May 7, 2016
www.crossroadsnews. com
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Choices abound for primary voters
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
Election season is in full swing for the May 24 primary. Campaign signs are everywhere, voters are questioning candidates at forums, opponents are sparring, and early voting is underway for those who want to skip long lines on election day.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
CrossRoadsNews
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May 7, 2016
Wells Fargo’s donations have exceeded $1 million since the giving program started five years ago.
Guide to primary, nonpartisan and special elections
“East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007
www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com
The 2016 Guide to the Elections is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Graphics Editor Curtis Parker
These candidates are in contested races on the DeKalb County ballots in the May 24, 2016, Democratic and Republican primary elections. This information includes the office they are seeking, the salary for the office, party affiliation, age and occupation. Candidates who are running unopposed are not listed.
(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican (I) = Incumbent
U.S. Senate Democrat Jim Barksdale (D) Cheryl Copeland (D) John F. Coyne III (D) Republican Mary Kay Bacallao (R) Derrick Grayson (R) Johnny Isakson (R) (I) Georgia Senate 43rd District Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D) Toney L. Collins (D) Tonya P. Anderson (D) Georgia House 82nd District Mary Margaret Oliver (D) (I) Brian Westlake (D) 84th District Rahn Mayo (D) (I) Renitta Shannon (D) 86th District Michele Henson (D) (I) Joscelyn O’Neil (D) 87th District Ivy J. Green (D) Earnest L. “Coach” Williams (D) (I)
91st District Charles Hill (D) Vernon Jones (D) David Neville (D) Rhonda S. Taylor (D) DeKalb CEO Joe Bembry (D) Connie Stokes (D) Michael “Mike” Thurmond (D) DeKalb County Board of Commissioners District 4 Sharon Barnes-Sutton (D)(I) Steve Bradshaw (D) Lance Lawyer Hammonds (D) District 6 Kathie Gannon (D)(I) Warren Mosby (D) Nonpartisan General Election JUDGE OF STATE COURT (TO SUCCEED DAX E. LOPEZ)
Roderick Bridges Dax Lopez (I)
Tax Commissioner (non-partisan) (To Fill the Unexpired Term of CLAUDIA LAWSON, RETIRED)
Irvin J. Johnson Susannah Scott Stan Watson
newborn, newly adopted child or newly placed foster child? n Should private property on rivers and streams be protected by natural vegetative buffers to ensure that Georgia’s waters are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable? n Should Georgia automatically register to vote all legal and permanent residents upon issuance of a driver’s license or state-issued ID which includes an opt-out provision?
DeKalb Sheriff Geraldine Champion (D) Ted Golden (D) Kyle Keith Jones (D) Jeffrey L. Mann (D)(I) Michael Williams (D) DeKalb tax commissioner Irvin J. Johnson (D) Susannah Scott (D) Stan Watson (D) DeKalb Solicitor general Donna Coleman-Stribling (D) Nicole Marchand Golden (D) DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston (D) Robert James (D)(I) Nonpartisan General Election JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURT (TO SUCCEED GAIL C. FLAKE)
Angela Brown Democratic Party Questions Gail C. Flake (I) n Should Georgia invest less than 1% of its annual budget to provide healthcare Nonpartisan General Election to 500,000 low-income citizens and JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURT military veterans by expanding Medicaid? (TO SUCCEED CLARENCE F “CHUCK” n Should Georgia guarantee paid family SEELIGER) leave to include pregnancy, serious Stephone Johnson illness, care of a family member with a serious health condition, or care for a Clarence “Chuck” Seeliger (I)
Put Litter in Its Place Let’s Do Our Part to Keep DeKalb Beautiful
CrossRoadsNews
May 7, 2016
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Of DeKalb’s 493,147 registered voters, 377,561 are active – they have participated in the past two elections.
Early voting under way, 2,000-plus cast ballots in first 4 days More early polls to open To vote early through May 20, visit these polls: n Voter Registration & Elections Office, 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, in Decatur. Two areas – one exclusively for senior and disabled voters. Weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, May 15, noon-4 p.m. n South DeKalb – Gallery at South DeKalb mall, 2801 Candler Road in Decatur. Weekdays 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, May 15, noon-4 p.m. n North DeKalb – Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 LaVista Road in Tucker. Weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; no Sunday voting. n North DeKalb – Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad St. in Chamblee. Sunday, May 15, noon-4 p.m.; weekdays, May 16-20, 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.
