has made operational progress. In 2023, it opened the Election Hub and Operation Center, consolidating work once spread across seven warehouses. Having equipment, ballots and staff in one professional facility creates a clearer process the public can observe. But there is more work to do on efficiency and cost. Fulton’s 2026 registration and elections budget is $32 million, compared with $23 million in Gwinnett and $16 million in DeKalb. I’ll continue asking whether staffing, voting locations, vendor contracts, and temporary labor match the actual need. Every legal vote should be counted accurately. Procedures should be written, followed and observable. Voter information must be secure. Elections should be fully funded but cost still matters. Confidence comes from competence.
Food insecurity remains a persistent issue across Fulton County, affecting families and a rising number of seniors. What is your assessment of how well current county programs are reaching residents who need them, and what would you do to strengthen access to food assistance? GOLDMAN: Fulton county programming remains unknown to many residents. We need to do a much better job explaining what is available and making sure the resources are accessible. I plan to have the county represented at any and every public event we can in the district to provide education. The resource community fairs I plan to expand to apartment communities include the Fulton Fresh Mobile Market making farm-fresh fruits and vegetables directly to residents in need. The county doesn’t have zoning control in almost all of the county, but I would do everything we can as a Commission to encourage supermarkets to develop locations in food deserts in Fulton. North Fulton is privileged to have a variety of development including multiple hospitals and plentiful supermarkets, restaurants, stores, parks – South Fulton & the westside of Atlanta deserve to have more resources than they do now. THORNE: The need is real. Inflation has stretched working families, while more seniors are trying to remain in their homes on fixed incomes. Programs only work if people can find them and the food actually reaches their door. Fulton has good partners, but too often services are far from North Fulton or nonprofits are doing the “last mile” with outdated tools. County government shouldn’t replace churches, food pantries, and community organizations; it should make those partnerships stronger. That’s why I partnered with Senior Services North Fulton so our summer interns could replace an outdated paper process with a modern Meals on Wheels app. Delivery programs only reach people if the logistics work. I’ve also supported nutrition and activity programs at the new Health & Human Services – North Facility in Alpharetta and volunteered with the annual Point-in-Time Count. Going forward I’ll focus on bringing services closer to home, improving tools for front-line partners, simplifying referrals and measuring results. A new program on paper is not the same thing as a meal at someone’s door. Are there additional steps you think Fulton County can take to protect its senior population and enable them to age in place beyond the homestead exemption and 2026 senior school-tax exemption? GOLDMAN: We can protect seniors by establishing a real program to assist seniors to pay for their property taxes. I have heard on a case by case basis, the tax commissioner makes decisions to provide assistance to a senior who cannot afford to pay their taxes. If this is true, it needs
to be a real program that is publicized and has criteria that is clear and equally applied across applicants. I know there was discussion of the county partnering with a nonprofit that corporations and celebrities could donate money to and made available for seniors who need financial assistance. THORNE: The homestead and senior school-tax exemptions matter, but they’re a patch on a deeper problem: we shouldn’t raise taxes in the first place. No senior who has paid off their home should face a tax bill that feels like a mortgage payment all over again. Seniors should receive every exemption they qualify for, with the process made automatic wherever the law allows. But tax relief alone is not an aging-inplace plan. Seniors need doctors, meals, transportation, daytime support, and help with isolation before it becomes a crisis. That’s why I worked to bring the Health & Human Services – North Facility to Alpharetta. It brings a senior center, adult day health, nutrition, activities, transportation, and behavioral health together under one roof. That’s what “closer to home” looks like. I’ll build on that model by strengthening senior services in North Fulton, improving Meals on Wheels, simplifying income-based exemptions, and treating transportation and isolation as health issues. We should coordinate with cities, churches, and nonprofits—not duplicate them. Aging in place requires a network of tax relief, health care, food, mobility, and care. I want that network to be as real as the facility we opened in Alpharetta. Fulton County remains under scrutiny from a federal Department of Justice investigation that found the county jail's conditions violate detainees' constitutional rights, citing overcrowding, inadequate medical care and high numbers of in-custody deaths. What is your assessment of the county's criminal justice reform efforts so far, and what changes would you push for – beyond jail renovations – to address the underlying issues that were identified? GOLDMAN: We need to have an analysis of what components the justice system must contain in order to process all the inmates at the jail. The justice system requires more investigators, attorneys, and judges that have not been funded by the county. The jail requires 400 more detention officers and 300 other personnel to safely operate. I believe the county has not been offering competitive salaries and benefits to attract enough qualified applicants to the detention officer role. Of course it is difficult to retain staff you have when the job is very hard due to the lack of staffing already. Staffing is the answer to making sure medical care is adequately provided, recreational opportunities are made available, and ensuring a workplace the encourages staff to stay.
