Explaining the Ballot: 2018 Midterm Elections for DeKalb County Voters

by Hope Williams

As November 6, 2018 draws closer, some Chamblee Charter High School voters may be wondering what will be on their ballots. For many, this will be their first time voting and with such a publicized governor’s race, some of the other offices up for election have received less coverage. All DeKalb County ballots will have the following sections on them, with the possibility of extra special elections depending on where within the county voters live.

Governor, will replace Nathan Deal:

Brian Kemp (Republican): Kemp, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, supports abortion restrictions, allowing gun owners to carry and conceal handguns without a permit, and school choice. Kemp was the subject of a publized commercial featuring him holding a shotgun while talking to a young boy.

Stacey Abrams (Democrat): Abrams, who has been endorsed by President Barack Obama, supports fewer restrictions on abortions, repealing campus carry, and investment in public school. If elected, Abrams will be the first African-American female governor in the United States.

Ted Metz (Libertarian): Metz, although pro-life, sees it as an issue used to distract voters. He supports constitutional carry and allowing school security and teachers to carry guns. He wants to expand opportunities for students in all types of schools, both public and private.

Lieutenant Governor:

Sarah Riggs Amico (Democrat): Amico supports improving healthcare in rural Georgia and public schools. She wants to work towards efficient bipartisanship.

Geoff Duncan (Republican): Duncan is pro-life and wants to involve parents in the public education system. He wants to make writing the budget efficient.

Secretary of State:

Brad Raffensperger (Republican): Raffensperger wants stricter voter identification laws and was endorsed by Georgia Right to Life.

John Barrow (Democrat): John Barrow wants to discontinue using the touchscreen voting systems and was endorsed by Representative John Lewis.

Smythe Duval (Libertarian): Duval wants to use paper ballots and ranked choice voting.

Attorney General:

Chris Carr (Incumbent Republican): Carr has been the Attorney General of Georgia since 2016. He wants to focusing on combating the opioid crisis and human trafficking.

Charlie Bailey (Democrat): Bailey wants a universal background check system, to increase law enforcement officials’ salaries, and will fight anti-LGBTQ bills.

Commissioner of Agriculture:

Gary Black (Incumbent Republican): Black wants to focus on career access and being ready for agricultural emergencies.

Fred Swann (Democrat): Swann would like to aid rural farms and fight against the economic challenges they face.

Commissioner of Insurance:

Jim Beck (Republican): Beck supports a healthcare system with limited federal involvement and making sure that consumers can understand financial processes with transparency.  

Janice Laws (Democrat): Laws supports affordable health insurance premiums and investigating costly car insurance rates.

Donnie Foster (Libertarian): Foster supports less government intervention when dealing with filed insurance complaints. He wants insurance companies to be double checked for ethics.

State School Superintendent:

Richard Woods (Incumbent Republican): Woods would like to minimize the importance of standardized testing and place a larger emphasis on classroom teaching instead.

Otha E. Thornton, Jr. (Democrat): Thornton prioritizes having enough funding for all public schools and wants to create a resource plan for the school systems.

Commissioner of Labor:

Mark Butler (Incumbent Republican): Butler would like to improve access to technology in the Department of Labor and aid the unemployed.

Richard Keatley (Democrat): Keatley wants to reduce skilled worker shortages through instructional programs and to make sure workers have adaptable skills.

Public Service Commissioner for Chuck Eaton’s position:

Chuck Eaton (Incumbent Republican)

Lindy Miller (Democrat)

Ryan Graham (Libertarian)

Public Service Commissioner for Tricia Pridemore’s position:

Tricia Pridemore (Incumbent Republican)

Dawn A. Randolph (Democrat)

John Turpish (Libertarian)

Depending on where the voter lives in DeKalb County, these are the possibilities for U.S. Representative in 116th Congress.

4th Congressional District of Georgia:

Hank Johnson (Incumbent Democrat)

Joe Profit (Republican)

5th Congressional District of Georgia:

John Lewis (Incumbent Democrat)

6th Congressional District of Georgia:

Karen Handel (Incumbent Republican)

Lucy McBath (Democrat)

Depending on where the voter lives in DeKalb County, these are the possibilities for State Senator:

10th District: Emanuel Jones (Incumbent Democrat)

40th District: Fran Millar (Incumbent Republican), Sally Harrell (Democrat)

41st District: Steve Henson (Incumbent Democrat)

42nd District: Elena Parent (Incumbent Democrat)

43rd District: Tonya Anderson (Incumbent Democrat)

44th District: Gail Davenport (Incumbent Democrat)

55th District: Gloria Butler (Incumbent Democrat), Annette Davis Jackson (Republican)

Depending on where the voter lives in DeKalb County, a State Representative in General Assembly will be elected.

Dekalb County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (choose two):

Anthony Gobert

Carol Hayes

Proposed Constitutional Amendments:

Amendment One: This amendment will divert a portion of the state sales tax on outdoor items (fishing gear for example) towards purchasing land for and maintaining state parks. It has bipartisan support and will not raise the sales tax.

Amendment Two: This amendment creates a separate court to hear cases involving businesses. It is supported by Republicans because of its potential to streamline businesses hearings and keeping them out of other cases involving people. Democrats do not support the process in which judges will be appointed (nominated by the governor and then confirmed by the Judiciary committee in the state Senate and House of Representatives).

Amendment Three: This amendment deals with how areas of timberland are taxed. There will be a property tax reimbursement for counties that contain large areas of timberland.

Amendment Four: This amendment gives victims of crimes tried in courts the right to stay informed on any court developments, such as if the convicted has been released from jail. It has bipartisan support.

Amendment Five: This amendment allows school districts in a county to instate a one percent sales tax. It would last for a length up to five years at a time. The money would go to the school districts.