File
Early polls are open through May 20 for the May 24 primary and nonpartisan elections. Saturday voting will be available in DeKalb County and across the state on May 14.
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
The May 24 primary and nonpartisan elections are just 17 days away and candidates in 18 contested races are reaching for second gear in their quest for office, even as early voters started going to the polls on May 2.
Through 7 p.m. Thursday, 2,076 voters had cast ballots by mail and at three early precincts at the DeKalb Election main offices on Memorial Drive, at the Gallery at South DeKalb and in Tucker. Right up to election day, smart candidates are making the rounds of discussion forums, heading to churches in hopes of
a getting a mention from the pulpit, and jockeying for invitations to homeowners association meetings and other public events – all to meet, greet and ask the voters for their consideration. As of April 19, the DeKalb Election Please see EARLY, page B4
May 16-20 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All locations including these: n Brookhaven – Brookhaven City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road N.E. in Brookhaven. n Downtown Decatur – Clark Harrison Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur. n Dunwoody – Dunwoody Library, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody. n East DeKalb – Berean Christian Church Community Center, 2440 Young Road in Stone Mountain. n Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia.
“JUDGE LOPEZ IS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE WHO ENJOYS DEEP SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.” -WHITE HOUSE
Community. Family. Justice. Re-Elect President Obama’s Nominee
Dax Lopez
www.daxfordekalb.com
Re-Elect Judge Dax Lopez May 24, 2016
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Judge Dax E. Lopez
CrossRoadsNews
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May 7, 2016
The vote “yes” or “no” questions were developed by the Democratic Party leadership and legislators.
Sunday voting available at a few sites EARLY,
from page
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Office says the county has 493,147 registered voters. Maxine Daniels, the county’s elections director, says voter turnout will be about 25 percent. She said that turnout for most primary elections since 2008 has been in the low 20s. The only exception was in 2012 when ?? helped push Maxine Daniels turnout over 31 percent. Even with the hotly contested races for DeKalb district attorney, CEO, solicitor general and County Commission districts 4 and 6, Daniels is not optimistic. “I don’t think the races on the ballot, coupled with the change of the primary from July to May, will be significant enough to bump it that high,” she said May 5. Still there is plenty on the ballot to get even the most jaded voter excited. The race for Senate District 43, which pits state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler against former state Reps. Tonya Anderson and Toney Collins, is sure to pull voters in both DeKalb and Rockdale counties. The House District 91 race in which former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones is trying to make a comeback against the young and fiery Morehouse and Harvard graduate Charles Hill Jr. and Conyers residents Rhonda Taylor and David Neville will hopefully help lure more voters to the polls. Of the 493,147 DeKalb registered voters, 377,561 of them are active voters, meaning they have participated in the past two elections. Countywide, 273,968 or 55.6 percent of DeKalb voters are female and 260,799 or 52.9 percent are African-Americans.
Early polls will be open statewide on Saturday, May 14. It is the only mandated Saturday voting in all 159 counties for the May 24 primary and nonpartisan elections. In DeKalb County, the May 14 Saturday polls will open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial Drive, Tucker and the Gallery at South DeKalb mall, and on Sunday, May 15, from noon to 4 p.m. at Memorial, the Gallery at South DeKalb and Chamblee. As voters head to the polls early or on election day, Daniels says they must remember to bring approved photo identification with them. To cast a ballot, every voter must select a party or a nonpartisan ballot. Daniels said that those who choose a nonpartisan ballot will not have an opportunity to vote in the CEO, commissioners, sheriff and other county races or in state and federal partisan races. Regardless of your ballot choice, the special elections for DeKalb tax commissioner (to fulfill Claudia Lawson’s term) and the DeKalb School District E-SPLOST will appear at the end of every ballot. Voters who select the Democratic ballot can vote in both the Democratic primary race for tax commissioner, whose term starts Jan. 1, 2017, and in the special election for tax commissioner whose term ends Dec. 31, 2016. Daniels said voters must go to the end of the ballot to see the special election for tax commissioner. “Since there are no Republican primary or nonpartisan candidates for tax commissioner, those voters will have only one tax commissioner race at the end of the ballot,” she said. Before you head to the polls, voters can view their ballot by visiting the Georgia My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do.