See COMMISSION, Page 21
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 21
Candidate Q&A: U.S. House District 7 FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The U.S. House District 7 race features incumbent Republican Rep. Richard McCormick and Democratic challenger Tony Kozycki. Appen Media sent both candidates our Q&A. McCormick did not respond. U.S. House District 7 includes Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs. It includes parts of Forsyth County. The candidate’s responses have not been edited. What are your campaign website and social media pages? KOZYCKI: kozyckiforcongress. com, https://www.facebook.com/ KozyckiforCongress, https:// www.instagram.com/kozycki_for_ congress/, https://www.tiktok.com/@ kozyckiforcongress Why are you running for this office?
Commission: Continued from Page 20 The county is solely responsible for the capital improvement work at the jail. We have delayed repairs and upgrades for so long that now any money spent to improve the building is likely to not be effective. I heard that as soon as they fix the locks on doors, they are broken again – due to the lack of staffing to supervise inmates. The county must work more collaboratively with the Sheriff to ensure the repairs are prioritized by need. THORNE: The jail crisis wasn’t created in 2023. It was already under federal scrutiny when I took office. Lawsuits, overcrowding, poor medical care, and in-custody deaths were the inheritance. My job has been to fund a real fix without writing a blank check and to meet every requirement set by federal monitors. The Sheriff runs jail operations, including staffing. The Commission funds them and we have increased jail funding to support competitive pay, recruitment, and a facility worth staffing. I’ll keep pushing for adequate court staffing, so cases move, behavioral-health and diversion capacity, including services now in North Fulton and a county government that treats public safety as both a moral and budget duty. I voted against a $2 billion replacement jail and supported a hybrid plan: renovate Rice Street and build a special-purpose facility for inmates with mental-health and medical needs. I also supported purchasing the Atlanta City Detention Center to house detainees during renovations. Renovations are necessary, but not sufficient. People sit in jail too long when
KOZYCKI: I’m running because I believe we agree on far more than our politics would have us believe. Too many politicians have learned that keeping us angry at each other makes keeping their jobs easier. It turns neighbor KOZYCKI against neighbor, divides our community, and leaves our biggest problems unsolved. I want to do politics differently. I graduated from the Naval Academy and served nearly a decade on active duty, including three combat deployments. I learned that leadership means working with people you may disagree with, listening to them, and finding a way to accomplish the mission together. That is why I am traveling throughout this district, including places where Democrats rarely win, holding public
events, inviting Congressman McCormick to debate, and taking unscripted questions. I am not asking anyone to vote for me because I have a “D” next to my name. I want to earn their vote. I’m running to lower costs, make health care more affordable, protect our democracy, and restore trust in government. Most importantly, I want to help bring our community together. Democrat, Republican, or independent, I will show up, listen, fight for this district, and always remember who I work for: you.
courts are slow, and those with mental illness cycle through the system when treatment beds and diversion options are unavailable. We owe humane conditions to those in custody and fiscal discipline to taxpayers. Both can be true. Nationwide, Flock Safety cameras have come under fire for privacy concerns and for being misused by police officers. What are your thoughts on both Flock Safety and the backlash it has caused? GOLDMAN: I doubt the Commission has much of a role in flock cameras. I believe city police and private entities are the ones installing them. However, I heard a news story that a police officer was literally stalking his girlfriend through the flock camera system. There need to be safe guards in place where for example someone searches the same license plate more than “x” times or “x” days it requires 1 or more levels of approval to verify need. I would encourage cities who have them to have public town halls to explain the need, the value, the locations and answer concerns about safety. THORNE: License-plate cameras can help police recover stolen cars, identify suspects in violent crimes, and follow leads across city lines. North Fulton residents care about porch theft, car break-ins, and violent cases that cross jurisdictions. Used properly, this technology can shorten the time it takes to find a vehicle connected to a crime. That’s a legitimate public-safety tool, not a reason to build a system without rules. People are right to worry when cameras log ordinary errands, data is kept too long, or officers search plates out of curiosity rather than for a legitimate case. Those concerns are real, not a sign that residents care less about crime.
I support technology that helps solve crimes, with safeguards reasonable people across parties can support: searches tied to legitimate investigations, audit logs to detect and punish misuse, clear dataretention limits, and no fishing through the movements of people who aren’t suspected of wrongdoing. Cities in District 1 should decide whether and how to use these cameras. County government should recognize both their crime-fighting value and legitimate privacy concerns. We can use this technology to make communities safer while protecting residents from unnecessary surveillance. The goal is not to abandon the tool or give it a blank check, but to require clear rules, oversight, and accountability.
