Georgia Equality congratulates all of
our endorsed candidates for their tremendous campaign
efforts leading up to yesterday's election. We also
thank all the volunteers who worked so tirelessly with
their campaigns.
Please remember that
there are candidates who are in the runoff election on
December 1st, and now is the time to dig in and help them cross
the finish line - a handfull of votes will make the
difference in the runoff!
In total, 53% of Georgia Equality’s
endorsed candidates either won their races, or are in the runoff
on December 1st.
Although we did not win all of the races in which we had pro-equality candidates, Georgia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens and our allies should be very proud of our collective efforts and victories this election cycle.
Yours in Equality,
Melinda
Morgan
Operations Director
Georgia
Equality
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ELECTION RESULTS |
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Please Come Out & Vote in the December 1st Runoff Election! |
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Please help Simone in the homestretch to Victory - she needs you! TO MAKE A DONATION TO SIMONE'S CAMPAIGN PLEASE VISIT: http://www.simonebell.com/contribute/index.cfm?Fuseaction=contribute§ion=contribute TO
MAKE A DONATION TO SIMONE'S CAMPAIGN THROUGH GEORGIA EQUALITY
VISIT: |
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Bell is running for the recently vacated District 58 seat that serves portions of incorporated east-central Atlanta in both Fulton and DeKalb counties, plus adjacent portions of unincorporated DeKalb County. Bell, a native of Detroit, has been a resident of Atlanta for 20 years and of District 58 for 10 years. She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and has spent the majority of her working life as a community organizer with local non-profit organizations. Bell has worked as an activist and advocate in Atlanta and across the South for more than 20 years. “During that time I’ve worked on a broad range of policy and legislative issues. I’m passionate about taking overwhelming and complex information and making it accessible to the people whom it will affect most, that they might make informed choices about their everyday lives,” said Simone. “I believe in the voice of the people.” Bell said her education and work in
health care, and her experience advocating for women’s
health, African American and LGBT rights at ZAMI, the Atlanta
Lesbian Health Initiative and Lambda Legal have given her the
tools and perspective to advocate on behalf of the residents of
District 58. Bell will be the first openly gay
African-American woman State Representative in the United
States. |
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Borders, the current City Council
President, stands out among a group of highly-qualified mayoral
candidates running this year. The Georgia Equality Board of
Directors found Borders to be the candidate with the best
fluency and understanding of the issues important to LGBT
Atlantans, as well as the candidate best-equipped to govern a
city in need of a decisive leader with keen insight into public
safety and municipal management. |
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Mitchell is a current City Councilman At-Large, who once held the position of City Council President when the post was vacant for a short time. Mitchell has long worked to cultivate a strong relationship with LGBT Atlantans, attending various non-profit and civic engagements devoted to civil rights. Ceasar Mitchell is strongly committed to protecting existing domestic-partner benefits for Atlanta city employees, while also working proactively to urge the state Legislature to pass anti-bullying legislation. Mitchell also recognized that the city has room for improvement in how it supports transgender Atlantans through municipal policies, a topic on which Georgia Equality would like to see the entire city government focus more intensely in coming years. In his time on the City Council,
Councilmember Mitchell has successfully advocated for safer
communities through specific initiatives such as police foot
patrols, and has championed community development efforts by
passing legislation to bring revitalization to long-ignored
commercial corridors in our city.