Ballot questions to raise awareness on key issues Democrats voting in the May 24 primary can let their party know their support for Medicaid expansion, family leave, protection for the state’s rivers and streams, and making it easier for all Georgians who are legal and permanent residents to register to vote when they get their driver’s license. The vote “yes” or “no” questions were developed by the Democratic Party leadership in collaboration with the Democratic Senate and House delegations. The questions, which are on primary ballots in all 159 counties in Georgia, are: n Should Georgia invest less than 1% of its annual budget to provide healthcare to 500,000 low-income citizens and military veterans by expanding Medicaid? n Should Georgia guarantee paid family leave to include pregnancy, serious illness, care of a family member with a serious health condition, or care for a newborn, newly adopted child or newly placed foster child? n Should private property on rivers and streams be protected by natural vegetative buffers to ensure that Georgia’s waters are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable? n Should Georgia automatically register to vote all legal and permanent residents upon issuance of a driver’s license or state-issued ID which includes an opt-out provision? Michael Smith, the state Democratic Party spokesman, said support for these issues will raise awareness that a broad cross section of Georgians care and could influence legislative agenda in the upcoming session. On the Medicaid expansion issue, Gov. Nathan Deal has joined with 16 other Republican governors across the country to refuse federal funding to implement the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, that provides health coverage to about 1.8 million low-income children, pregnant women, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Statewide, an estimated 600,000 low-income Georgians, mostly adults under the age of 65 who don’t have children, are uninsured. Smith said that nationally, states that have made voter registration automatic when residents get their driver’s license have increased civic engagement. “We would like to encourage that in Georgia,” he said. Currently, only federal employees are guaranteed six weeks of family leave when they have babies or adopt children, are ill or have to be caregivers to a sick family member. Without paid leave, Smith said families face serious financial burdens. “We would like to see that addressed,” he said.
CrossRoadsNews
May 7, 2016
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“Unless we raise the millage, we can’t fund capital projects. … It is really critical that we pass this SPLOST.”
E-SPLOST seeks another penny to continue fixing schools By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
DeKalb voters headed to the polls early and on May 24 might be surprised to find a DeKalb School Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax – E-SPLOST – referendum on the ballot. The referendum is seeking to re-up the current five-year SPLOST that ends in June 2017. If approved, the new SPLOST will begin July 1, 2017, and end in June 2022. Since DeKalb voters approved the first five-year SPLOST that went into effect on July 1, 1997, the district has returned to the voters for consecutive SPLOST votes in 2002, 2007, and 2011. SPLOST 5, which could raise $500 million for the district, has been very low-key because this time, the district is seeking approval from voters before presenting a list of projects, which always engages more citizens. The lack of a project list before the May 24 vote is a major departure from how the district has approached its four previous penny sales taxes that have netted more than $1.85 billion for capital and other improvements since 1997. This time, the DeKalb School Board wants the voters to approve the SPLOST first, and develop the specific projects later. Dr. Melvin Johnson, School Board chairman, said May 3 that the district elected to fund categories, rather than specific projects, because this board has no trust issues with the voters. “We don’t operate poMelvin Johnson litically,” he said. “We operate from an equity standpoint. Board members don’t get a pot of money to spend in their district. We go where the resources are needed.”
