Last night, the DeKalb Democrats held an election for our Executive Committee.
The results are as follows.
Chair- Jennifer Young
First Vice Chair- Karen Mixon
Second Vice Chair- John Jackson
Third Vice Chair- Leona Perry
Secretary- Sheila Levy
Treasurer- Harmel Codi
L-R: Harmel Codi, Sheila Levy, Leona Perry, Jennifer Young, Karen Mixon, and John Jackson.
Please follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest news on how to help with voter issues. It is going to have to have the most up to date information.
https://www.facebook.com/DeKalbDems
The Atlanta Pride Parade is happening on October 14th. We’re lining up on West Peachtree near the Civic Center Marta Station near Ivan Allen. We will be there at 9:30am to secure our spot in Section D. If you get there early, maybe you can do some canvassing in the crowd. 🙂 If you are attending, please make sure you’re there by 11:30 because the parade steps off at noon sharp.
We’re going to have t shirts for sale. If you want to secure yours, place an order by this Friday, September 28th. You can use this form. http://goo.gl/HvRFLM
Help turn Georgia blue by donating to the DeKalb Dems!
On August 25th, the Georgia Democrats will hold their State Convention in Atlanta. We recently held an election to see who will represent DeKalb County.
DeKalb Democrats State Committee Members (delegates by default)
1. L. Donald Richard
2. TBD
3. Josephine Handy-Sewell
4. George Chidi
5. John Sawyer
6. Billy Mitchell
7. Howard Mosby
8. Ann Ambramowitz
9. Barbara Campbell
10. Raymond Christie
11. Tedra Eberhart Lee
12. Edith Fusillo
13. Leona Perry
14. Dorothy Wiley
15. Jon Gerson
16. Amy Swygert
Post Seat Holder Delegate Election
Karen Mixon
Janel Green
Dee Dawkins-Haigler
Stephe Koontz
Tracy Prescott
Sandra Daniels
Sabrina Rahim
John Jackson
Jeff Corkill
Larry Lowe
Andrew Heaton
Van Jenson
Tommy Travis
Kenneth Royal
Edward Patton
Amanda Lee
Alternates
Beatrice Williams
Joyce Reed
Lance Robinson
Amber Willett
Leroy Bennett
Laurie Lanning
Kenny Alston
Karen Davenport
Erin Parks
Public Delegate Election
Ashlee Wright
Emily Halevy
Sheila Levy
Davisha Johnson
Christyn Haigler
Shawn Ouwelen
Faye Coffield
Susan McWethy
Douglas Hines
Chris Moser
Gil Freeman
Lance Hammonds
Paul Grant
Mostafa Zahid
Jason Roberts
Amanda Collier-Rittenhouse
Alternates
Debra Dulin
Elizabeth Burns
Melissa Connor
Elizabeth Burbridge
Rita Robinzine
Download the affidavit for all who wish to caucus with the Dekalb Dems and elect or run for delegate/alternate to the state convention.
Please sign it and bring it with you along with your voter registration card or printout from the Georgia My Voter Page.
Brian Kemp’s Voting System Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 9:00 A.M until noon at Sewell Mill Library, 2051 Lower Roswell Rd in Marietta, GA. We need to show up in numbers! Please try to attend.
The election for even numbered post seat holders will be held on August 2, 2018 at 7:00 P.M at the Manuel Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce St., Decatur, GA. 30030. Anyone can run and anyone can vote. Contact Jennifer Young of DDP at: [email protected]
This guide for voters was prepared by friends of DeKalb County to provide a form for information on election dates, registration deadlines, and candidate information for DeKalb County, Georgia. The information for this guide was provided by 2018 Election List of Qualified Candidates from Georgia Secretary of State office. For more details visit: http://elections.sos.ga.gov/GAElection/CandidateDetails
Free tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Two progressive Democrats, Tamara Johnson-Shealy and Sally Harrell, are currently running for Senate District 40. Republican Fran Millar currently holds this seat. We asked both candidates the same questions. The questions, and their answers are below. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Sally Harrell
Why did you decide to run?