What are your top priorities if you are elected? KOZYCKI: My first priority is the affordability crisis. For generations, Americans believed that if you worked hard, you could build a good life and leave your children something better. Too many people are starting to lose faith in that promise. If you work a full-time job, you should be able to afford a home, put food
If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? What will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? GOLDMAN: Yes, in fact this is an area I feel I differ from my opponent. There is no greater transparency of the budget, spending, issues at the jail, property appraisal process, or tax appeal process over the last 4 years. She likes to say she supports transparency but it is seldom offered by the county. I support the effort by Mo Ivory to begin a forensic audit of the budget to really see where the money is going and what we are spending it for. I’m committed to ensuring the largest commercial properties are properly appraised so the county can collect the correct property taxes. I want the tax assessor’s office to be more clear about how the residential values are developed and offer clear, consistent guidance on how to appeal for those who need the information. I’d like a budget document that offers line by line itemiza-
on the table, save a little for the future, and still make it home for your son’s baseball practice or your daughter’s dance recital. Too many families are working harder than ever and still barely keeping their heads above water. We need to fight to get that American Dream back. Second is health care. Getting sick should not be something a family is afraid they cannot afford. People are paying thousands just to insure their families, then facing huge bills when they actually need care. I want to fight back against the insurance giants, restore real competition, and bring costs down. Finally, we have to change the way Washington works. Division may help politicians keep their jobs, but it does nothing for our community. I want to bring people together and actually solve problems, from affordability and the national debt to term limits and banning
See HD7, Page 26 tion so you can truly know what’s being paid for. Right now, the budget is 400+ pages and still does not offer any line item expenses. THORNE: Promises are easy. The public should judge commissioners by the rules they put in place and whether they follow those rules when no one is watching. In office, I have worked to make Fulton County’s business easier to see and harder to treat as a personal account. I supported requiring contracts and written agreements to accompany agenda items so residents and commissioners can see how money is being spent before a vote. I supported limits on using county staff for certain commissioner events. I also supported sending passport execution fees to the County’s General Fund instead of leaving them in private hands. These are not slogans. They are process changes that reduce the risk of public resources being used for private convenience. I earned an MBA from Georgia Tech and completed Lean Six Sigma training, giving me the business and process-management tools to bring the same discipline to county operations that I used in the private sector. Transparency is not only documents. It is whether a department can explain why a process takes six steps instead of two. I will keep publishing district updates, showing up in our cities, and explaining my votes in plain language. Residents should understand what the County is doing with their money. In a second term, I will keep the same standard: put the documents on the table, keep staff focused on county work, and measure results. That is how you earn trust: you practice it.
22 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Sponsored Section 22 | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026
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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 23
The new Melanoma ‘vaccine’ Brought to you by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta There is a real reason to be very excited about a recent advance in the treatment of melanoma, but when it comes to the word “vaccine,” it seems the marketing departments at the pharmaceutical companies have been exercising poetic license. In August, headlines exploded with the news that Moderna and Merck announced landmark interim data from their Phase 3 clinical trial for a new melanoma "vaccine." If you are picturing a quick poke in the arm at your pharmacy that prevents you from ever getting skin cancer, you are not alone. Many of my patients have asked about it. But the truth is, this is not a vaccine in the traditional sense. To a doctor or a historian (or almost any patient), a true vaccine prevents disease. Think of Edward Jenner in 1796, who brilliantly used the mild cowpox virus to immunize a boy against smallpox, effectively saving millions of lives from an infectious disease. But modern pharmaceutical lingo plays by different rules. Today, drug companies label any therapy a "vaccine" if it stimulates your immune system to mount a highly targeted counter-attack or if it offers a personalized immunologic attack against a cancer. Under this definition, existing immunotherapies like Keytruda are not vaccines. Keytruda acts like an immune system booster, globally taking the "brakes" off your body’s T-cells so they fight harder. The new Moderna shot is completely different. It is a highly customized, built-to-order means of training one’s immune system to fight one’s own individual melanoma. How Moderna’s vaccine works shares a lot with its even more famous COVID vaccine. When a patient is diagnosed with high-risk melanoma, surgeons first remove the tumor. Moderna then analyzes the unique proteins of that specific patient's tumor, identifying how they differ from normal cells. They engineer custom messenger RNA (mRNA) to match those exact cancer targets. When injected, the mRNA forces your own cells to temporarily replicate these targets— essentially handing your immune system a hyper-specific "wanted poster" of the enemy. This technology has evolved rapidly. As Moderna's CEO famously noted, the company has transformed from an infectious disease company into a true oncology pioneer. The clinical results back it up. In their landmark trials, adding this personalized mRNA vaccine to standard Keytruda therapy reduced
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the risk of cancer recurrence or death by a staggering 49%, and cut the risk of the cancer spreading to other organs by 59%, compared to using Keytruda alone. Exact details are expected upon full publication of their results with more data expected soon. However, because this is an adjuvant therapy, it is strictly for patients who have already been diagnosed with advanced melanoma and undergone surgery. It cannot prevent you from getting skin cancer in the first place. I value clarity in language and communication, and I would still call this a treatment – not a vaccine. For the general public, a vaccine does not exist, and the most effective prevention against melanoma remains the same: broad-spectrum sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, and professional skin exams. For patients at a high risk of developing skin cancers, dermatologists can recommend highly effective, truly preventative interventions for some types of skin cancer. At our practice, we frequently utilize topical field treatments like imiquimod cream, 5-fluorouracil, and photodynamic therapy to target and destroy precancerous cells before they ever turn into a threat. Furthermore, when localized skin cancers do arise, timely, expert surgical removal remains the definitive gold standard to eliminate cancer before it has a chance to move to other parts of the body. If you or a loved one has a spot worrisome for skin cancer or any other skin concern, please consider Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for your skin care needs. It is our pleasure to take care of you and your family.