The history of DeKalb Schools SPLOST SPLOST Date of Vote SPLOST Duration % Yes % Turnout $millions I Mar. 18, 1997 July 1997 – June 2002 68.40 20.60 $415 II Mar. 20, 2002 July 2002 – June 2007 61.40 9.40 $457 III Mar. 20, 2007 July 2007 – June 2012 69.70 5.40 $489 IV Nov. 8, 2011 July 2012 – June 2017 62.20 13.90 $492* V May 24, 2016 July 2017 – June 2022 $500* * Anticipated
Johnson said that To fund categories, not specific projects even though Superintendent Stephen The proposed SPLOST 5 will fund five project categories: Green would have Project Areas $ millions % preferred to wait n New Facilities and Additions $230 46 until the November n Facility Condition Improvements $100 20 election, he asked n Technology Improvements, including the board to bring Enterprise Resource Plan $65 13 the referendum in n Management and Contingency $50 10 May because Atlanta, Fulton and Decatur n Buses, Vehicles, Other Capital Equipment $40 8 school districts also n Safety and Security $15 3 are doing referenTotals $500 100 dums at the same time, and the law input meetings on the project list in July requires them to do it at the same time. “Our new superintendent would have and September. The School Board plans to preferred to do it in November but he wanted approve the list on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. It plans to collaborate and be a good neighbor with to issue general obligation bonds in $200 million blocks to fund portions of the projects. the other districts,” Johnson said. Allyson Gevertz, chairwoman of the Voters are being asked to approve reimposing the special 1 percent sales and use Friends of DeKalb Education 5, a political actax for educational purposes starting July 1, tion committee supporting the referendum, 2017. The current tax is set to end on June said SPLOST is a much fairer way to fund capital improvement. 30, 2017. “Unless we raise the The question says the tax will last for not more than 20 consecutive calendar quarters millage, we can’t fund and raise “not more than $650,057,000,” but capital projects,” she said. School District estimates of spending have “With SPLOST, 30 percent of the funding comes stayed at $500 million. DeKalb will split the proceeds with City from people from outside Schools of Decatur, $30 million, and with the county who come here to shop and spend Atlanta Public Schools, $20.05 million. Allyson Gevertz If voters approve the new SPLOST on money.” Gevertz, who has two kids in middle and May 24, the School District plans public
high schools in DeKalb, said there are a lot of kids in trailers and buses in disrepair, and technology and security issues. “We really don’t have a choice,” Gevertz said. “It is really critical that we pass this SPLOST.” The district proposes to spent the bulk of SPLOST 5 funds, 46 percent or $230 million, on new facilities and additions. Facility condition improvements take the second biggest chunk with 20 percent or $100 million. If approved, Johnson said the overcrowded Cross Keys Cluster, which is populated by mobile classrooms, will get the bulk of the new facilities. “Most of the funds will go there because of need,” Johnson said, adding that two new schools – high and middle – are planned. For the rest of the anticipated funds, technology improvements will get 13 percent or $65 million; management and contingency, 10 percent or $50 million; and buses, vehicles and other capital equipment will get 8 percent or $40 million. Safety and security rounds out the anticipated total with 3 percent or $15 million. Johnson said all of the district’s 134 schools will get technology improvements and buses facility improvements. “Every school will get the same techology improvements, and we will upgrade all our buses,” he said. Gevertz said the School District is working very hard to be transparent and to take parents’ input. “We have to trust that Dr. Green is going to do what he says and he has not given us any reason to think otherwise,” she said. “We need this SPLOST to make improvements and take care of our overcrowding.” Rochelle Jackson who went to the polls on May 5, said she voted for the SPLOST. “Everything I read it is going to do, we need,” she said. “We need technology, we need security, and we need equity. Our schools need all the help they can get.”
It’s time for a new DAy in DeKalb. Join us in supporting
SHERRY BOSTON for District Attorney
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Vote in the Democratic Primary May 24th.
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4/18/16 10:54 AM
CrossRoadsNews
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May 7, 2016
Fortyfive candidates in 18 contested races are seeking our vo Dekalb chief executive officer Joe Bembry
Connie Stokes
DeKalb Distr
Michael “Mike” Thurmond
Sherry Boston
DeKalb County Sheriff Geraldine Champion
Ted Golden
Kyle Keith Jones
Board of commissioners dist 4 Sharon Barnes-Sutton
Steve Bradshaw
Board of commissioners di
Lance Lawyer Hammonds
Kathie Gannon
State Court Judge Roderick Bridges
State Representative (86) (D) Michele Henson (I)
Joscelyn O’Neil
Jeffrey L. M
Warren M
State Represen
Dax Lopez
Mary Margaret Oliver (I)
State Representative (87) (D) Ivy Green
Earnest “Coach” Williams (I)
CrossRoadsNews
May 7, 2016
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otes in the May 24 primary, nonpartisan and special elections
rict Attorney
Tax commissioner
Robert D. James (I)
Irvin J. Johnson
Susannah Scott
Stan Watson
DeKalb Solicitor General
Mann (I)
Michael Williams
ist 6
Donna Coleman-Stribling
Nicole Marchand Golden
Superior Court Judge
Mosby
Angela Brown
ntative (82) (D) Brian Westlake
Gail C. Flake
Superior Court Judge Stephone Johnson
Clarence “Chuck� Seeliger
State Representative (84) (D) Rahn Mayo (I)
Renitta Shannon
State Representative (91) (D) Charles Hill
Vernon Jones
David Neville
Rhonda S. Taylor
CrossRoadsNews
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May 7, 2016
45 candidates in 18 contested races....cont’d State Senate (43) (D) Tonya P. Anderson
Toney L. Collins
Dee Dawkins-Haigler
United States Senate (D) Jim Barksdale
Cheryl Copeland
John F. Coyne III
James Knox
May 7, 2016
CrossRoadsNews
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Political contributions are considered a barometer of the level of support a candidate or incumbent has in a race.
