RIVERDALE — Clayton County Board of Commissioners District 3 candidates came together for a Clayton County Youth Commission-hosted forum Thursday at the Flint River Community Center.
The Democratic primary on May 21 features five candidates — Tashé Allen, Jodie Chambers, Attania Jean-Funny, Timothy Vondell Jefferson and Daunta Long.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the lone Republican candidate — David Hamrick — in the Nov. 5 general election.
All six candidates participated in Thursday’s forum.
There is no incumbent as District 3 Commissioner Felicia Franklin Warner is running for commission chair.
Why are they are running?
Tashé Allen, wife of current Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen, said she is running because as she was campaigning for her husband last year, many residents talked to her about several issues — including roads.
“I don’t have a political agenda — I’m just an everyday person here to run,” she said.
She added that even though she is the youngest candidate she will bring “something new” to the county commission.
Jodie Chambers, a substitute teacher and Clayton County resident since 1986, said she felt called to run for office.
“It takes all of us to make this county work,” she said.
She also said that “I care about the community as a whole. I have children, grandchildren that are school-age children, and I see my county not prospering and I see counties around us prospering.”
David Hamrick — a retired mechanic who has lived in Clayton County 41 years — said one of his main issues is increasing home ownership in the county.
“We have to stand up and turn this around so the American Dream is available to everyone,” he said.
Attania Jean-Funny — an insurance agent who was an educator for 27 years — said she will represent District 3 as someone who is “independent,…
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