Our democracy is at risk due to gerrymandering. I know from my past experience that I can run a winning campaign even in a difficult swing district. It is critical that Democrats gain a larger voice in redistricting in 2021, or we will continue to have unwinnable congressional districts and a dysfunctional congress. By flipping Senate 40, we prevent the Senate Republicans from having a super majority, which slows down their ability to push a far-right agenda.
What experience do you have that is relevant to the office you seek?
From 1999 – 2005, I won three elections to the Georgia House of Representatives in a competitive “swing” district within Senate 40. While serving in the legislature, I influenced and passed legislation in the areas of education, healthcare (including disabilities) and mental health. I have a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia, and have served as a non-profit executive director. Having recently raised two children, now ages 16 and 18, I have seen first-hand the challenges that local families face, particularly with healthcare expenses, public schools and traffic congestion.
What are your top 3 priorities?
My top three priorities are education, healthcare and the environment. Our K-12 public education system needs to be fully funded, restoring cuts made since 2008 and before, and reversing the trend toward sending public dollars to private schools. Pre-school, college and technical schools need to be made affordable. Medicaid needs to be expanded to save our failing healthcare system state-wide. And perhaps most urgently, we need to slow the destruction of our environment by investing in innovative, clean energy solutions, especially in the area of regional traffic planning.
What problems/challenges/difficulties do you see in the state? What would you propose to do about them?
Georgia needs new leadership. While our income gap continues to widen, hospitals close or merge, and our teachers attempt to do more with less, our legislature has been wasting time and taxpayer money with debates about “religious liberty,” carrying guns into bars, churches and college campuses, and making life hard for immigrants. The leadership of the Gold Dome needs to join the 21st century – not bring us back to a time where racism, sexism, and other prejudices were the political norm. Our current representatives don’t want to change – so we must change our representatives.
We also need to have an open and honest conversation about how different members of our community are at a disadvantage simply because of their race or religion or lack of money, and we need to work closely with these groups to understand and identify ways we can support their priorities. I see this as a cornerstone to any progressive approach to governance, and I believe that making an extra effort to be inclusive and hear voices that are disenfranchised will benefit all of us in the long run.
What mistakes have you made and what have you learned from that?
As public servants, our first duty is to listen to learn. During my earliest days serving in the legislature, I tried hard to listen to the voices of the people. I quickly learned that listening is not easy, as some voices are easier to hear than others. The “loud” voices I heard as a new legislator turned out to be a few voices of a very vocal minority. Eventually, I learned to actively seek the input of the quieter voices, and even figured out how to be a voice for the voiceless. This allowed me to use the legislative process to make a bigger difference for more people.
Tamara Johnson-Shealy
Why did you decide to run?
This is my third run for Senate District 40. I ran for the first time in 2014 and the second time in 2016. I decided to run during the controversial Lavista Hills/Tucker cityhood initiative. As a resident of the Northlake/Tucker Community, I witnessed, firsthand the divisive leadership of the current incumbent. Friends, neighbors and neighborhoods were torn apart and I realized that Senate District 40 and the citizens of Georgia deserved better leadership.
What experience do you have that is relevant to the office you seek?
I am well versed in legislation and the legislative process in Georgia and nationwide. As Senior Advocate of a professional, national organization my role is to bring people together. In this position, I organize our members around the issues and monitor and fight legislation. I understand that if policy is to work effectively, it must bring people together and not tear them apart.
What are your top 3 priorities?
As a Democrat, my top 3 priorities are healthcare, education and transportation. Georgia must be intentional with providing healthcare for all. Georgia must fully fund public education to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to learn. Georgia must also make sure that we have viable transportation options that ease congestion and protect the environment.
What problems/challenges/difficulties do you see in the state? What would you propose to do about them?
The problem that I see in Georgia is its inability to serve all Georgians equally and fairly. We have areas in Georgia that are under served and do not have access to resources and opportunities. I would propose that as policy is initiated, we are intentional in making sure that legislative initiatives work for all Georgians.
What mistakes have you made and what have you learned from that?
I am an extremely hard worker. When I start something, I am focused until it is completed. I am dedicated and committed to all that I do. A mistake that I have made is “not stopping and smelling the roses”. It is still a challenge for me, however, I have learned that I need to slow down and take life’s journey one day at time.