James, Boston amass hefty war chests in district attorney race Campaign Contributions Filings, March 31, 2016
The top five fundraisers for the May 24 primary are Robert James (from left), Sherry Boston, Jeff Mann, Dax Lopez and Mike Thurmond.
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
District Attorney Robert James has set a new DeKalb record for the most contributions ever raised for a DA race. For his March 31, 2016, campaign disclosure filing, James reported contributions of $225,108 even after he returned $3,700 in donations to two contributors who inadvertently gave him more than the $2,600 limit for this election. In contrast, in 2010 when he first ran for the office, he collected $93,680. James said he is very proud of the outpouring support for his re-election. “I am humbled by the generosity of strangers,” he said. “We got donations from all kinds of people and not just those who feel they have skin in the game.” More than 1,000 contributors to his campaign gave $100 to $2,600. “They believe in the work that we do and they want to see us be successful and continue to do it,” James said. He reported a net balance of $158,116. James’ challenger, DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston, wasn’t far behind in total contributions. At $204,896, she amassed the second-highest amount of donations and reported a net balance of $110,793. At the Jan. 31 disclosure deadline, Boston had outraised James. She disclosed contributions of $157,795 to his $130,996. Candidates breaking the $100,000 contribution mark for the March reporting deadline are Sheriff Jeff Mann with $114,307, State Court Judge Dax Lopez with $107,317, and CEO candidate Michael Thurmond with $101,335. Thurmond, who is in a race with Connie Stokes and Joe Bembry for the Democratic nomination, is the only non-incumbent to top $100,000 in contributions. Stokes reported $25,270, but $25,000 of it was a loan she made to her campaign. Bembry has not filed any campaign disclosures. Together, the 37 DeKalb candidates who
filed campaign disclosures for the March 31, 2016, reporting deadline disclosed just over $1.5 million in contributions and net balance of $838,766. The top five fundraisers – James, Boston, Mann, Lopez and Thurmond – raised $752,963, or 49.3 percent of the total. Fourteen candidates reported loans totaling $162,166. The loans ranged from the $400 that House District 91 candidate Charles Hill Jr. made to himself to loans of $41,562 that District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton brought forward from past campaigns. Political contributions are considered a barometer of the level of support a candidate or incumbent has for the office they are seeking. James, who is in a tight race with Boston, said this campaign is the first that he has garnered support from people he doesn’t know personally. “I used to be on first-name basis with all my contributors,” said James, who first ran for office as DeKalb solicitor general in 2006. “They used to be college buddies, lawyers I knew, friends and neighbors. This time, it’s a lot of donors, many of whom I have never met.” With the growth in donors, James said he did a compliance audit of his campaign account and found that two of them – Childers, Schlueter & Smith in Atlanta and G.A. Rockdale Partners LLC – who had given to his campaign multiple times had exceeded the contribution limit. On March 31, he refunded $2,500 to the first and $1,200 to the latter. James said he started raising money for his re-election in May 2015. “Some people gave more than once,” he said. “The average person doesn’t know the rules.” James said he audited his campaign account because the burden for compliance lies with the candidate, not the donor. He said his carefulness was not motivated by the March 24, 2016, consent order that he had to sign with the Georgia Government
