Full ballots in Clayton show anger over schools

Megan Matteucci

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Two governor-appointed advisers gave Clayton County residents some advice last week before stepping down: Elect a new school board.

"That's the only way we can begin to have a board that will have good governance, follow the ethics plan and really care about what happens in Clayton County," said one, state Board of Education member James E. Bostic Jr. "A new board is what is needed to work on getting accreditation."

Residents showed they were listening. Thirty-four people qualified last week to run for seven school board seats. There will be five primary elections and two special elections for vacant board positions.

Incumbents Lois Baines-Hunter and David Ashe are among the candidates in the July 15 primary.

Voters also turned in petitions to recall the two members of the nine-person board not up for re-election, Michelle Strong and Sandra Scott.

Bostic and fellow adviser, state Board of Education member William "Brad" Bryant, withdrew their services last week, saying Clayton's current board cannot save the district's accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools gave the district nine mandates to meet by Sept. 1, including establishing a capable board.

Bostic and Bryant said they would be willing to work with a new board, along with the superintendent.

Candidates for the five seats in the July 15 primary range from 33 years old to 75 and include teachers and retirees, contractors and cosmetologists.

Many of the candidates, like District 6 contender Vernetta Reeves, are new to politics. The Jonesboro mother of three said she never thought about running for office until she saw her children's futures threatened.

"My goal is to take immediate steps to restore voter confidence in our school board and district leadership," said Reeves, whose oldest daughter is first in her junior class at Jonesboro High School. "Our district needs a new voice on the board that will listen to them and fight for them without compromise."

With calls for resignations from the community and the governor's advisers, many voters were surprised to see two board members run for re-election.

"If they want to throw their money away, go ahead," said Charlton Bivins, chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Clayton County. "It's about electoral power."

David Barton, vice president of the Metro South Association of Realtors, added, "They say they are for the children, but how can they stay when the students and children have asked them to step down? It leaves us in the community confused even more so."

Ashe, who will face two fellow Democrats in his bid for re-election in District 7, said he wants to give people a choice.

"Should they think I'm the most qualified, they should vote for me," Ashe said. "If they think someone else is more qualified, they should vote for them."

Baines-Hunter will face five fellow Democrats and a Republican in her bid for re-election in District 2. She did not return a phone call Friday. However, she previously said she did not plan to run for re-election.

"When you all help me find a job, I will step down," Baines-Hunter told a reporter last month. "I am being harassed. My whole family has been harassed."

Board members Yolanda Everett and Rod Johnson will not run for re-election.

Special elections also will be held July 15 for Districts 4 and 8 seats, which are vacant.

Two people qualified to run for the District 8 seat, which was previously held by Norreese Haynes.

However, that election could change this week when a judge rules whether Haynes was legally removed in March after police found he did not live in the county. A Secretary of State investigation says Haynes did live in Clayton.

SACS has repeatedly told residents that elections are the one way they can make a difference in the accreditation debacle.

Residents are looking for change countywide, said Kevin Thomas, chairman of Clayton's Democratic Party.

"This is an indication that people want to come together and address the problems. It's part of the public outcry," Thomas said. "It should make for an interesting race."

County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell will face four competitors for his bid for re-election, including District 2 Commissioner Virginia Burton Gray, former Riverdale Mayor Phaedra Graham, former district attorney chief of staff Earl Randall and businessman Lee Scott.

The following candidates qualified:

Board of Education

District 2

Lois Baines-Hunter (Incumbent, D)

Della Ashley (R)

Lindsey McDaniel III (D)

Andre Glover (D)

Wanda Smith (D)

Latacher Levette Prayor (D)

Colette Larkins (D)

District 3

Charles H. Davis (D)

Blondie Perry-Christian (D)

Jessie Goree (D)

Tammie Hardy (D)

Marty Hardy (D)

District 4 (Vacant-nonpartisan special election)

Milton Macks

Michael Bernard King

Deverick Williams

District 5

Diana Nicholson (R)

Basil Lue (D)

Phyllis Moore (D)

Trena Morris (D)

Ophelia Burroughs (D)

Jennifer Talley (D)

District 6 (Vacant)

Vernetta Reeves (D)

Mary Baker (D)

Glenn Dowell (D)

Mable Swaby (D)

William Hill (D)

John Askew (D)

Robert Green (D)

James Stanley (D)

District 7

David Ashe (Incumbent, D)

Cartrelia Denese Sampson (D)

Trinia Garrett (D)

District 8 (Vacant-nonpartisan special election)

Alieka Anderson

Edward Rigdon

Sheriff

Victor Hill (Incumbent, D)

Kemuel "Kem" Kimbrough (D)

Garland Watkins (D)

Ernest Strozier (D)

Sherman Lemon (D)

County Commission

Chairman

Eldrin Bell (Incumbent, D)

Virginia Burton Gray (D)

Lee Scott (D)

Earl Randall (D)

Phaedra Graham (D)

District 2

Lawrence Ethridge (D)

Gail Hambrick (D)

Danny Hayes (D)

C. Wesley Meadows (D)

District 3

Wole Ralph (Incumbent, D)

Angela Redding (D)

Ronald Ringer (D)

Michael Bryant (D)

Magistrate Judge

Daphne Walker (Incumbent, D)

Solicitor General

Tasha Mosley (D)

Leslie Miller-Terry (Incumbent, D)

Probate Judge

Pam Ferguson (Incumbent, D)

Tax Commissioner

Terry Baskin (Incumbent, D)

Clerk of Court

Linda Miller (Incumbent, D)

Tony Antoine (D)

Michelle Thomas (D)