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 Herbert Clark, who is running for Clarkston City council. The answers have not been edited. 

1) Why are you running for this office? 

To create and develop policies that make a difference.

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

I will keep all the Clarkston residents views and concerns in mind when establishing policies.

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

Affordable Housing,Small Businesses and Public Safety.

4) In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing Clarkston?

Housing, Health, Well being and more Public Safety Officers.

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

Have great opinion of our current police department. I would like to see them have a separate and new station, access to more technology and more police personnel.

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

None

7) 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 Clarkston?

Leverage existing policy on diversity and racial justice and I will collaborate to make sure to do the policies.

8) 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?  

Response is great. The city should continue to encourage our residents to get tested, take the vaccine if possible unless physician says otherwise and continue to follow the CDC guidelines.

9) Affordable housing continues to be a challenge for people moving to the Atlanta area. If elected, what steps would you take to promote affordable housing in Clarkston?

1st Time Home Buyers to help people get qualified,work with developers to make sure that they can qualify,tap into programs and resources and explore housing options in the city of the Clarkston area.

10) What do you think is Clarkston’s greatest strength? 

Supporting refugees and their re-settlement. That’s what we do being a welcoming city for 30 years.

11) What do you think is Clarkston’s biggest challenge?

Housing

12) How would you address what you believe to be Clarkston’s biggest challenge?  

Housing and Small Businesses

13) What is your opinion of refugee resettlement in Clarkston and if elected would you be in favor of resettling more refugees in the Clarkston area?  

Yes I would be in favor. That is what Clarkston has done for 30 years and we will continue to do so.

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

Ask Downtown Development Authority to define it’s boundaries and ask existing businesses to involve their businesses.

15) Do you think the city has done enough to promote safety for cyclists and pedestrians and, if not, what changes would you make to make local streets safer? 

City is still working on the 2040 project which includes more projects and upgrades to our city.

16) Clarkston recently dissolved its development authority and plans to start a traditional downtown development authority. What should Clarkston’s DDA look like and what issues would you like the DDA to tackle?  

Study the dissolved DDA and re-define boundaries and policies to coincide with the 2040 plan.

17) If you are elected, do you promise to conduct yourself in an ethical and transparent manner? How would you work to promote ethics and transparency in government? 

Yes I promise to conduct myself in an ethical transparent manner. I would l be an example and show integrity, respect and transparency in all my actions.

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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