ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- 2023 Elected Official of the Year by American Public Works Assoc.
- Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure Committee 2020 to 2022 appropriating $1,077,074,904.
- Exercises fiscal accountability as Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure (PWI) requiring mandatory audit of all contracts above $3 million resulting in $57,215,092 in revenue savings to taxpayers.
- Planning Economic Development and Community Services (PECS) Committee member 2020.
- Led charge to revive DeKalb County Land Bank with $200,000 appropriation to address blight and place abated properties into productive use and on tax digest.
- Initiated and funded 2022 DeKalb Convention Center Study to begin formal discussion and strategy for future convention center development.
- Authored Video Surveillance Legislation requiring mandatory video surveillance at all gas and service stations and high-risk businesses to create safe communities.
- Authored law that stopped the proliferation of dollar stores in DeKalb County, which led to mandatory distance requirements between stores, better lighting and security features, and healthy food options.
- Founded HOPE at Stonecrest in partnership with Operation HOPE to support home ownership and financial literacy, resulting in over $20 million in home loan financing and down-payment assistance to first-time homeowners. Secured $250,000 annually from RBC Bank since 2019 to fund two full-time financial coaches.
- Founded $10 million E.M.B.A.R.C. Youth Farm to address youth entrepreneurship, life skills, healthy living, and access to affordable organic produce, eggs, and honey.
- Participated in the development of three State of Art Senior and Community Centers with a combined value of $25.8 million.
- Materialized over $380 million in infrastructure improvements through the SPLOST program.
- Supported securing the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan in 2021 to ensure funding for EPA-required Consent Decree work associated with water capital improvements and saving taxpayers over $60 million in revenue.
- As a member of PWI and FAB Committees in 2022 led charge for the private placement of $73,742,270 in Tax Anticipated Notes (TAN) to reduce debt liability by $30 million.
- Approved budgets during the five-year cycle delivering fiscal stability and fund balance to DeKalb County following structural revenue deficits from 2015 – 2017.
- Founded Lock-In-For-Life in 2019 to provide guidance to black male youth through mentorship, life skills, mental health, and self-empowerment training to more than 500 program participants.
- Founded DeKalb County Small Business Summit in 2020 to support small business owners, and encourage Local Small Business Enterprise and iSupplier participation, with more than 500 registered attendees.
- Created Join Me! COVID-19 Campaign at the peak of the pandemic to educate the community through website, billboards, bus wraps, mobile PPE delivery, digital communications, and a website with over 600,000 visitors.
- Raised the bar in governmental communications through 298 general and special edition newsletters; website boasting 16,118,018 visitors; 6,865 Friends and Followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; 86 Town Halls and community events, 6 interactive annual reports and fluid communication strategies, including Weekly Chat Podcast to engage constituents.
- Provides 10 tons of food annually to veterans at Atlanta VA Arcadia Clinic during quarterly food distributions.
- Allocated over $3,469,667 in discretionary, Cares Act and ARPA funds since 2019 to organizations, programs, and projects supporting the community.
- Consistently operates District 7 office under budget with materialized revenue savings.
- Received majority vote in 101 out of 102 District 7 precincts to defeat an incumbent in 2018 with 67.4% of the vote.
- Re-Elected in 2022 receiving 77.5% vote and a majority vote in all 102 District 7 precincts - while facing two challengers.
- Elected Deputy Presiding Officer of the Board of Commissioners in 2020 and 2021.
- Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award 2023
- Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc. Housing Champion 2023
- Corrected 2023 Elected Official of the Year by American Public Works Association
- Exercises fiscal accountability as Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure (PWI) requiring mandatory audit of all contracts above $3 million resulting in $92,032,057.67 in revenue savings to taxpayers.