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STONECREST—The 20 candidates running for elections in the newly-created city of Stonecrest will square off in debates at their first political forum on Feb. 11. The forum will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road.
State Rep. Vernon Jones, who is co-sponsoring the political forum with On Common Ground News, will introduce the candidates. Three candidates are running for mayor and 17 are seeking one of five City Council seats. Jones, who will serve as moderator, will be joined by State Representatives Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) and Pam Stephenson (D-Decatur).
“I am honored to be the moderator of this political forum,” said Jones. “Since Stonecrest cityhood won at the ballot box in November, folks in southeast DeKalb have been curious about who would step up as their next municipal leaders. I believe it’s prudent to bring the candidates together with their future constituents and allow them to address our issues and express their vision for the future of Stonecrest.”
Legislation allowing a referendum vote to decide Stonecrest’s existence was approved by the General Assembly last year and approved by voters in November.
The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections has scheduled a hearing on Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m., to determine if Mary-Pat Hector will be allowed to run for the Stonecrest City Council, Post 4 seat. One of the candidates in that race, George Turner, Jr., is challenging Hector ‘s qualifications—her age—to hold office. Hector is 19. The board must determine if Hector must be 21 to serve.
Advance voting for the Stonecrest elections will be held Feb. 27-March 17 at DeKalb County’s main voting precinct, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Election Day is March 21 and voters may go to their assigned precincts on that day.