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Roswell Dental Care now offers genetic testing! Brought to you by – Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care So, you may be asking why having genetic information is so important for your dentist. With this information, the clinician will be able to create a more personalized risk assessment for cavities and periodontal disease. For example, how is the patient’s genetics contributing to the severity of disease? How will the patient respond to treatment? And how susceptible is the patient to relapse? As healthcare is going towards “precision medicine,” which looks at the genetics, environment, and lifestyle of a person to select treatment that could work best for them, we can now provide even further personalized dental health care. Understanding saliva testing Saliva is a vital fluid produced by the salivary glands, playing a key role in digestion, oral hygiene, and overall health. It contains a complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and microorganisms. This composition makes saliva a valuable diagnostic tool. Saliva testing involves analyzing these components to gain insights into a patient’s health status. In our office, we utilize OralDNA® Labs. These saliva tests can identify the specific type and concentration of 11 disease-causing bacteria as well as identify your interleukin-6 (IL6) genotype, which is a crucial factor in promoting the inflammation pathway
in the body. Information from these tests detect risk for disease, guide strategies for maintaining health, offer more accurate diagnosis, and guide treatment choices for a wide variety of conditions.” Systemic effects of oral bacteria These bacteria, especially at high levels, and in combination with an individual’s genetic inflammatory response, result in bad breath, painful bleeding gums, loss of bone, and eventually tooth loss. The consequences of these same bacteria, present for years and decades, add significantly to the risk of a wide range of life-threatening diseases beyond the mouth. Below are some of those diseases and the measurable risk of those diseases becoming serious if these oral pathogens are not treated. Cardiovascular disease Periodontal bacteria contribute to the initiation, progression, and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. There is also over a 2-fold increase in the risk of stroke and peripheral vascular disease. The plaque in your mouth is the same as plaque in your heart! Metabolic health and diabetes Elevated levels of periodontal bacteria can directly cause hyperglycemia. Early detection of periodontal infection and proactive management to reduce bacterial
See DENTAL, Page 25
Our services include: • Spa-Like Relaxing Atmosphere • Free Nitrous Oxide and Oral Conscious Sedation • Cone Beam 3D Radiography Digital Scanner – No More Gooey Impressions • Botox and Dermal Filler Master Injector • Platinum Invisalign Provider
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770.998.6736 • roswelldentalcare.com 1570 Old Alabama Rd • Ste 102 • Roswell, GA 30076
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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 25
Dental: Continued from Page 24 loads can improve blood sugar control and lessen complications of diabetes and the consequence of periodontitis. Health during pregnancy The oral microbiota changes when women become pregnant, and levels of periodontal pathogens increase. During pregnancy, there is a marked risk of infection of the maternal blood and the placenta, which leads to an increase in preterm labor, lower birth weight and even the chance of fetal loss due specifically to the bacteria Development of cancer & risk of progression Advanced periodontal disease is associated with a 2.5-fold increase in smokingrelated cancers. People with elevated levels of certain periodontal pathogens have a greater chance of breast cancer recurrence or failed response to treatment. Several recent studies show that these pathogens can be identified within the primary cancer cells from colonic tumors and are carried to metastatic sites involving regional lymph nodes. This is a newly observed phenomenon that will affect how cancer treatment protocols will be developed in the future.
Joint & Musculoskeletal health Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition. There was a significantly increased risk of periodontitis in people with RA compared to healthy controls. Importantly, the bacteria are typically found before the onset of symptoms, so the reduction of bacterial load may reduce symptoms and improve prognosis of arthritis. Dementia and brain health There is now evidence that certain periodontal pathogens present in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid may be involved in producing the abnormal proteins characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the direct effects of those oral bacteria to cause atherosclerosis in the vessels within the brain impart significant risk for stroke and vascular types of dementia. The plaque in your mouth is the same as plaque in your brain! Dr. Destinee Hood is excited to provide this service to her patients. Our entire team at Roswell Dental Care creates a caring, judgementfree environment to help educate and empower you to become your best self! We take the time to listen to you, hear you, and guide you! Knowledge is power! Call and make your appointment today at 770-998-6736 or visit www. Roswelldentalcare.com.