Candidate Office Contributions Loans Robert James (I) District Attorney $225,108 $19,049 Sherry Boston District Attorney $204,896 $950 Jeff Mann (I) Sheriff $114,307 $0 Dax Lopez (I) State Court Judge $107,317 $0 Michael Thurmond CEO $101,335 $320 Nicole Marchand Golden Solicitor General $87,472 $0 Rahn Mayo House District 84 $81,833 $0 Donna Coleman-Stribling Solicitor General $69,261 $0 Kathie Gannon (I) Commission District 6 $60,097 $0 Mary Margaret Oliver (I) House District 82 $57,944 $0 Stephen Bradshaw Commission District 6 $45,480 $0 Michele Henson (I) House District 86 $40,623 $0 Gail Flake (I) Superior Court Judge $35,512 $0 Clarence Seeliger (I) Superior Court Judge $32,795 $5,000 Sharon Barnes Sutton (I) Commission District 4 $27,475 $41,562 Michael Williams Sheriff $26,423 $5,000 Connie Stokes CEO $25,270 $25,000 Roderick Bridges State Court Judge $21,800 $0 Renitta Shannon House District 84 $19,237 $0 Lance Hammonds Commission District 4 $18,481 $0 Kyle Jones Sheriff $14,252 $2,560 Stephone Johnson Superior Court Judge $14,243 $0 Dee Dawkins-Haigler Senate District 43 $13,250 $10,000 Brian Westlake House District 82 $11,936 $3,000 Stan Watson Tax Commissioner $11,375 $0 Susannah Scott Tax Commissioner $10,145 $5,992 Earnest “Coach” Williams (I) House District 87 $9,183 $0 Irvin Johnson Tax Commissioner $8,619 $0 Ted Golden Sheriff $7,680 $42,833 Charles Hill House District 91 $6,885 $400 Vernon Jones House District 91 $5,970 $0 Geraldine Champion Sheriff $5,124 $0 Joscelyn O’Neil House District 86 $2,410 $0 Rhonda Taylor House District 91 $2,290 $0 Warren Mosby Commission District 6 $1,151 $0 David Neville House District 91 $750 $500 Ivy Green House District 87 $400 $0 Totals $1,528,329 $162,166
Cash on Hand $158,116 $110,793 $43,837 $78,415 $0 $65,392 $27,955 $40,744 $0 $80,477 $24,877 $27,164 $32,107 $32,795 $22,335 $4,631 $5,857 $16,902 $10,135 $832 $2,846 $5,142 $13,250 $11,936 $3,974 -$606 $1,524 $2,877 $614 $6,485 $4,775 $0 $591 $988 $0 -$349 $400 $838,766
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Commission & DeKalb Registrations & Elections
Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission to resolve ethics violation complaints filed against him. James paid $2,850 in fines for failure to file personal financial statements in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and 15 instances in which he failed to comply with requirements of the Campaign Finance Act. Lopez, who is being challenged by former Traffic Court Judge Roderick Bridges, raised $107,317 to Bridges’ $21,800. Mann outraised his three challengers combined, clocking in at $114,307 to the $53,479 raised by Michael Williams, Kyle Jones, Ted Golden and Geraldine Champion. Nicole Marchand Golden and Donna Coleman-Stribling, who are vying for the Solicitor General’s Office, raised $87,472 and $69,261, respectively. In the race for Senate District 43, Toney Collins and Tonya Anderson had not filed any disclosures for the primary through May 5. Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger raised $32,795 to challenger Stephone John-
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Kyle Jones
son’s $14,243. The March 31 report for former Recorders Court Judge Angela Brown was not available. Brown, who is challenging incumbent Superior Court Judge Gail Flake, raised $43,052 by the Jan. 31 deadline. Flake reported total contributions of $35,512 and a net balance of $32,107. In the hot Commission District 4 race, challenger Stephen Bradshaw raised $45,480 to embattled incumbent Barnes Sutton’s $27,475 and challenger Lance Hammonds’ $18,481. In the Super District 6 race, incumbent Commissioner Kathie Gannon reported a war chest of $60,097. Warren Mosby, her challenger, reported raising $1,151. He said that it is difficult raising money when you are running against “an entrenched incumbent.” “If I need money, I will put in my own funds,” he said. The next campaign disclosure reporting deadline is June 30, four weeks after the May 24 primary.
