ATLANTA — Today, the SPLC Action Fund endorsed four candidates running for City Council in Georgia’s upcoming municipal elections who can help usher in fresh leadership throughout the state.
Barney Young Jr. received an endorsement in his race to represent Ward 2 on the Douglasville City Council. A senior technology architect and director, Young has decades of professional experience designing IT systems for companies. His expertise will serve him as he works to reorient Douglasville’s government toward being more responsive to the needs of residents. Young has centered his campaign around more responsibly using the city’s budget to invest in infrastructure, support local businesses, improve public safety and preserve housing for seniors.
The SPLC Action Fund also endorsed Garnet Morris, who is running for Hiram City Council. An especially active community member, Morris currently serves as a senior board member of the Seaboard Township Homeowners Association, the editor-in-chief of The Silver Comet Gazette and a board member of the Hiram Tourism Board. His campaign is focused on responsibly growing Hiram through well-planned infrastructure and housing as well as job creation, while still protecting the character of the city. If elected, Morris has promised to create an online “Hiram Feedback Portal” where residents can share concerns, ideas and priorities directly with him and his team.
“Both Barney Young and Garnet Morris understand that serving as a member of a city council is a commitment to truly taking every opportunity to listen to constituents so that the investments a city makes reflect the needs of the residents,” said Madison Hollon, program manager of political campaigns, SPLC Action Fund. “People often know better than politicians how to improve their neighborhoods, and having candidates like Young and Morris as leaders will ensure that residents play an active role in shaping the future of their cities.”
Chelsey Curney and Cameron Dixon have also received endorsements in their races to serve on the Jonesboro City Council. A Navy veteran and former educator at Morehouse College, Curney currently sits on the Board of Ethics for the City of Jonesboro. Concerned about wasteful spending of residents’ tax dollars, she is committed to building a more transparent local government that can power progress in the city, prepare for growth in new residents and revitalize the historic downtown.
Dixon has a long history of public service in Jonesboro, where he has lived for over 20 years. From volunteering at City Hall to serving as chairman of the City of Jonesboro Beautification Project, the marketing professional has frequently used his creative talents to build a stronger sense of community in the city and improve the livability of all of its neighborhoods. In addition to continuing his efforts to beautify the city, Dixon plans to invest in public safety, programs for youth and services for people experiencing homelessness if he is elected to the City Council.
“With Chelsey Curney and Cameron Dixon sitting on the City Council, the residents of Jonesboro will have strong community advocates at the helm who can lead the city into a more unified era,” added Hollon. “We hope that the people of Jonesboro take this opportunity to welcome new leadership and embrace the exciting and inclusive vision both of these candidates have for the city’s future.”
Georgia’s elections are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4. Find more information about how to vote in Georgia.
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About the SPLC Action Fund
SPLC Action Fund is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcactionfund.org.