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26 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
HD7: Continued from Page 21 congressional stock trading. We don’t need politicians who are better at telling us who to hate. We need leaders who can bring us together and get something done. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? KOZYCKI: What makes me different is that I am willing to fight against a political system that is tearing this country apart. Washington has become two sides screaming at each other while the same problems get worse. I don’t want to represent half this district. I want to represent all of it. Rich McCormick has embraced that politics of division. I haven’t. I will stand in a room with Republicans, Democrats and independents, take the hard questions, listen when people disagree with me, and tell them what I actually believe. We invited Rich McCormick to six debates, one in every county in this district. He has refused to stand on that stage with me. I’ll say it plainly: Rich is a coward. If you want the privilege of representing this community, you should have the courage to stand in front of it and answer unscripted questions. No handlers. No talking points. Tell us what you believe. I don’t care whether there’s an R or a D beside your name. Congress isn’t supposed to be a rubber stamp for any president or any party. Its job is to represent the community and provide a check on power. So don’t vote for a letter. Look at the two people asking for this job. Make us stand in front of you. Ask us the hard questions. Then decide who has the courage to listen, lead and fight for this entire district. President Trump recently imposed new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. What is your opinion of this policy? KOZYCKI: Tariffs can be an important tool of American economic and foreign policy, but they are a dangerous one and should be used with precision. As a small-business owner, I know how hard it is to plan, hire, and grow when government creates uncertainty or suddenly raises costs. My business may not be directly affected, but businesses and families across our community are. In the middle of an affordability crisis, we should be extremely careful about policies that make everyday life more expensive. Instead of approaching trade with a scalpel, President Trump picked up Elon Musk’s DOGE chainsaw and started swinging it at allies and adversaries alike. We should use American economic power to protect our workers, confront unfair trade, and strengthen critical industries. But we cannot pick fights with everyone at once, especially our closest
OPINION
allies. Teddy Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Strength comes from knowing when to use it. Canada and Mexico should be partners as China works to expand its global influence. Congress must also be willing to check the President. Our focus should be strengthening America, lowering costs, and building alliances, not starting unnecessary fights that leave American families paying the bill. If you are elected, what investigations would you support into the conduct of current or former elected officials? KOZYCKI: I will fight for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein who have been failed again and again by the very government that was supposed to protect them. They were failed when powerful people escaped accountability, failed when their privacy was violated, and failed when politicians refused to act until public pressure became impossible to ignore. I want every remaining question answered, every responsible person held accountable, and every survivor treated with the dignity our government has denied them for far too long. I would also aggressively investigate waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption throughout government. That means investigating questions surrounding federal contracts awarded under Republican administrations, including DHS no-bid contracts under Kristi Noem. It also means investigating how hundreds of millions of dollars intended to feed children were stolen through Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud scheme and whether government officials failed in their responsibility to protect that money. I don’t care which party is embarrassed. Follow the money. Find out who failed, who profited, and who broke the law. Recover every taxpayer dollar we legally can. Then let’s put that money back where it belongs: rebuilding the middle class, lowering our debt, and investing in the American people who actually earned it. What committees do you hope to serve on if you are elected? KOZYCKI: I would hope to serve on the House Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee, or Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I spent nearly a decade on active duty in the Navy and deployed three times in combat. I know what it means when Congress makes decisions about sending Americans into harm’s way because I was one of the people carrying out those decisions. I would bring that experience to Armed Services, particularly as we confront a more dangerous world and make sure America remains strong without unnecessarily putting our service members at risk. Veterans’ Affairs is also deeply personal to me. We make a promise to the
men and women who serve this country, and that promise cannot end when they take off the uniform. I want to fight for better health care, mental health services, benefits, and support for veterans and their families. Judiciary would also allow me to bring my experience as an attorney to some of the most consequential legal and constitutional issues facing our country. These are areas where I wouldn’t just bring opinions. I would bring firsthand experience. What is your opinion about the current conflict with Iran? Do you support continuing this conflict and, if so, what should the ultimate objectives be? KOZYCKI: Iran has been a menace in the Middle East for decades. But America entered this war without clear objectives, a strategy, or an exit plan. We also entered without the allies who have always multiplied American strength. I know what war looks like. I flew 56 combat missions in the Middle East. Before we ask another American family to send a son or daughter into harm’s way, we owe them an answer to a basic question: What is the mission, and how does it end? This is where Rich McCormick and I vehemently disagree. Rich cheers on putting boots on the ground in Iran. I believe sending American troops into Iran without a plan would recklessly risk American lives, could