Engineering Progress 4 DeKalb

I’m Chakira Johnson, your candidate for DeKalb County Commissioner, District 4.

For nearly three decades, I have called DeKalb County home. In the late 1990s, I moved to Atlanta as a co-op student at Georgia Tech, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and, later, a master’s degree from Troy State in international relations. I currently serve as a city engineer for the City of South Fulton, and in 2022, I was honored to be named one of “50 Notable Women” by Engineering Georgia. 

Early on, my parents instilled in me the values of hard work, tenacity, integrity, generosity and the importance of giving back to the community. These values have fueled my commitment to public service and volunteerism.

That’s why, as both a volunteer and an elected official, I consistently work to make our community a better place. I serve in leadership roles with local organizations, including the Stone Mountain Historical Society, Stone Mountain Community Garden, on the ART Station board and a member of the Leadership DeKalb class of 2020. In 2006, I was appointed to serve on the newly-formed Stone Mountain Downtown Development Authority, where I work to revitalize and boost economic activity in our community. I have served as chair, vice-chair and secretary during my tenure on the authority. For the last 16 years, I have been a Stone Mountain City Council member, including three terms as Mayor Pro Tem. 

Not only do I bring a wealth of experience as a public servant to the table, but as a civil engineer, with over two decades of experience in both the private and public sectors, I know how to create safe, economically viable, thriving communities. I look forward to putting my experience to work for you as your next DeKalb District 4 Commissioner.

A Proven Leader…with a Track Record of Success

During my 15 years as a city council member, the City of Stone Mountain’s infrastructure, overall financial standing, downtown development district, communication with citizens and public safety have all seen dramatic improvements. I am proud of the forward momentum we have created in Stone Mountain. I feel called to bring this experience to the DeKalb County Commission.

With your support, I’ll put my experience to work for District 4!

Improved Infrastructure

  • Completion of East Mountain Sidewalk Project

  • Multiple drainage projects completed

  • Completed 2 phases of renovations to Train Depot

  • Supported Kaboom playground rebuild at McCurdy Park

  • Created Parks and Recreation Committee

  • Road repaving projects paid for with SPLOST funds

Economic Development

  • Helped to lead effort to revitalize Stone Mountain’s downtown district with Downtown Development Authority

  • Funded Stone Mountain Farmer’s Market

  • Helped facilitate new home construction/Hearthstone subdivision

  • Provided crucial leadership and support to local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic

Fiscal Responsibility

  • Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan

  • Decreased the city’s millage rate from 22.27 mills in 2017 to 16.00 mills in 2023. This saves a homeowner with a $150K home $1,000 in taxes each year.

  • Repaid the city’s General Fund obligation to the Storm Water Fund

Improved Communication

  • Started the “Government 101” series

  • Started online newsletter with government news/information

  • Created new Facebook outreach page for Stone Mountain

  • Changed sanitation provider to DeKalb County after hearing citizen complaints

Strengthened Public Safety

  • Increased pay for public safety officers

  • Covered 100% of insurance premiums 

  • Provided tasers and body cameras for officers

  • Installed GPS units in all police vehicles

  • Implemented a 12-hour work shift to improve officers’ quality of life

  • In 2022, raised the starting pay for officers to $50K

I’m ready to work for DeKalb.

Focusing on the following key platform points, I will work to bring progressive change to DeKalb County as a Democratic candidate for County Commissioner, leveraging my experience, leadership and long standing dedication to the community's welfare.

    • Leverage my 16 years of experience as a Stone Mountain City Council member and my 12 years as mayor pro-tem to provide thoughtful and consistent leadership for Dekalb County's economic growth and development.

    • Build on my track record of successfully moving the community forward in terms of economic development, attracting businesses, and creating job opportunities.

    • Advocate for livable wages and fair working conditions for all residents and workers of Dekalb County.

    • Harness my experience in implementing an 18% pay increase for municipal workers in Stone Mountain to ensure that workers across the county receive fair compensation for their work.

    • Continue the development of a strong local economy on the county level by working with Dekalb County administration and CEO to increase cash reserves and reduce dependency on borrowing for paying bills.

    • Support the implementation of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to generate additional revenue for improving infrastructure, parks, and essential services such as fire and police equipment, and continue to ensure that tax dollars are spent on what they are allocated for.

    • Continue to be a champion for racial equality and social justice by actively promoting policies that address systemic inequalities and uplift marginalized communities in Dekalb county. 

    • Highlight my role in bringing Juneteenth celebrations to the community as a testament to my commitment to promoting cultural awareness, community building, and inclusivity.

    • Strive for transparency and accountability in DeKalb county government by ensuring that funds like SPLOST are spent in accordance with the legislated rules and projects are developed in collaboration with community stakeholders and partners. 

    • Regularly communicate with county constituents, advocating for their interests, and keeping them informed about the progress and impact of county initiatives.

    • Build up partnerships with surrounding counties and cities to ensure that DeKalb county is a leader and partner among its county peers in the State of Georgia. 

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Your support makes a difference in our community. Thank you for your contribution to support Chakira Johnson, DeKalb County Commissioner, District 4!