WHAT SONYA WILL FIGHT FOR AS FULTON COUNTY CHAIRMAN

  One of the top priorities of everyone right now is public safety. Fulton County must collaborate with our neighboring police and fire departments now more than ever to provide mutual aid and support. There should never be a squabble over which jurisdiction should respond to a person calling for help. Safe streets and a criminal justice system that rehabilitates, not just punishes, makes for a better quality of life. We need a new jail, that both incarcerates and rehabilitates to reduce the revolving door and the recidivism rate at our jail. Unlike my opponent, I have a demonstrated track record in law enforcement and criminal justice. 

Now, that’s a Fresh Start!

  Fulton County has led the way in ensuring our seniors “live” before they die. We must continue to fund programs and services at the same or higher levels. As Fulton County’s first woman-Democrat Chairman, Sonya will make it priority one that we build a state-of-the-art Senior Multipurpose Facility in South Fulton County and that we restore senior services that have been cut over the years. Seniors should not be forced out of their homes because of gentrification, and they should never have to choose between food or medicine. We can do better because they deserve better. Under the current chairman, services for seniors have suffered and remain at risk. Sonya will change that and that's a Fresh Start for our seniors!

  When you peruse the 2022 Fulton County Budget and search for the word “youth” it only comes up separately just three times, out of more than 100 pages. The word is more often than not tied to corrective services, like juvenile crime and the courts. As Fulton County Chairman, Sonya will redirect our focus when it comes to youth. It’s been proven time, and time again that an investment now on the frontside of life cost much less than locking them up on the downside. While her opponent has languished in office the past decade, he has overseen the near elimination of services to our youth. Sonya will restore our commitment to our children and youth: summer jobs, internships and more youth activities. Now, that's a Fresh Start for our kids!

 Every Fulton homeowner deserves to be treated fairly and with respect when it’s time to assess their property and apply their property tax. Under Sonya’s opponent’s watch, as he has languished in office for decades, the assessment system has been a mess, unfair and sorely underperforming. Sonya will institute the most rigorous, best designed analysis and tracking system to ensure assessment departments operate efficiently—and FAIRLY. It’s one thing to reduce the millage rate, but what good is that if you unfairly increase the homeowners property-tax assessment? As Fulton County’s first woman-Democrat Chairman, Sonya will initiate change on day one. Now that’s a Fresh Start for every taxpayer in Fulton County! 

 Instead of kicking the homeless to the curb; we need to roll up our sleeves and fight to end homelessness. Each day about 4,000 homeless people are scattered throughout Fulton County. At least 800 go unsheltered; living under bridges; wrapped in blankets, tucked in corners or in abandoned buildings. As Fulton County’s first woman-Democrat Chairman, Sonya will lead the way in eradicating homelessness, through cooperation and collaboration. Unlike her opponent who has languished in office for decades, Sonya will join forces with our neighbors in Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties as well as the City of Atlanta to find the best model to ensure there are proper safety nets, treatment options and affordable housing. That will be a Fresh Start for Fulton! 

 Unlike her opponent, who during his tenure in office has watched corruption happen before his own eyes, as Fulton County Chairman, Sonya will not remain silent when wrongdoing occurs. Sonya is committed to reviewing all rules and regulations to ensure they are up-to-date and there are no loopholes. We must end the crisis of corruption in our local governments. No more backroom deals. No more pay to play. And unlike her opponent, who has languished in office for decades, Sonya will not cut people off the microphone during public comment as her opponent does every Commission meeting. Now, that is a Fresh Start we need! 

Free and Fair Elections should not just be something we think about in the past. As Fulton County’s first woman-Democrat Chairman, Sonya will do more than just “talk” about fighting for equal access to the ballot. Unlike her opponent, who only began to speak about SB202 after it became law, Sonya will be on the front-end of voter-rights’ battles. She joins Stacey Abrams and others who are fighting to make sure voters don’t have to stand in long lines on Election Day. That’s a Fresh Start we need and NOW.