cost taxpayers trillions, and drag another generation into another forever war. We have been down this road before. I refuse to blindly walk down it again. Our objective now must be to end this war decisively. As a military leader, I learned that you accomplish the mission by using every advantage you have, and one of America’s greatest advantages is our allies. I know firsthand what they bring to the fight. We need them back at the table, building a coordinated strategy that brings overwhelming diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to end this war. And yes, America may need to swallow some pride and acknowledge that we need them. We do. That’s not weakness. That’s leadership. The goal isn’t to prove America can fight alone. It’s to accomplish the mission, protect American lives, and bring our people home. Healthcare costs continue to rise for millions of Americans. What are your plans for making healthcare more accessible and affordable? KOZYCKI: Healthcare is the number one concern I hear across this district. I met a father who couldn’t afford to insure his entire family anymore. He had to choose who would go without, so he chose himself, going without healthcare so his wife and children could keep theirs. I met a single mom who wants to
change careers and build a better life, but one of her children has serious medical needs. She can’t risk losing the insurance her job provides, so she stays. That’s not freedom. Healthcare should provide security, not trap someone in a job. I met a woman in her early 60s working two jobs while needing hip surgery she couldn’t afford. Her plan was to endure the pain until she qualified for Medicare. That should not happen in the wealthiest country in the world. We need to take on the enormous power of the insurance industry and bring real competition back into healthcare. We need to lower prescription drug costs, give families more affordable choices, protect rural and community healthcare, and stop allowing middlemen and massive corporations to drive up what patients pay. This cannot be a left-versusright issue. Nobody asks whether the ambulance is Republican or Democratic when their child is sick. We need both parties at the table focused on one goal: making quality healthcare something every working American can actually afford. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? What will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? KOZYCKI: Yes, because our political system is broken. Gerrymandering lets politicians choose their voters. Outside money lets corporations and special interests flood our elections with cash. Add incumbency and no term limits, and you create politicians who no longer have to listen to the people they represent. Look at Rich McCormick. He lost his first race for Congress, then ran two years later in a newly drawn Republican district, gift-wrapped for him by his own party. Now Rich plays the game. He gallivants around Washington, spews whatever divisive national talking point is popular that day, demonizes the other side, and keeps the culture war burning. But when it comes time to come home, listen to people who need his help, and answer hard questions, he’s nowhere to be found. Rich’s last open town hall was packed with 500 constituents, many frustrated about how his decisions were affecting their families and our community. Instead of continuing to face those questions, he ran away. When he finally returned, it was behind the doors of a private ballroom, invitation-only, with questions screened in advance. I’ve invited Rich to six debates so voters can put us side by side, ask the hard questions, and hear what each of us actually believes. That’s the system I want to change. I support term limits, ending partisan gerrymandering, campaign finance reform, and banning congressional stock trading. I will put my investments in a blind trust and hold regular, open town halls.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 8, 2026 | 27
Free World Music Ensemble debuts in Johns Creek Oct. 10 By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com A unique musical endeavor will debut in Johns Creek Oct. 10. The World Music Ensemble, a fully instrumental grassroots event, will showcase traditional, folk, Indigenous and classical instruments from around the world as well as from Georgia's own communities. Designed for musical groups with 10 or fewer members, the WME creates a rich, exceptional, one-of-a-kind listening experience for the community by spotlighting established musicians as well as student performers. Presented by the nonprofit organization Arts On The Creek in partnership with Fulton County Arts & Culture, the free inaugural event will be Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road. The lineup, which reflects a range of presentations and is updated regularly, includes: • Wontanara, an African percussion group • Bahar, an Indian strings group • Apuinka, an Andean instrument group • University of Georgia Middle East Ensemble, a Middle Eastern and African instrumental group • Musik21 Conservatory, a local classical ensemble from Vienna • UGA Chinese Ensemble, featuring Chinese instruments • Atlanta Metropolitan Orchestra, a classical orchestra • Phoenix School of Irish Arts, representing instrumental music from Ireland
The UGA Middle East Ensemble, a Middle Eastern and African instrumental group, will be among the groups performing Oct. 10 at the World Music Ensemble at Johns Creek United Methodist Church.
Focused on arts and culture throughout Fulton County, the WME seeks to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of traditional instrumental music from various cultures, "including musical traditions represented within the many cultural communities that call Fulton County home," said Nilendra Chanda, the WME's director.
The nonprofit event will give musicians of all ages a platform to showcase instruments from diverse cultures and histories. Through this # OneFulton event, the WME, presented by a publicprivate partnership, will foster cultural appreciation and musical education. "The event will use the universal language of instrumental music to bring
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audiences together across cultural and linguistic boundaries while promoting cultural appreciation, arts education, community connection and the preservation of cultural heritage," Chanda said. "There is no headliner, no big entertainment company and no social agenda; it is simply about coming together and getting to know each other through music."