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Adam Brackman is tired of watching his city deteriorate around him – he’s ready to fix things himself by seeking a seat on the Atlanta City Council. Troubled by increases in crime, decreases in city services, and by residents losing their homes, Adam plans to use his experience in business and community service to help revitalize Atlanta. “As a community activist across the city in issues ranging from public safety to efficient government services, I believe I can use my experience in community service and my own work experience to help transform Atlanta back to its rightful place as the capital of the New South,” he said. While Adam has worked for his community in a variety of ways, he has primarily worked in the issues of public safety and efficient government service delivery. After graduating from Atlanta Citizen’s Police Academy in 2008, he received the 2009 Outstanding Citizens’ CourtWatcher award for his participation in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Citizens’ CourtWatch program. He’s also worked with with AID Atlanta, CHIRS Kids, Hands on Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services and the Georgia Council on Child Abuse. Adam’s professional experience will enable him to run Atlanta efficiently. He’s worked in both finance and human resources, with companies such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Northern Trust Retirement Consulting and First Data Corp. He currently works as an executive for IBM. In addition, Adam has actively fought
for LGBT recognition in the workplace. He is an active
participant in IBM’s EAGLE (Employee Alliance for GLBT
Empowerment at IBM) diversity network group, and also spent two
years on the National Advisory Board of Out & Equal
Workplace Advocates, a non-profit advocacy group that works to
make the workplace safe for GLBT employees.
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Amir Farokhi believes that Atlanta will flourish only if every one of its residents are treated equally. Atlanta’s LGBT community, one of the largest in the nation, contributes to every facet of Atlanta’s success. City Hall must work to protect and promote equality in Atlanta so that Atlanta leads the call for equality in Georgia. Amir Farokhi will:
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Shelitha went on to become an assitant city attorney where she was responsible for drafting laws and resolutions for the city, advising city officials in matters that directly affect citizens and city government, litigating civil and administrative matters in Georgia's State and Appellate Courts. She is a Grady baby educated in the Atlanta School System, (Price High) the mother of two, Latessa Renee and Sabrina Renee and an active member of the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church where she serves in the Trustee Ministry. "I am committed to doing the work to
make Atlanta work for ALL Atlantans. Whether the issue is public
safety, fiscal responsibility, or ethics and accountability in
government, I will work every day to find solutions that benefit
the entire city, without regard to the sexual orientation of any
residents. Through my years of service as an Assistant City
Attorney, Assistant Public Defender, and private practice
attorney, I have been committed to defending the civil rights of
all Atlantans." ~ Shelitha
Robertson |
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Born in Valley, Alabama,
Sheperd’s parents moved the family to Atlanta in 1961 in
search of a better life, more opportunity and a brighter future.
Sheperd attended E.C. Clement Elementary School, Central Jr.
High School and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School
in 1970.After graduation, Sheperd took a job at Zales, where she
had her first taste of civil participation by protesting the
company’s discriminatory practices.
While the experience with Zales pushed Sheperd to speak out against injustice, Sheperd answered the civil call of action when she relocated to District 12 in 1978. Sheperd purchased her home on Metropolitan Parkway (formerly Stewart Avenue) with her daughter Maisha, and immediately became involved with the Atlanta Public School System and the PTA. She also noticed the ills that plagued her neighborhood and vowed to do whatever she could to bring about change in her own community. |
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Rosemarie on why she is now running for Mayor of Clarkston: "I am running for Mayor, because I see Clarkston as a jewel of a town w\limitless potential that has yet to be unearthed and polished. As a resident of this city, what happens within it affects me as well as you. I wholly support our law enforcement, public works and administrative staff. I would like to complete our infrastructure projects, see more community and business involvement, and transparency in government. I want to see a healthier Clarkston with a stronger economic and social climate."
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The public has taken notice of Kyle’s accomplishments. As an attorney for The Bloom Law Firm, Kyle has been recognized three times as a Georgia “Rising Star” in Litigation, Land Use and Zoning by Georgia “Super Lawyer” and Atlanta Magazine. Southern Voice named him one of the top 20 young gay leaders in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Kyle hopes to modernize Decatur and bring innovation to the
City Commission. However, his reason he seeks this seat is
because of his devotion to his fellow community members. For
example, on one humid summer night, Kyle met Mayor Emeriti
Elizabeth Wilson because of his concern for the senior citizens
in his neighborhood who had no air conditioning. Working with
friends, neighbors, and the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association,
Mayor Wilson (who now supports Kyle’s campaign) helped him
distribute dozens of new fans to those in South Decatur most in
need.