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CrossRoadsNews
May 7, 2016
“The letter notifying Copelin-Wood of the hearing outlined applicable code sections that governed the process.”
Elections board chair defends Copelin-Wood disqualification Editor’s Note: Former DeKalb School Board member Sarah Copelin-Wood was disqualified from the District 3 School Board race after qualifying on March 11. CopelinWood said in an April 16 CrossRoadsNews story that the election office refused to take her certified Wells Fargo check for $540 “because there was no line on the back” and she had to send for cash. By Samuel E. Tillman
I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the allegations made by Ms. Sarah Copelin-Wood in your April 16, 2016, article concerning her disqualification from the School Board District 3 race. On March 11th, the final day for qualifying, Ms. Copelin-Wood came to the office of the Board of Registration & Elections. She entered the office at least one hour prior to the noon deadline for qualifying. Several times, she approached our staff members and asked questions but did not start her qualifying process until after 11:30 a.m. At that time, she was processed using normal procedures, which includes entering her information into the voter registration system and preparing her Notice of Candidacy form. Upon completion of the form, she was asked for her qualifying fee. Ms. CopelinWood produced three photocopies of a cashier’s check in the amount of $500.40. The staff member conferred with other staff
“It is unfortunate that Ms. Copelin-Wood opted not to present her case before the Board nor use her legal channel of appealing the ruling, but having failed to do so, she must take full responsibility for her disqualification.” Sam Tillman, chairman DeKalb Board of Registration & Elections
who confirmed that the copies presented by Ms. Copelin-Wood were not a check, but photocopies. The staff member asked her if she had the actual check and she insisted that the photocopy provided was a check. The staff asked Director Maxine Daniels to speak with Ms. Copelin-Wood about the situation. Ms. Daniels told Ms. Copelin-Wood that the copy of the check that she presented was not acceptable. After Ms. Copelin-Wood insisted that the paper she had was what she had received from her bank, Ms. Daniels inquired whether Ms. Copelin-Wood had made a copy of the check and she confirmed she had. When Ms. Daniels suggested that the check may have been inadvertently left on the copier, Ms. Copelin-Wood insisted that the photocopy she presented was a check. At this point, it was less than ten minutes until the noon deadline for qualifying. Since the normal process is to allow anyone who appears before noon with the required fee to complete their qualifying process even it would be concluded after noon, Ms. Daniels
decided to give Ms. Copelin-Wood every opportunity to finalize the process and defer to the Board of Registration & Elections to determine if her actions met the requirement of the Election Code. Ms. Daniels informed Ms. Copelin-Wood that if she left and was not back in the office at noon, she could not qualify but if she could have someone bring the funds, it would be accepted pending a hearing before the Board. Ms. Copelin-Wood contacted her daughter who was able to bring cash to her at approximately 12:20 p.m. Ms. Daniels accepted the money and Ms. Copelin-Wood’s name was added to the list of candidates for the School Board District 3 race. The Board of Registration & Elections scheduled a hearing to consider Ms. CopelinWood’s eligibility as a candidate. As required by law, a letter notifying Ms. Copelin-Wood of the challenge hearing was sent via mail to both her home address and post office box and via email to the address listed on her notice of candidacy. In addition, Ms. Daniels called and spoke
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with her personally to inform her of the upcoming hearing. Ms. Copelin-Wood chose not to attend and present her side of the issue. Based on the facts presented by the staff, the Board determined that Ms. Copelin-Wood did not properly qualify since she did not have the required qualifying fee at the noon deadline and thus removed her from the list of candidates. The money that she provided after the deadline was refunded to her. Our office handled Ms. Copelin-Wood in a manner consistent, not only with its normal procedures, but also within the statutes of the Georgia Election Code. In fact, to ensure Ms. Copelin-Wood was given every opportunity for due process, her fee was accepted after the noon deadline. The letter notifying Ms. Copelin-Wood of the hearing outlined applicable code sections that governed the process. Her being disqualified was based on the particulars of her case. If Ms. Copelin-Wood felt that the Board had acted improperly, her recourse was with the Superior Court and she was so advised in the letter and subsequent Order informing her of the Board’s finding. It is unfortunate that Ms. Copelin-Wood opted not to present her case before the Board nor use her legal channel of appealing the ruling, but having failed to do so, she must take full responsibility for her disqualification. Samuel E. Tillman is chairman of the DeKalb Board of Registration & Elections.