Chanda said the "collage of cultures will be more evident in the coming years" and described the WME's debut as a "small and humble start with big dreams." Sponsorships are available, and applications are open, but space is limited. For more information, visit ArtsOnTheCreek.org.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, October 26, 2026, AT 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11360 LAKEFIELD DRIVE, JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA 30097 The following item is scheduled for a public hearing to consider the issuance of a Metropolitan River Protection Act Certificate: Case Number: Location: Acreage: Applicant: Property Owner: Proposal:
RC-26-0003 9280 Riverclub Parkway, Johns Creek, GA 30097 1.0039 Gayathri Thyagarajan Gayathri Thyagarajan To construct a deck in an existing single-family residential property
28 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
AIKENOMICS
OPINION
Why ‘no butts in seats without a pre-approval’ is still one of the best rules for realtors We all know my friend Joe Lunch Pale. Joe wants to spend the next three weekends looking at houses. Maybe write a low offer here and there just to see what happens. And D.C. AIKEN according to Joe, Guest Columnist dcaiken.com financing won’t be a problem. According to Joe, he has a 950 credit score, makes great money, has almost no debt, and has more cash in the bank than Scrooge McDuck. Don’t worry about Joe… Joe is ready to go.Or is he? There is one basic rule every real estate agent should live by: No butts in car seats until you see a pre-approval. No ifs. No ands. And definitely no butts in seats. Because when it comes to mortgages, I have another rule: Show me. Don’t tell me. That fictional 950 credit score? Turns out it’s 620. Joe also forgot to mention that he generously co-signed on a couple of
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car loans for his nieces and nephews. Unfortunately, the mortgage underwriter doesn’t care who is actually making those payments unless we can properly document it. And that shiny new truck Joe just bought? The new payment changed his debt-to-income ratio, while all those credit inquiries and the new account didn’t exactly help his credit profile…
hence why Joe’s score is now 620. Then we discover Joe recently left his salaried job and went hourly. “But I’m making more money!” Maybe. The problem isn’t necessarily Joe’s hourly rate. It’s establishing how many hours he can reasonably be expected to work. Is it consistently 40 hours? Or 36? Or 32? And what about overtime? We may need a documented history before we can use it as qualifying income. Welcome to Hourly Jail, Joe. Then Joe tells me not to worry about the down payment because he has $100,000 in his 401(k). Great! Except having $100,000 in a retirement account doesn’t necessarily mean Joe has $100,000 available for a home purchase. His plan may restrict loans or withdrawals, and we need to know exactly how much he can access. Suddenly, Joe’s “slam-dunk” mortgage isn’t quite the slam dunk everyone thought it was. And that’s the real problem. Maybe Joe qualifies for $650,000. Maybe he qualifies for $400,000. Maybe Joe doesn’t qualify for anything right now. But wouldn’t you rather know
that before spending four weekends driving him around Atlanta? Worse yet, imagine showing Joe $650,000 homes for a month only to discover that his actual purchasing power is $400,000. Good luck getting Joe excited about the $400,000 house after he’s fallen in love with the $650,000 one. That’s why getting pre-approved isn’t simply about the mortgage. It’s about setting expectations before emotions get involved. It protects the buyer. It protects the agent’s time. It establishes a realistic price range. And when the right house comes along, everyone is prepared to move. No butts in seats until you have a preapproval in your hand. No ifs. No ands. And absolutely, no butts. DC Aiken is senior vice president of lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS #658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken. com. The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage LLC or its affiliates.
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Puzzles
ier 10/8/26 Connect-It
PuzzleJunction.com
Connect-It
Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com
Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 4 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
Johns Creek Herald .............................October 8, 2026 | 29
1
SPOKEN HERE 1. Family man. Nov. birthstone. Bantu language of SE Africa. 2. Language of Gdansk. Ocean predator. King of the road. 3. Bread unit. Language of Vichy. Like Darth Vader. 4. Rock bottom. Musical instrument. Language of Swansea. 5. Base on balls. Dae-Han-Min language. Sniffer. 6. Lagos speak. Boredom. Ruler mark. 7. Martial art. Downright hideous. Sanskritic language. PuzzleJunction.com
Dunwoody Crier 10/8/26 Crossword
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1 Banquet 5 Tablelands 10 Perlman of Cheers 3 14 Bunsen burner 15 Fragrance 16 Stagecoach actor 4 Tim 17 Phrase to a recent winner 5 19 Assortment 20 Escargot starter 21 Family member 6 23 Starchy tuber 24 Dire fate 7 27 Manicurist’s 0/8/26 Sudoku concern ?? Spoken Here Crier 10/8/26 Kakuro Dunwoody PuzzleJunction.com How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 29 Phrase to an 1. November Bantu language of the Family first letterman. of the second answer, birthstone. and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each underling Southeast Africa. answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues 32A number Space shooter Kakuro, alsoThe known asare Cross is a -challenging in a may crossword style grid. The rules are easy: for 3 answers on the puzzle, line. But each here’srow, the catch! clues notSums, in order so the firstnumber clue inpuzzle, Line 1solved may (or not) actually Tothe solve the Sudoku column and above the diagonal line inof a black the sumbear 35 isMilne 2. Language of Gdansk. Ocean predator. King the square road.is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line be for the second or the third answer in line. Got it? Good luck! box must contain numbers 1that to 9. of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any 36sequence. Wool weight 3. Bread unit. Language of Vichy. Like Darth Vader. 37 Range 38 Painting 4. Rock bottom. Musical instrument. Language of Swansea. 39 Ancient Greek 5. Base on balls. Dae-Han-Min-Gook language. Sniffer. theater 42 Beer barrel 6. Lagos speak. Boredom. Ruler mark. 43 Tops 46 Botanist Gray 7. Martial art. Downright hideous. Sanskritic language. 47 Sawbucks 48 Fancy tie 49 Phrase of helplessness 51 Valentine symbol 53 Buckeye State 54 Egg cells 56 Alliance acronym 58 Like some lingerie 62 Well (It.) Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a 64 Phrase of challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. encouragement
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Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com
How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.
