Author: On Common Ground News

  Oz Nesbitt won the seat for Rockdale County Chairman, defeating write-in challenger Courtney Dillard, in a long, hard-fought campaign. Nesbitt received 92.23 percent of the vote, while Dillard received 7.62 percent, according to unofficial returns. Although Nesbitt had defeated incumbent Richard Oden in the three-way primary in May, his campaign was stretched out an additional five months after Dillard first tried to challenge him as an Independent then as a write-in candidate. Dillard sought to run as a write-in candidate after elections officials notified him hat he did not receive enough valid signatures on petition to run as an…

Rockdale County voters elected two African American “firsts” on election night, both Democrats with the surname Washington, although the two women are unrelated. Tisa Smart Washington, who ran unopposed, was elected as Rockdale’s first African American female tax commissioner. Attorney Sherri Len Washington was elected the first African American female to serve on the Rockdale Board of Commissioners, defeating Republican candidate T. Chastain, Jr. with 61.23 percent of the vote for the Post 1 seat. The attorney is president-elect of the New Rock Legal Society and serves as a co-membership…

Tonya P. Anderson regained the State Senate District 43 seat, declaring a victory for Democrats on election night. Anderson defeated Republican JaNice VanNess, capturing 70.42 percent of the vote, to win back the district, which includes parts of DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton counties. VanNess was first elected to the seat in December 2015 in a special election in which she defeated Anderson. The seat had become vacant following the July 25, 2015 resignation of Ronald Ramsey, a Democrat who was appointed as a judge on the DeKalb County traffic court. In the Nov. 8 election, Anderson led all three counties…

Democrat Vernon Jones is the new State Representative for the House District 91 seat. The former DeKalb County CEO will represent constituents in parts of DeKalb and Rockdale counties in his new assignment. Jones cruised to victory on election night, earning 72.25 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Carl Anuszczyk, according to early returns. Jones served as DeKalb’s CEO from 2001 to 2008 and in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2000. He was a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Insurance Committee, the Health and Ecology Committee, Banking Committee, and a special Judiciary Committee. Jones also…

Lithonia Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson overwhelmingly defeated Republican opponent Victor Armendariz on election night, winning a sixth-term as the representative of the Fourth District. Johnson received 75.69 percent of the vote (the second-highest among peers who had opponents), while Armendariz received 24.31 percent. Only Atlanta Democratic Congressman John Lewis, who represents the Fifth District, earned a higher percentage of the vote among Congressional candidates who had no opposition. Lewis, who was first elected in 1986 and is the lonest-serving member of the Georgia delegation, won a 16th term with 84.41 percent of the vote. Johnson’s victory was bittersweet. “While I’m…

Democratic candidates Gregory Adams and Randal Mangham are headed for a run-off on Dec. 6 in the special election to fill the vacant DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Super District 7 seat. Adams received 26.01 percent of the vote, while Mangham received 16.27 percent, according to unofficial election results. Since neither received more than 50 percent of the vote, the runoff will be held. The winner will represent 350,000 residents in the eastern half of DeKalb. The Super District covers Lithonia, Stone Mountain, Pine Lake, Tucker, Doraville and incorporated areas. The seat became open after Commissioner Stan Watson resigned in…

  ATLANTA Macy’s Lenox Square celebrates 69th annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony Get ready to ring in the holiday season at Macy’s 69th annual Great Tree Lighting ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m., 3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. Join soul star Aloe Blacc, country artist Craig Campbell, and the multi-talented Michelle Williams with hosts Jovita Moore and Zach Klein and the Macy’s All-Star Choir as they light the Great Tree in style. Macy’s Great Tree Lighting Show includes live music at 6:30 p.m., the rooftop tree lighting at 7 p.m., a visit from Santa, and a fireworks show. The…

ATLANTA—Georgia set an all-time record in votes cast in the Nov. 8 elections with a 76 percent turnout. With more than 4 million votes cast, Georgia surpassed its 2008 record of 3.9 million votes. In DeKalb County, 71.94 percent (302,036) of its 419,871 registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election. The turnout in Rockdale County, where there are 50,003 registered voters, was 76.32 percent or 38,161 ballots cast, unofficial results show. Secretary of State Brian Kemp said the momentum in Georgia has building since the Presidential Preference Primary was held on March 1 and 2,055,617 ballots were counted statewide.…

An amendment to Georgia’s constitution that would have empowered the state to take over so-called “failing” schools was rejected by a wide margin on election night. Unofficial results show that 60 percent of voters statewide voted down the measure with 64 percent saying no in DeKalb County. DeKalb, one of the state’s largest districts, was cited as having 28 failing schools on the governor’s list—more than any school system in Georgia. Failing schools were defined by the governor as those that have scored below 60 on the state’s College and Career Performance Index for three consecutive years. CCRPI scores are…

A three- mile stretch of the South River Trail soon will be named the Michelle Obama Walking Trail, an effort led by DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson. The Board of Commissioners recently passed a resolution to rename the stretch from Constitution Road to the Georgia State University–Perimeter College. Johnson says he is excited to spotlight the walking trail that connects the new Barack Obama Magnet School of Technology to the walking trail in Gresham Park. “I am thrilled to acknowledge First Lady Michelle Obama’s work with childhood obesity, healthy eating, and making exercise a part of everyone’s daily life,” said…