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Since his election, he has worked with Georgia Equality and Lambda Legal to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s non-discrimination policy. “Doraville has a large LGBT population in the city and we want to be representative of our diverse groups. We also want to attract the very best employees,” he told the Southern Voice. Brian is a former board member of Georgia Equality and serves
on the advisory board of the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans. In
addition to his work for the LGBT community, Brian facilitated
the revision of Doraville’s zoning ordinances, planned
Doraville’s first city-wide event and established a new
LEED ordinance that makes Doraville one of the first certified
environmentally sustainable towns in
Georgia. Brian’s work on the city council has established him as
a capable leader who is comfortable being honest with his
community. Help him win another term on the Doraville City
Council. |
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Throughout his career, Eric has worked
as an assistant solicitor in Dekalb County, assistant district
attorney in Newton County and an associate city attorney for the
city of Atlanta. During his time as associate city attorney he
defended the city and its employees from a civil suit brought by
anti-abortion protesters who blocked access to the Feminist
Women’s Health Center and harassed its patrons. Currently,
he serves as a mayoral appointee to the city’s Ethics
Review Board. He is a former member of the city’s Ethics
Review Taskforce and a member of the Jefferson Park Neighborhood
association. Eric boasts an impressive resume, including two undergraduate degrees from Emory University, a master’s degree from the University of New York at Stony Brook and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Eric has already amassed a strong coalition of support, including sitting city councilmembers Earnestine Pittman and Lance Rhodes, who is openly gay. |
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Joe Macon -
**RUNOFF** Mayor Joseph L. Macon is
employed with the Fortune 500 insurance firm, Allstate Insurance
Company. He attended Auburn University and Morehouse College,
majoring in Political Science. Joseph L. Macon served three
terms as an East Point Planning & Zoning Commissioner,
completing his service as a member of this Commission upon his
election as Mayor. During his tenure as a member of this
Commission, he was a very outspoken advocate for citizen and
property owner’s rights. He also encourages the City of
East Point developing a diverse economic base through investment
by business, industrial and commercial interests. Mayor Joseph L.
Macon’s leadership style is to build coalitions with the
City’s residents and business owners. He works closely
with each member of East Point’s City Council, and East
Point’s City Manager, to collectively build a vision of
excellence for the City of East Point. He is a strong believer
in setting goals that identify the direction for the City. Mayor
Macon is a champion for public safety, economic development and
quality education. Joseph Macon understands that leadership
involves more than just appearing at a meeting, it involves new
ideas being brought forth; setting and implementing goals; and
then, actually achieving them. Mayor Joseph L. Macon is truly committed to the City of East Point. Throughout the years, he has been a very active and dedicated civic and community volunteer. The Mayor and his family, East Point homeowners for the past eleven years, have a vested interest in the City’s future. He and his wife, Jennifer, are loving and supportive parents to their two sons, and volunteer often with their sons’ public school. |
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* Fiscal responsibility,
accountability, and transparency I will work to build consensus with the Mayor and other council members to set progressive, efficient and productive policies to address these needs. I will use my business, professional and personal experiences, so that together we accomplish these goals. I will do my very best to provide oversight while being careful not to micro-manage. Together, we can make a difference and move East Point forward." Kenneth
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My interests are all locally based: accountability of our local employees and officials, education of our children, land use that is both sustainable and economically responsible, and helping to ensure that being born into a disadvantaged group or family does not define you for the rest of your life. I was raised in a very
progressive-minded family (including a lesbian mother), and have
found the same open-minded environment here in Pine Lake. LGBT
families aren’t any different from the heterosexual
families in town, and I treasure that about Pine Lake. As the
non-LGBT voters should, LGBT voters should support my candidacy
because my legal training and history of community activism make
me unique among the current candidates, and I will use my
training to make this an even better place to live for all
citizens of Pine Lake." |