Solution
Solution 1 6 5 7 4 3 8 2 9
9 8 3 1 6 2 7 5 4
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Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com
67 Tolkien creatures 68 African antelope 69 Trick 70 Baby blues 71 Store events 72 Expires Down 1 Computer memory, for short 2 Collar type 3 Dwarf buffalo 4 Phrase that could mean, “Who cares?” 5 Fmr. Chinese leader 6 Go wrong
7 Miso starter 8 Quantity 9 Steam bath 10 Pi follower 11 Phrase of excitement 12 Lamb alias 13 Energy source 18 Play disaster 22 Nervous twitches 25 Director Preminger 26 State of mind 28 Auction offering 29 Tender spots 30 “No way!” phrase 31 Utopian 33 Happening 34 Lambs
35 Sunscreen ingredient 40 Norse capital 41 The Turtle poet 44 Foot part 45 Baseball’s Musial 47 Dropout’s phrase 49 Number one Hun 50 Enumerate 52 Storms 54 Bassoon relative 55 Exceedingly 57 Elliptical 59 Ornamental purse 60 Gaelic 61 Bar selections 63 Double curve 65 Compass pt. 66 Psyches
See puzzle solutions on Page 31
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30 | October 8, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Full-time Georgia Green Power Inc. d/b/a Blueflux Power has opngs: Systems Software Design Engineer. Job loc in Cumming, GA. Dsg & impl comp net & DC infra including LAN, WAN, hybrid cloud, & virt env. Dply & mng virt platforms (VMware vSphere/ESXi, Hyper-V, KVM) & containerized workloads via Kubernetes (EKS, AKS, GKE). Arch hybrid cloud sols on AWS, Azure, and GCP using Infra-as-Code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation). Mod & sim AC/DC pwr dist architectures for mission-critical data ctrs envr. Des data int pipelines w/ pwr metering protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU, BACnet, SNMP, OPC-UA) & cloud telemetry plats. Dvlp digital twins of converged pwr/net infra. Dsgn net sec arch incl Zero Trust & cloud-native security controls. Perf net modeling, capacity planning, & analysis of net infra reqmnts. Ensr compliance w/ DC & elec stds. Eval & pilot emerging net/cloud tech. Req exp with AWS, Azure, SQL, & Python. 15% Domestic Travel req to mfg facilities, cloud briefing ctrs & data ctr sites across US. Req: BS or frgn equi in Electrical/Electronics Eng & 5 yrs exp in job or as a Comp S/W Prof. Email res w/ cvr ltr to careers@bluefluxpower.com; EOE
Hospitalist Physician (multiple positions in Alpharetta, GA). Render medical services at the hospital in the medical specialty of hospital medicine. Reqs.: M.D., D.O., or foreign equivalent degree. Must be board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine. Must possess an Illinois Medical license or be able to obtain. Subject to periodic transfers to various unanticipated locations in the U.S. Must have legal authority to work in U.S. EEOE. Send resume to: Crystal Fann, Director of Human Resources, 24 ON Physicians, PC, 13000 Deerfield Pkwy, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or cfann@incompasshealth. com. Reference: HospitalistNB52 Lead Java Developer, GIS, HQ: Cumming, GA Design, develop & maintain enterprise level apps; work from hm ofc anywhere in US; BS or foreign equiv in CS or clsly rel.; 5 yrs rel. exp; $152,131; resume & cvr ltr to: CJ@global-it-solutions.net.
Part-time Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/Custodial/ Maintenance) (part-time position) to perform facility maintenance and grounds keeping duties. Requires some heavy lifting, high school diploma or equivalency and a valid GA driver’s license. Related experience with outdoor maintenance equipment and a valid CDL are preferred. Hours: Availability for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, October 16, 2026. Apply online: www. sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568. Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
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BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR (Part-Time) Alpharetta Presbyterian Church Seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional to support church operations and staff. Position is 2025 hours per week, M-F, on-site. Responsibilities include: • Human resources administration and staff support • Church operational and administrative functions • Technology systems coordination and support • Insurance, compliance, and records management • Vendor and contractor administration To apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com
Qualifications: • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree required • Strong computer and organizational skills • Experience in office administration, operations management, HR, or related field preferred • Excellent communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality • Successful criminal records/child abuse background check required
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STORE CLOSING l a n Fi eks! We
Going Out Of Business
60-75% OFF Entire Store!
Over 1,000 Rugs in Stock! All Sizes and Colors!
A few examples of our Going Out of Business prices: 13x20 hand-knotted rug 100% wool – $9,850 now $1,250 11x16 hand-knotted rug 100% wool – $7,500 now $1,050 8.5x11.5 antique heriz – $11,500 now $2,500 8x10 power loom – $1,720 now $290 6x9 woven 100% wool – $950 now $175 3x5 antique – $1,200 now $175
Store Closing Means Unbeatable Savings.
Thousand plus rugs are available in all sizes, colors, and styles new and antiques from all over the world with unbelievable prices. This is your opportunity to purchase premium rugs at some of the lowest prices we’ve ever offered. These savings are only available while inventory lasts, so don’t wait to find the perfect rug for your home.
SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:30 am - 7 pm | Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm 11266 State Bridge Rd, Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 678-404-7555 * All sizes are approximate. | License #15200