by
AtlantaMuslim.com Staff
Oct. 15, 2018, 7:43 p.m.
On November 6, 2018, we have the opportunity here in Georgia to make tremendous changes to our local, state, and the federal government. All voters across the State will be able to vote for options for Governor and other statewide offices, Congress, State House, and Senate seats, and in some places, local county commission and school board seats.
Based on research and discussion with many of these candidates, the following is a list of vote recommendations for the Atlanta Muslim community. Use this list below to mark your candidates on your sample ballot which can be found on www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.
Statewide Candidates Every voter this year will have the opportunity to vote for these statewide candidates
Governor Stacey Abrams Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, has been an outspoken advocate for immigrants and communities of color. She has been a longtime advocate for issues important to low-income families including Medicaid expansion and more affordable access to health care, public education for all, and access to opportunities for all people regardless of immigration status.
Lieutenant Governor Sarah Riggs Amico Sarah Riggs Amico is a business owner and an Evangelical Christian. She understands the needs of business owners across Georgia, and the importance of investing in growing communities. She supports Stacey Abrams’s platform of expanding health care access, public education, and opportunity for all.
Secretary of State John Barrow John Barrow is a former United States Congressman from the 12th District. He wants to protect the right to vote, make it easier to do business and create jobs, protect seniors from financial predators, and prevent professional fraud.
Attorney General Charlie Bailey Charlie Bailey is a public servant and has previously served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. Charlie will take his experience fighting for regular people, and against crime, corruption, and consumer fraud, to the Attorney General’s office.
Commissioner of Agriculture Fred Swann Fred Swann is a Middle Georgia native and someone who understands the issues that many Georgians face. Fred hopes to work towards policies and programs that support the most vulnerable Georgia communities by protecting small family farms, end food insecurity, protect the rights of workers, and encourage diversity in farming.
Commissioner of Insurance Janice Laws Janice Laws is a veteran of the insurance industry and understands how important it is to stand up for Georgia families. Janice will advocate for caps on premium increases for health insurance rates, lower surcharges for accident and claims on car insurance rates, and ensure fair underwriting practices or homeowners.
State School Superintendent Otha Thornton Otha Thornton is a public servant who has served in the United States Army, worked with the White House, US Department of Education, and Congress. He was the first African American male President of the National Parent Teacher Association and understands the importance of investing in public education. He hopes to provide essential resources to every Georgia student in the form of wraparound services for schools that need them the most.
Commissioner of Labor Richard Keatley Richard Keatley grew up in a union family and had a strong appreciation for unions and workers rights. He taught at Georgia State University for fifteen years and is now running to make sure that Georgia is investing in people as we continue to invest in business. He plans to expand career training centers, provide opportunities for our veterans, fight workplace discrimination, support infrastructure development, and stop wage theft and misclassification.
Public Service Commissioner (Metro Atlanta - District 3) Lindy Miller Lindy Miller is a mom, a businesswoman, and a fighter. Lindy began her business career at Deloitte, where she spent over 15 years working with leaders to create jobs and address complex problems. Lindy also co-founded a renewable energy company to give more energy choices to schools, small businesses, and non-profits in Georgia. As your next Public Service Commissioner, she will fight to lower your utility bills, create better jobs, and invest in infrastructure and our future.
Public Service Commissioner (Western GA - District 5) Dawn Randolph Dawn Randolph is a public servant who has a passion for serving others. Over the past 30 years, Dawn has been assisting statewide non-profits and associations advocating for consumer protection, access to health care and open government. Dawn plans to work towards providing more reliable and safer services to Georgia families, affordable and fair utilities, and building towards a more sustainable future.
Congressional Candidates Every voter this year will have the opportunity to vote for their Congressional Representative, based on their district. To find out which district you live in, use this link. Below are the competitive races around Metro Atlanta.
United States Representative from the 6th District North Fulton, East Cobb, Dunwoody, Chamblee, Doraville area Lucy McBath Lucy McBath is a businesswoman and an activist who got involved in gun safety reform advocacy after her son was shot and killed in Florida. She will fight for reforms around gun safety, as well as healthcare, education, and immigration.
