The eight candidates facing off in a fierce race to represent half of DeKalb County have a few goals in common: They all pledge to clean up government corruption, improve public safety and promote business growth.
They're campaigning for a superdistrict seat on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners that covers eastern parts of the county and includes about 350,000 residents in Doraville, Tucker, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Pine Lake and unincorporated areas.
The winner will fill the vacancy created when former Commissioner Stan Watson resigned to make an unsuccessful run for county tax commissioner. The special election will be held Nov. 8 to fill the remaining two years of Watson's four-year term.
With so many candidates, a runoff between the top two is likely because it will be difficult to win an outright majority. A runoff election would be held Dec. 6.
About the candidates
Name: Greg Adams
Info: Emory University police officer, youth mentor
Website: adams4district7.com
“I arrest people that violate the law. I’m firm as it relates to being ethical and bringing transparency,” Adams said at a Thursday candidate forum at St. Timothy United Methodist Church hosted by Pride Rings in Stone Mountain. “We (can) do in-house policing to make sure that we’re actually governing your money and making sure we’re moving forward.”
Name: Diane Adoma
Info: H&R Block franchise owner
Website: dianefordekalb.com
“You need to elect a commissioner who has a track record of working with all types of people in DeKalb County,” Adoma said at the forum. “When we have conflicts and differences, I don’t have to like you to work with you.”
Name: George Chidi
Info: Social impact director for Central Atlanta Progress, former Pine Lake councilman, journalist
Website: weneedchidi.com
“Transparency is what starts the healing. You start with a comprehensive audit,” Chidi said. “None of the economic development that we want to get done gets done until our corruption issues are taken care of.”
Name: Faye Coffield
Info: Private investigator, former police sergeant
Website: faye4district7.com
“One of the main things I ask for is a forensic audit of the county,” Coffield said. “We need to have that before we can talk about anything. … I will be independent, and you don’t have to worry about me.”
Name: Randal Mangham
Info: Attorney, former Georgia legislator
Website: manghamfordekalb.com
“When I first came to DeKalb County, it was a beacon. It was a light. It was an example,” Mangham said. “Now is not the time to practice on unproven leadership, on-the-job training. … We need to do something about DeKalb County.”
Name: Ed Patton
Info: Real estate agent
Website: edfordekalb.com
“There is a shortage of police officers in DeKalb,” Patton said. “We need to treat them well, make their compensation competitive, as well as keep increasing the police officers we do have.”
Name: Rita Robinzine
Info: Social studies teacher at Druid Hills High
Website: ritarobinzine.com
“Everyone wants to have paved roads. Everyone wants to have economic development and viable businesses in their communities. Everyone wants to sleep well at night,” Robinzine said. “When we find those commonalities, we can work together.”
Name: John Tolbert
Info: Account manager for General Motors
Website: tolbert4dekalb.com
“With the shortage of police officers, I talk about getting drones up in the air,” Tolbert said. “It gets a beat on what’s going on before an officer gets there. We’ve got to implement something new.”
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