CrossRoadsNews
May 7, 2016
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Candidates for tax commissioner are vying in a special election and for the Democratic nomination on May 24.
Voters can vet candidates at forums at New Life, other venues Candidates in the hotly contested races for DeKalb CEO, district attorney, sheriff and tax commissioner will face off on May 16 at a Vote 2016 Forum at New Life Baptist Church. The forum, which begins at 6:30 p.m., is sponsored by CrossRoadsNews in partnership with New Life and the Rotary Club of South DeKalb. Former DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes, former DeKalb Superintendent Michael Thurmond and Decatur businessman Joe Bembry are vying to replace convicted and suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, whose term ends on Dec. 31, 2016. Incumbent District Attorney Robert James and his challenger, DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston, and DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann’s four challengers – retired Atlanta detective Geraldine Champion, retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent Ted Golden, former DeKalb Sheriff Deputy Kyle Jones and law enforcement officer Michael Williams have been invited. For the special election and Democratic primary for DeKalb tax commissioner, interim Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson, attorney Susannah Scott, and former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson are expected. The forum will be moderated by CrossRoadsNews Editor/Publisher Jennifer Parker. Questions will be taken from the audience. Candidates seeking other offices that are not part of the forum will be recognized. New Life is at 3592 Flat Shoals Road in Decatur.
The 90-minute forum begins at 7 p.m. The candidates for CEO are Decatur businessman Joe Bembry, former DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes and former School Superintendent Michael Thurmond. The winner will face Republican Jack Lovelace in November. Lovelace is unopposed in the May 24 GOP primary. Incumbent Sheriff Jeffrey Mann, retired homicide detective Geraldine Champion, retired DEA Special Agent Ted Golden, business owner and former Sheriff Deputy Kyle Keith Jones, and law enforcement official Michael Williams are seeking the Democratic Forum at Victory for World Church nomination for sheriff. The winner will face Candidates running for CEO, sheriff and former DeKalb Reserve Lt. Harold Dennis, tax commissioner have been invited to a 2016 who has no GOP opposition in the May 24 Candidate Forum on May 17 at the Victory primary. for the World Church in Stone Mountain. Candidates for tax commissioner are
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Keep Irvin J. Johnson as Your DeKalb County Tax Commissioner PAID FOR BY IRVINFORDEKALB COMMITTEE • WWW.IRVINFORDEKALB.COM
At far left, businessman Joe Bembry, former Commissioner Connie Stokes and former Superintendent Michael Thurmond are running for DeKalb CEO. Vernon Jones (near left) and Charles Hill are among four candidates seeking the Georgia House District 91 seat.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
interim Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson, attorney Susannah Scott and former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson. All three are vying in the special election to succeed Claudia Lawson, who retired in December and whose term ends on Dec. 31, 2016, and for the Democratic nomination for a new four-year term that begins in January 2017. Victory Church is at 1170 N. Hairston Road. For more information, contact Gregory Lewis at 678-895-1954.
Sparring at Rockdale forum Former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones and political newcomer Charles Hill Jr. sparred at the April 23 Rockdale Democrats Election Forum when Jones raised concerns about Hill’s youth and accomplishments and Hill questioned the quality of Jones’ experience.
Jimmy Norfleet
The Lithonia residents are vying with Conyers residents Rhonda Taylor and David Neville for the Democratic nomination in the House District 91 seat that covers portions of DeKalb and Rockdale counties. Taylor, a consultant, and Neville, a retired educator, were no-shows at the forum. Jones, a former state representative and DeKalb CEO for eight years between 2000 and 2008, had unsuccessfully sought office in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and DeKalb sheriff since leaving office. Hill, 30, a Morehouse and Harvard graduate, is a small-business owner. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Carl Anuszczyk, who is unopposed in the GOP primary, in November. Primary candidates were scheduled to meet again on May 5.
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Educating & Empowering the Community
May 7, 2016
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