United States Representative from the 7th District Most of Gwinnett County, and parts of Forsyth County Carolyn Bourdeaux Carolyn Bourdeaux is a daughter of teachers and a professor at Georgia State University. She will fight in Congress for more affordable health care options for all people, enriching public education, and thoughtful immigration reform.
State Senate Every voter this year will have the opportunity to vote for their State Senator, based on their district. To find out which State Senate district you live in, use this link. Below are the competitive races around Metro Atlanta.
State Senator from the 6th District Senator Jen Jordan
State Senator from the 9th District Cheryle Moses
State Senator from the 21st District Nicole Nash
State Senate from the 32nd District Christine Triebsch
State Senator from the 40th District Sally Harrell
State Senator from the 45th District Jana Rodgers
State Senator from the 48th District Zahra Karinshak
State Senator from the 55th District Senator Gloria Butler
State Senator from the 56th District Ellyn Jeager
State House Every voter this year will have the opportunity to vote for their State House Representative, based on their district. To find out which State House district you live in, use this link. Below are the competitive races around Metro Atlanta.
State House Representative from the 30th District Alana Watkins
State House Representative from the 36th District Jennifer Slipakoff
State House Representative from the 37th District Mary Frances Williams
State House Representative from the 40th District Erick Allen
State House Representative from the 43rd District Luisa Wakeman
State House Representative from the 44th District Chinita Allen
State House Representative from the 45th District Essence Johnson
State House Representative from the 46th District Karin Lopez Sandiford
State House Representative from the 48th District Mary Robichaux
State House Representative from the 49th District Krishan Bralley
State House Representative from the 50th District Angelika Kausche
State House Representative from the 51st District Josh McLaurin
State House Representative from the 52nd District Shea Roberts
State House Representative from the 54th District Betsy Holland
State House Representative from the 79th District Mike Wilensky
State House Representative from the 80th District Mathew Wilson
State House Representative from the 81st District State Representative Scott Holcomb
State House Representative from the 95th District Beth Moore
State House Representative from the 97th District Aisha Yaqoob
State House Representative from the 101st District State Representative Sam Park
State House Representative from the 102nd District Gregg Kennard
State House Representative from the 104th District Andrea Stephenson
State House Representative from the 105th District Donna McLeod
State House Representative from the 106th District Write-In Emily Leslie
State House Representative from the 107th District Shelly Hutchinson
State House Representative from the 108th District Jasmine Clark
State House Representative from the 109th District Regina Lewis-Ward
Local Races in Gwinnett
Solicitor General of Gwinnett County Brian Whiteside
Gwinnett County Commission District 2 Ben Ku
Gwinnett County Commission District 4 Marlene Fosque
Gwinnett County School Board District 2 Wandy Taylor
Gwinnett County School Board District 4 Everton Blair
Proposed Constitutional Amendments Note: if you feel uncomfortable or unsure voting on any of the amendments below, it is always recommended that you vote “No”. The below are recommendations based on advice from experts and trusted community organizations.
1. Creates the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and parks. Vote YES! This will support environmental conservation efforts.
2. Creates a state-wide business court to lower costs, enhance efficiency, and promote predictable judicial outcomes. Vote NO! These judges would not be elected by the people and could lead to corruption and abuse.
3. Encourages the conservation, sustainability, and longevity of Georgia’s working forests through tax subclassification and grants. Vote YES! This will preserve our forests and save trees.
4. Provides rights for victims of crime in the judicial process. Vote NO! Much of this can be accomplished without the constitutional amendment, and it would affect due process rights of the accused.
5. Authorizes fair allocation of sales tax proceeds to county and city school districts. Vote YES! This would allow local city and county school districts to call for an E-SPLOST tax to fund education in the city or county.
Proposed Statewide Referenda 1. Provides for a homestead exemption for residents of certain municipal corporations. Vote NO! This will allow the state government to control a municipality's ability to tax without adjusting the tax digest.
2. Provides a tax exemption for certain homes for the mentally disabled. Vote YES! This will allow tax exemption for non-profit homes for people with developmental disabilities, as well as allow for tax exemption for companies that construct or finance these homes.
Free Weekly Emails
Sponsored by:
