LinkedIn

Duane Thomas Jr. was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and currently lives in Atlanta. He holds an associate's degree in business administration management and operations from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Derry University. He is married and has 4 children. 

Duane is a police officer with the Forest Park Police Department. He also owns SFE Black Car Service and a graphic design and marketing company and is the director and founder of the Change Center mentoring group,  . He previously ran call centers and cell phone stores and served as a legislative assistant in the City of Buffalo. 

Thieves steal $15K in electronics from metro Atlanta youth center ...

Duane's campaign for Forest Park City Council Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics. 

Plans to attract new businesses and job opportunities while supporting local entrepreneurs.

Plans to make efforts to attract new businesses and job opportunities while supporting local entrepreneurs.

Supports streamlining business licensing, offering bilingual support and training for entrepreneurs, partnering with Hispanic-owned businesses, and hosting quarterly "Forest Park Business Roundtables" to foster economic growth and diverse local business opportunities.

Plans to modernize business licensing for small and family-owned businesses.

- Plans to make efforts to attract new businesses and job opportunities while supporting local entrepreneurs.
- Plans to modernize business licensing for small and family-owned businesses.

Economy

Supports working with educators, parents, and local leaders to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.

Plans to collaborate with educators, parents, and local leaders to ensure all students have access to a strong education.

Supports expanding after-school programs and mentoring partnerships.

Supports creating a “City Youth Advisory Board” to give teens a voice in city policy.

Plans to start a “City Youth Advisory Board” to give teens a voice in city policy.

Supports offering skill-based workshops in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), trades, and arts at community centers.

Supports initiatives to bridge gaps between native and non-native English speakers.

- Plans to collaborate with educators, parents, and local leaders to ensure all students have access to a strong education.
- Supports expanding after-school programs and mentoring partnerships.
- Plans to start a “City Youth Advisory Board” to give teens a voice in city policy.
- Supports offering skill-based workshops in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), trades, and arts at community centers.
- Supports initiatives to bridge gaps between native and non-native English speakers.

Public Services

Plans to increase affordable housing by partnering with developers, local organizations, and state agencies.

Plans to expand affordable housing by partnering with developers, local organizations, and state agencies.

- Plans to expand affordable housing by partnering with developers, local organizations, and state agencies.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports strengthening neighborhood watch programs, increasing officer visibility, requiring off-duty police at large events, and improving lighting and security cameras in high-traffic areas.

Plans to strengthen neighborhood watch programs and increase officer visibility. .

Supports requiring off-duty police presence at large events to ensure safety.

Aims to create stronger relationships between law enforcement and bilingual residents to make safety communication accessible to all.

Aims to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and bilingual residents to make safety communication more accessible. 

Supports enhancing lighting and security cameras in high-traffic areas and parks.

- Plans to strengthen neighborhood watch programs and increase officer visibility. .
- Supports requiring off-duty police presence at large events to ensure safety.
- Aims to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and bilingual residents to make safety communication more accessible. 
- Supports enhancing lighting and security cameras in high-traffic areas and parks.

Public Safety

As of October 13, 2025, Duane Thomas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Facebook

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Duane Thomas

Duane Thomas Jr. is a dedicated father of four, loving husband, respected police officer, successful entrepreneur, trusted mentor and a Ordained Elder in the church. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Duane made the move to Atlanta in 2021 where he quickly excelled in both business and his career in law enforcement. With a proven track record of running successful companies, including call centers and cell phone stores, Duane has also served as a Legislative Assistant in the City of Buffalo, working closely with all nine council members. Rising through the ranks quickly, Duane's expertise in communications, social media management, photography, and videography has been instrumental in the success of various political campaigns.

Duane is a small business owner and mentor. He owns SFE Black Car Service and a graphic design and marketing company. He previously ran call centers and cell phone stores. He also served as a legislative assistant in the City of Buffalo, working closely with all nine council members. He is the director and founder of the Change Center mentoring group, where he empowers young boys ages 10-17.

Supports increasing affordable housing options by partnering with developers, local organizations, and state agencies.

Believes in building bridges between law enforcement and the community.

Supports improving infrastructure, creating vibrant public spaces, and ensuring access to affordable housing.

As of October 13, 2025, Duane Thomas did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Councilwoman Kimberly James (Ward 1)

Kimberly James lives in Forest Park. She holds a bachelor's degree in computer information systems DeVry Institute of Technology. She and her husband, Nate, have 4 children. She serves as chair of the Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA) Board and as a parent and community liaison at Forest Park High School. She also volunteers with Helping Hands Ending Hunger. 

Kimberly serves as a Forest Park City Council member in District 1. She was elected in 2018 and is serving her second term. 

As of October 13, 2025, Kimberly James did not have a website or any information online.

Supports policies that strengthen civic trust, promote transparency in local government, and improve residents quality of life.

- Supports policies that strengthen civic trust, promote transparency in local government, and improve residents quality of life.

Kimberly James

A proud Forest Park resident since 1995, Mrs. James and her husband, Nate, have four children. She holds an honors bachelor's degree in computer information systems DeVry Institute of Technology and is an active volunteer with several nonprofits throughout metro Atlanta, including Helping Hands Ending Hunger, an organization devoted to supporting food giveaways and fundraisers for individuals in need.

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 