DeKalb District 5 Questionnaires: Adams, Edmondson
(APN) ATLANTA — In Atlanta Progressive News’s continuing coverage of the DeKalb County District 5 Special Election on June 16, 2015, this article presents the questionnaire responses by candidates Gregory Adams and Jerome Edmondson.
Candidate responses by George Turner were published here:
Candidates Harmel Codi, Vaughn Irons, Gina Mangham, Kathryn Rice, and Kenneth Saunders, III, were emailed the questionnaire, but have not provided responses to date; responses were due June 02, 2015.
Candidates Gwen Green and Mereda Davis Johnson did not respond to voice messages requesting their email address, in order to send the questionnaire.
Gregory Adams is a minister, former police officer with DeKalb County Police Department, former member of the Army, and former candidate for DeKalb CEO and DeKalb District 7.
Jerome Edmondson is a small business owner and former military police officer.
WHAT REFORMS ARE NEEDED, IF ANY, IN THE DEKALB CEO’S POWER?
ADAMS: The changes or reforms that need to take place in DeKalb is simply the fact that we need to do some house cleaning as it relates to some the elected officials. But when it comes to the power that the CEO has, in 2008 State Legislation relieved the CEO of major executive power and shifted the control of the board to the presiding commissioner.
EDMONDSON: I support the general assembly appointing a task force of citizens to see if we should change our form of government. However, it does not matter what type of government you have, if the individuals that serve in elective office are not honest, transparent and accountable to the citizens, you will problems with any form of government.
DO YOU SUPPORT HAVING A FULL-TIME COUNTY MANAGER HIRED BY THE COMMISSION, AND A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE POWER OF THE CEO?
ADAMS: DeKalb County already has a full time county manager called “CEO” The problem that can or will take place is if we remove this present form of government and convert to that of a county manager. Is the person that is hired to facilitate in that position, will be working under the authority of the commissioners and instead of addressing the issues or the business at hand for the citizens they will focus on pleasing the BOC as not to ruffle the feathers of the commissioner and lose their job.
EDMONDSON: See answer above.
WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE, IF ANY, TO REFORM ETHICS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL?
ADAMS: As a commissioner, I plan to rebuild the confidence of the citizen of whom I’ll be working for by being transparent and accountability for my actions. I will not only be accountable for my doings but I will also hold the other commissioners accountable. I plan to always keeping the community informed on things that will be happening in the county, especially in the district in which I will be elected to serve.
EDMONDSON: First, we must implement recommendations for the County’s efficiency study that was just completed by an outside consultant. Additionally, I strongly favor the hiring of an Independent Auditor for DeKalb County Government. An Independent Auditor will assist by ensuring that our local government is transparent and cost-effective. It will promote appropriate ethical behavior for government employees and all elected officials to ensure accountability and improve performance.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ATLANTA NORTH DRUID HILLS ANNEXATION?
ADAMS: As a commissioner, I plan to rebuild the confidence of the citizen of whom I’ll be working for by being transparent and accountability for my actions. I will not only be accountable for my doings but I will also hold the other commissioners accountable. I plan to always keeping the community informed on things that will be happening in the county, especially in the district in which I will be elected to serve.
EDMONDSON: As it stands today I am opposed to the City of Atlanta annexing the Druid Hills community. There has been no analysis or consideration is being given to the disruption this annexation will cause DeKalb County public schools and Government. We already know from preliminary numbers, residents in the Druid Hills Community will see an increase in taxes, water bills and sanitation fees.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON LAVISTA HILLS CITYHOOD EFFORT?
ADAMS: I have fought against cityhood, and will continue to do so, because it is known, a house divided against its self cannot stand. I hear the cries of the people, they are all saying they love DeKalb, but are constantly trying to tear it apart piece by piece. And Why?! They say the leaders are not addressing our issues, they are corrupt, we have pot holes in the road and it hasn’t been paved in years. And other complaints such as the grass on the sidewalk and how it’s growing wild. I say this, “hold the powerful accountable.” And if we don’t fight to hold on to what we currently have, then I’m afraid that the county we call DeKalb will be called, “The Place formally known as DeKalb” (This comment can be applied to all as it relates to cityhood).
EDMONDSON: See Answer below.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CITY OF STONECREST PROPOSAL
ADAMS: (See Above).
EDMONDSON: See Answer below.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CITY OF GREENHAVEN PROPOSAL?
ADAMS: (See Above).
EDMONDSON: See Answer below.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN GENERAL ON THE INCREASE MOVEMENT TOWARDS MUNICIPALIZATION IN DEKALB COUNTY?
ADAMS: First one would need to understand what Municipalization is. It is nothing but the forming of a new type of government. It is defined as an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government or jurisdiction. The term municipality is also used to mean the governing, ruling body of a municipality (Cityhood). Let’s work with what we have and together we can change the mindset of the people that want to establish a new form of government. And that starts at the polls, so when we get qualified individuals in office that have the best interest of the people at heart and not their own agenda. Then I’m sure we all will be proud to call DeKalb County home.
EDMONDSON: I support the right of citizens to create their own cities. As long as it is equitable to the citizens that live outside those borders. Moreover, I am against the current process that allow new cities to be created. The current process allows for cities to cherry pick the most valuable property (i.e. commercial) to make their cities feasible and leave unincorporated DeKalb with largely residential properties. As it stands, the new proposed cities of Tucker and LaVista Hills will shift approximately $13 million of operating costs annually onto unincorporated residents, and that is simply not fair to them and we need to find a way to mitigate the impact on unincorporated DeKalb County residents.
SOME DEKALB ACTIVISTS WERE DISPLEASED WITH THE DECISION TO APPROVE A WALMART AT SUBURBAN PLAZA (MEDLOCK ROAD AND N. DECATUR ROAD). LOCAL CONTROL OF ZONING HAS BEEN A KEY REASON PEOPLE HAVE WANTED TO FORM CITIES. ARE THERE CHANGES THAT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE ZONING PROCESS, SUCH AS TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNITY INPUT AND/OR CONTROL?
ADAMS: I honestly feel that the input of the community as a whole should be heard, and all the parties that have an invested interest in the development of such said area or community should come to the negotiating table to address, question or voice their complain [sic] or interest. We as a whole want to see our county grow and bring about economic stability as well as infrastructure. So negotiations are very important and I believe they should continue until all parties are satisfied especially those that live in those affected areas. Zoning itself should be looked into very closely to make sure that a business or such projects meets all the requirements necessary to construct anything as stated within the bylaws or Ordinances.
EDMONDSON: There are ways we can strengthen the current community council process that makes the community council smaller in order to respond to the specific issues in the community. Currently, the community council is too large you have citizens living in Lithonia making decisions for zonings in Decatur. By having it smaller, communities are responding to zonings that directly affect their community.
(END/2015)