Author: On Common Ground News

In another key race, former DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond won the Democratic primary for CEO, earning 72 percent of the vote. Former DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes, who also served as a state legislator, came in second with 26 percent of the vote. Joe Bembry, a car towing business owner, placed third. Thurmond will now face Republican Jack Lovelace in the November general election. Lovelace, the lone Republican running for the CEO seat, received 7,558 votes in the primary. The winner of the CEO race will oversee a $1.3 billion annual budget and more than 6,000 county employees.

Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church recently welcomed maestro Heather Sorenson for a concert that featured her music, Antioch’s James C. Ward Chorale and the Covington/Conyers Choral Guild, Inc. The internationally-known Christian music producer who has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Constitution Center brought together the two choral groups after leading a music clinic in Covington. Under Sorenson’s direction, the groups performed as if they had been singing together every Sunday, drawing standing ovations from Antioch’s congregation. “It was an honor to get her. She’s among the top 3 or 4 pianists in the world. It was like having a…

Sherry Boston will become DeKalb County’s next District Attorney when she leaves her current job as Solicitor General and she takes the oath of office in January 2017. Boston, a Democrat, earned a whopping 62 percent of the vote, defeating her sole challenger, Democratic incumbent Robert James, during the May 24 primary elections. There were no Republicans in the race. In her bid for the county’s top prosecutor position, Boston leveraged several key endorsements, which included former DeKalb District Attorneys Bob Wilson and J. Tom Morgan, Congressman Hank Johnson and former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young. Boston championed restoring trust in…

Candidates in four Rockdale County races are headed for run-offs on July 26. Voters will be going back to the polls to cast ballots for Board of Commissioners Chair; Commissioner, Post, 1; Probate Judge; and Board of Education, Post 4. The runoffs are being held because none of the candidates in those races received over 50 percent of the vote. In the most hotly-contested race, BOC Chairman Richard Oden and Commissioner Oz Nesbitt will face one another for the county’s top position. The Chairman’s race was a nail biter with three Democratic candidates running neck and neck. Oden, however,…

Coleman-Stribling wins Solicitor-General’s race Donna Coleman-Stribling received 54 percent of the vote to become DeKalb’s next Solicitor-General. She defeated Nicole Golden, who received 46 percent of the vote in the hotly-contested race. Both have worked in  the DA’s office. Golden has served as DeKalb’s chief assistant district attorney, while Coleman-Stribling has served as deputy chief district attorney. District 4  Commissioner Barnes- Sutton in runoff  Commissioner Sharon Barnes-Sutton will face Steve Bradshaw in a runoff. Bradshaw received 5,253 votes(48.4 percent), while Barnes-Sutton received 4,712 votes (43.4 percent). Gannon re-elected Commissioner , District 6 Incumbent Kathie Gannon won re-election with 81…

Gwinnett County officials recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Lawrenceville Senior Center. The renovated center, located at 225 Benson Street in Lawrenceville, can accommodate up to 160 seniors per day. After being closed since last August, the upgraded facility now accommodates individuals with low vision, hearing impairments and mobility challenges. Improvements include ADA-accessible restrooms, an enlarged dining area, an upgraded billiards room, a new card room area, a new hearing loop system for the hearing impaired and a new multi-use room. Deputy County Administrator Phil Hoskins presided over the ceremony. Additional remarks…

Gwinnett County commissioners have approved a contract with highest-scoring firm Gilbane Building Company to build an addition to the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center and a new parking deck. The voter-approved 2009 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax(SPLOST) program is funding the bulk of the $75 million project with the remainder coming from the capital project fund. “As our population approaches 1 million people, demand on the Gwinnett County court system continues to grow. Additional courtrooms and associated facilities are needed to serve jurors, victims, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, witnesses and others who visit the courts. I am thankful to…

Sixteen Rockdale County girl scouts were honored recently at the annual Bridging and Awards Ceremony of the Diamond Girl Scout Troop 14866. The event was held at Cross Point Christian Church in Conyers and Rockdale Clerk of Courts Ruth A. Wilson was the guest speaker. Wilson encouraged the troop, comprised of girls in the 1st through 9th grades, along with their parents and leaders to continue the Girl Scout movement. “It is heartening to see these young ladies being nurtured with values like service, courage, fairness and responsibility. This is where leadership begins,” said Wilson, who also assisted the girls…

Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Richard Dunn, deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB), will transition to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) effective June 15. Lauren Curry, chief of staff for the Georgia Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency (GEMHSA), will become the deputy director of EPD. Deal will recommend Dunn and Curry to the DNR board for approval at its scheduled meeting in June. “Rick and Lauren are highly skilled and qualified for these positions at EPD,” said Deal. “They bring with them a broad range of…

DeKalb County school leaders thanked voters for continuing the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST) to raise an estimated $500 million to fund school improvement projects in the county. Voters approved the measure by 71 percent during the May 24 special election. The approval means the county will begin the sales tax extension in 2017 and collect money for the school district through 2022. DeKalb Schools Superintendent Stephen Green and school leaders held a news conference at Cross Keys High School the day after voters passed E-SPLOST to celebrate the good news. “We’re ready to move forward, aggressively…