Editor’s note: Decaturish and the Tucker Observer have published an Elections Guide, a 76-page e-edition featuring Q&As with nearly every candidate running in our communities. To see it, click here. This special e-edition features candidates running for public office in Decatur, Avondale Estates, Atlanta City Council District 5, Clarkston Tucker and Stone Mountain.  There is a PDF version of this, which you can see by clicking here, but due to the format of this e-edition, we strongly encourage you to use the e-reader version.

The Tucker Observer provided each candidate in our local races with a series of questions about local issues. Here are the answers of candidate Christine Bloodworth, who is running for District 1, Post 2 on the Tucker City Council. The answers have not been edited. 

1) Why are you running for this office?

Because I have witnessed the unmet needs of the community for years. Our current administration does very little to assist, as we have “NO ISSUES IN TUCKER”

2) What makes you a better candidate than your opponents?

Civic engagement:  I’m not just talking about it, I’m out there providing solutions and helping meet the needs.

3) If elected, what are your top two or three priorities?

A shelter and resources for our homeless, and support &resources for small businesses because we are losing them at an alarming rate.

4) In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing the city of Tucker?

Evictions, lack of affordable housing and our homeless.

5) What is your opinion of Tucker’s current mayor and who will you be voting for in the mayoral election?

Well, as an executive director for a nonprofit, I’m not allowed to endorse any political party or candidate, however, I will state that the circle of the current administration has BOXED them in.  Tucker is crying out for change as we are a progressive city.  The mere fact that we have thirteen candidates running for office, demonstrates the request for change.

6) What is your opinion of Tucker’s current city manager?

Well, public servants are only good to have if they serve the public.

7) What is your current opinion of the DeKalb County Police Department and are there any changes you would advocate for if you are elected?

We need better public relations with the DCPD.  We also need a stronger department in Tucker and Dekalb as we are operating at low rate.

8) Tucker residents, all involved in boards or committees in city government, drafted a non-discrimination ordinance. Many of the cities surrounding Tucker have an NDO, yet Tucker City Council has not brought it for a discussion. What is your position on the non-discrimination ordinance?

I support the NDO, always have.  There is no tolerance for discrimination.

9) Racial justice and diversity have been points of conversation over the last year. What will you do to promote racial justice and diversity in the city of Tucker?  

Support cultural diversity and request that city staff and leaders participate in systemic racism training.  Also, promote more events that encourage diversity. We fought like hell to host the “Tucker Walk for Justice” and the current admin did NOTHING TO ASSIST.  Did everything they could to prevent it. Damn shame.

10) What do you think of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and what steps do you think the city should take to help reduce the spread of the virus?

In the beginning little was done, but then masks and mandate helped.  There was little distribution of resources and public health information, and events were minimal.  I hosted a Health Fair last year in the middle of the pandemic, which the City of Tucker didn’t not offer to, nor support.  Would’ve been a great opportunity for the city to educate the public and work with the DeKalb Board of Health to promote COVID testing and education.

11) Residents frequently complain about roads and drainage. As of now, most of the responsibility lies with DeKalb. How would you work with the county to improve these services?

Should Tucker start the process of taking over roads and drainage?  Dekalb County Water and Sewer has always been an issue.  The City of Tucker has received a great deal of funding with SPLOST and other relief and needs to support some of roads and drainage.  The city is applying funding in areas not priority, parks and recreations, landscaping at pool and locker rooms.

12) Parks and Rec is working to turn Fitzgerald Field into an arena that will attract sports tournaments and outdoor events. How will this go over in Tucker?Does the city have enough infrastructure, like sidewalks, to support a sports complex?

No, it does not.  The surrounding neighborhoods are against it, the parking is inadequate, and access is a problem for the field. The community and the city are better off utilizing the funds elsewhere

13) The city of Tucker largely is staffed by contractors, people who do not directly work for the city. Do you support the current method of staffing the city’s government or would you want to change to a more traditional system where employees work directly for the city?

There needs to be a change as contract labor is of higher cost for the city.  Tucker has acquired enough funding to support direct staffing,

14) Do you support continuing to stream Tucker’s meetings online? Why or why not?

Yes, we are in the 21st Century, every meeting should be available to the public

15) What can be done to improve pedestrian safety on Tucker’s roads?

We need speed bumps on high traffic streets, turn signals, and sidewalks.

16) What do you think is Tucker’s greatest strength? 

The community

17) What do you think is Tucker’s biggest challenge?

Favoritism and division in the community.

18) How would you address what you believe to be Tucker’s biggest challenge?

Promote diversity and engagement.  Currently we have too many silos and limited collaboration with all those who can and will make a difference.  We fight to meet the needs of the community without the support from the current administration, because if “They didn’t implement the idea, they want nothing to do with it.” If it goes outside the clique, there is no promotion or support.

19) If you are elected, what will you do to support the business community in the city of Tucker?

Host regular functions that educate and provide business owners with the resources needed to sustain their business and community.

20) If you are elected, do you promise to conduct yourself in an ethical and transparent manner?

Yes

How would you work to promote ethics and transparency in government?

Have Results based accountability methods and more engagement with the community

More information about voting in the Nov. 2 election: 

All elections coverage can be found at Decaturishvotes.com and Tuckerobservervotes.com.  

Election Day is Nov. 2. Early voting will begin on Oct. 12 and will end on Oct. 29. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 4. To register to vote, click here.

To see a list of important dates in the 2021 election year, click here.

Voters in DeKalb County are eligible to apply for an absentee ballot as of Aug. 16. 

To apply for an absentee ballot:

— Visit the Georgia Secretary of State website.

—  Complete the absentee ballot application using the state’s official paper form. Use black or blue ink only.

Applications can be mailed to the county elections office at this address: DeKalb County Election office, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032-1239.

Applications can also be submitted by fax, 404-298-4038, or email, [email protected].

Voters may send an absentee ballot request for multiple people who live in the same household in the same envelope or email.

If an absentee ballot is not mailed to you, call DeKalb Elections office, 404-298-4020. You may still vote in person, either early or on Election Day.

An absentee ballot application must be received by Oct. 22.

In accordance with SB202, a new voting bill signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in March, a copy of a voter’s ID is required to apply for an absentee ballot. A Georgia driver’s license, Georgia state ID, Georgia voter card, U.S. Passport, U.S. military ID, employee ID issued by any branch of the federal or state government, tribal ID, or a document verifying a voter’s name and address – including a paycheck, utility bill, or bank statement – are accepted forms of ID.

Early voting begins Oct. 12 and ends Oct. 29. The hours for early voting are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be weekend early voting on Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24. Call your elections office for hours.

Beginning Oct. 12, you can participate in early voting at the following locations: 

– Bessie Branham Recreation Center (2051 Delano Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30317)

– Lynwood Recreation Center (3360 Osborne Road NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319)

– Berean Christian Church – Family Life Center (2197 Young Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30088)

– DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office (4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032)

– Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library (5234 LaVista Road, Tucker, GA 30084)

– Stonecrest Library (3123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038)

– County Line-Ellenwood Library (4331 River Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294)

– Dunwoody Library (5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road., Dunwoody, GA 30338)

For the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding early voting times and locations, visit Decaturishvotes.com and Tuckerobservervotes.com or call 404-298-4020.  

The Tucker Observer is a new community news website owned by Decaturish.com. We provide locally sourced news about Tucker, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.

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