Qualifying for the Clayton County sheriff’s race, as well as for the City of Jonesboro mayoral and two council races, takes place this week. We’re putting together an election guide to help you make informed decisions beyond all the campaign rhetoric and giveaways. You’re hiring these people to work for you!
Meetings this week include:
Monday, Jan. 23
- 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates for mayor and for two city council seats in the City of Jonesboro at the Jonesboro City Center, 1859 City Center Way, from Monday, January 23 through Wednesday, January 25. The fee for the mayor’s race is $544.40 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March 21 and will be held separately from the counytwide election on that same day. Because two sitting councilmembers are running for mayor, that means voters also will have to choose two new councilmembers. All of Jonesboro’s nonpartisan council seats are at-large, which means the top vote-getters fill those seats. However, candidates in the March special election will need to decide whose seat they want to fill: Councilwoman Dr. Donya Sartor’s term ends in December of this year, which means whoever runs for her seat will have to run again this November, while Councilwoman Pat Sebo-Hand’s term runs through 2025.
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates in the March sheriff’s race at 1285 Government Circle, Jonesboro. The fee is $4,317.99 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March 21; any runoff would take place April 18. The special election is to finish the unexpired term of former Sheriff Victor Hill, which expires in 2024. Hill will be sentenced to prison on Feb. 28. A federal jury convicted Hill of violating pretrial detainees’ rights under color of law by strapping them into jailhouse restraint chairs without cause. Hill has been campaigning hard for his godson, Interim Sheriff Levon Allen, who was involved in at least three of the incidents.
- 5:30 p.m.: The Riverdale City Council holds a special called meeting to discuss the mission statement.
- 6 p.m.: The Riverdale City Council holds its business meeting; the agenda includes the mission statement item again, as well as reports from the city attorney and city manager; no more specific details were included on the published agenda.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
- 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates for mayor and for two city council seats in the City of Jonesboro at the Jonesboro City Center, 1859 City Center Way, from Monday, January 23 through Wednesday, January 25. The fee for the mayor’s race is $544.40 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March 21 and will be held separately from the counytwide election on that same day. Because two sitting councilmembers are running for mayor, that means voters also will have to choose two new councilmembers. All of Jonesboro’s nonpartisan council seats are at-large, which means the top vote-getters fill those seats. However, candidates in the March special election will need to decide whose seat they want to fill: Councilwoman Dr. Donya Sartor’s term ends in December of this year, which means whoever runs for her seat will have to run again this November, while Councilwoman Pat Sebo-Hand’s term runs through 2025.
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates in the March sheriff’s race at 1285 Government Circle, Jonesboro. The fee is $4,317.99 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March21; any runoff would take place April 18. The special election is to finish the unexpired term of former Sheriff Victor Hill, which expires in 2024. Hill will be sentenced to prison on Feb. 28. A federal jury convicted Hill of violating pretrial detainees’ rights under color of law by strapping them into jailhouse restraint chairs without cause. Hill has been campaigning hard for his godson, Interim Sheriff Levon Allen, who was involved in at least three of the incidents.
- 6 p.m.: The City of Morrow holds its initial public hearing on the city’s 2023 ComprehensivePlan Update. According to the city’s website, “The purpose of this hearing is to brief the community on the process to be used to develop the plan and the opportunities for public participation in plan development, and to obtain input on the proposed planning process. All interested parties should attend. Questions should be directed to City Manager Jeff Baker at jbaker@morrowga.gov or (404) 640-4865 or City Clerk Victor Aguilar at cityclerk@morrowga.gov or (678) 902-0927.” What this means is that local officials want to change how the city itself physically looks and functions. This is your chance to tell city officials how you think they should go about doing that.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates for mayor and for two city council seats in the City of Jonesboro at the Jonesboro City Center, 1859 City Center Way, from Monday, January 23 through Wednesday, January 25. The fee for the mayor’s race is $544.40 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March 21 and will be held separately from the counytwide election on that same day. Because two sitting councilmembers are running for mayor, that means voters also will have to choose two new councilmembers. All of Jonesboro’s nonpartisan council seats are at-large, which means the top vote-getters fill those seats. However, candidates in the March special election will need to decide whose seat they want to fill: Councilwoman Dr. Donya Sartor’s term ends in December of this year, which means whoever runs for her seat will have to run again this November, while Councilwoman Pat Sebo-Hand’s term runs through 2025.
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates in the March sheriff’s race at 1285 Government Circle, Jonesboro. The fee is $4,317.99 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March21; any runoff would take place April 18. The special election is to finish the unexpired term of former Sheriff Victor Hill, which expires in 2024. Hill will be sentenced to prison on Feb. 28. A federal jury convicted Hill of violating pretrial detainees’ rights under color of law by strapping them into jailhouse restraint chairs without cause. Hill has been campaigning hard for his godson, Interim Sheriff Levon Allen, who was involved in at least three of the incidents.
Thursday, Jan. 26
- 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates for mayor and for two city council seats in the City of Jonesboro at the Jonesboro City Center, 1859 City Center Way, from Monday, January 23 through Wednesday, January 25. The fee for the mayor’s race is $544.40 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March 21 and will be held separately from the counytwide election on that same day. Because two sitting councilmembers are running for mayor, that means voters also will have to choose two new councilmembers. All of Jonesboro’s nonpartisan council seats are at-large, which means the top vote-getters fill those seats. However, candidates in the March special election will need to decide whose seat they want to fill: Councilwoman Dr. Donya Sartor’s term ends in December of this year, which means whoever runs for her seat will have to run again this November, while Councilwoman Pat Sebo-Hand’s term runs through 2025.
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Qualifying is open for candidates in the March sheriff’s race at 1285 Government Circle, Jonesboro. The fee is $4,317.99 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March21; any runoff would take place April 18. The special election is to finish the unexpired term of former Sheriff Victor Hill, which expires in 2024. Hill will be sentenced to prison on Feb. 28. A federal jury convicted Hill of violating pretrial detainees’ rights under color of law by strapping them into jailhouse restraint chairs without cause. Hill has been campaigning hard for his godson, Interim Sheriff Levon Allen, who was involved in at least three of the incidents.
- 5:30 p.m.: The Forest Park Downtown Development Authority meets.
- 6:30 p.m.: The Forest Park Urban Redevelopment Authority meets.
Friday, Jan. 27
9 a.m.-12 noon: Qualifying is open for candidates in the March sheriff’s race at 1285 Government Circle, Jonesboro. The fee is $4,317.99 unless you file a pauper’s affidavit. The election is March 21; any runoff would take place April 18. The special election is to finish the unexpired term of former Sheriff Victor Hill, which expires in 2024. Hill will be sentenced to prison on Feb. 28. A federal jury convicted Hill of violating pretrial detainees’ rights under color of law by strapping them into jailhouse restraint chairs without cause. Hill has been campaigning hard for his godson, Interim Sheriff Levon Allen, who was involved in at least three of the incidents.
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