Local News
Local News

Three DeKalb school board races take shape for May 24 ballot

Four candidates seek seat Orson is leaving; two incumbents face challengers
Voters will decide the outcome of three DeKalb County Board of Education races in this year's elections.

Credit: WSB-TV

Credit: WSB-TV

Voters will decide the outcome of three DeKalb County Board of Education races in this year's elections.
By
March 16, 2022

The DeKalb County Board of Education will have at least one new member this year, after longtime board member Marshall Orson announced a bid for the county commission.

Two other board seats — currently filled by Diijon DaCosta and Allyson Gevertz — are contested.

The candidates for Orson’s District 2 seat, representing parts of northwest DeKalb, are Steven Bowden, Wendy Hamilton, Whitney McGinniss and Candice McKinley.

ExploreMore news about DeKalb schools

Gevertz in District 4 represents the northeastern portion of the county. She is challenged by Bonnie Chappell.

DaCosta is currently the vice chair of the board and represents District 6, in the eastern part of the county. His challengers are Janet Hughes and Venola Mason.

Residents will cast their votes in the primary election on May 24. Runoff elections will be June 21.

DeKalb school board races are nonpartisan. Residents can vote only for the representative in their district.

About the Author

Cassidy Alexander covers Georgia education issues for the AJC. She previously covered education for The Daytona Beach News-Journal, and was named Florida's Outstanding New Journalist of the Year.

Follow Cassidy Alexander on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

DeKalb County firefighter Preston Fant, 53, died while battling a commercial structure fire Sep. 8, officials said. (DeKalb County Fire Department)

Credit: DeKalb County Fire Department

Funeral to be held at Truist Park for fallen DeKalb firefighter

Cobb high school student stabbed to death by classmate, officials say

BREAKING

Arrest made in theft of unreleased Beyoncé music during Atlanta tour stop

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Fani Willis loses last chance to stay at the helm of Trump Georgia election interference case

Georgia's top court declines to hear Fani Willis appeal in Trump case, meaning she can no longer pursue the election interference case.

Investigator: Ex-APD officer raped woman on duty, returned when she called 911

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Todd Ashley ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed against former officer Muhammad Muhammad.

Cobb County agency green lights tax break for Home Depot’s $140M project

The Development Authority of Cobb County voted 6-0 to give initial approval for Home Depot's request Tuesday but didn't disclose the property tax savings the company sought.