Chakira Johnson has been a resident of DeKalb County for nearly three decades, having moved to Atlanta in the late 1990s.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in international relations from Troy State.  

LinkedIn

Chakira serves as a city engineer for the City of South Fulton, recognized as one of “50 Notable Women” by Engineering Georgia. She previously served as a project manager with Lowe Engineers LLC, a Design Manager with Jacobs, and as a Project Engineer with Jordan, Jones and Goulding. 

Chakira Johnson is a City Council Member for Stone Mountain, Georgia serving as Mayor Pro Tem. She was elected to this position in 2008, and is serving her fourth term. 

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "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."

Supports developing partnerships with surrounding counties and cities. 

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

Helped establish Juneteenth celebrations to the local community. 

Supports racial equality and social justice policies aimed to alleviate systemic inequalities and uplift marginalized communities.

- Supports developing partnerships with surrounding counties and cities. 
- Helped establish Juneteenth celebrations to the local community. 
- Supports racial equality and social justice policies aimed to alleviate systemic inequalities and uplift marginalized communities.

Public Services

AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

The candidate's website says, "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."

Said she helped reduce "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."

The candidate's website says, "Advocate for livable wages and fair working conditions for all residents and workers of Dekalb County."

Advocated for livable wages and sufficient working conditions for Dekalb County residents and workers.  

The candidate's website says, "Provided crucial leadership and support to local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic"

Helped support local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic. 

The candidate's website says, "Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan"

Said as Pro Tem Mayor, she "Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan"

Implemented 12-hour work shifts aimed to enhance officer's quality of life.

Said ensuring there is a strong economy in Dekalb county is a key issue, as she believes that helps address housing problems.

- Said she helped reduce "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."
- Advocated for livable wages and sufficient working conditions for Dekalb County residents and workers.  
- Helped support local businesses during Covid-19 pandemic. 
- Said as Pro Tem Mayor, she "Increased budget reserves, eliminating need for yearly finance loan"
- Implemented 12-hour work shifts aimed to enhance officer's quality of life.
- Said ensuring there is a strong economy in Dekalb county is a key issue, as she believes that helps address housing problems.

Economy

As of June 7, 2025, Chakira Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

The candidate's website says, "In 2022, raised the starting pay for officers to $50K"

As Pro Tem Mayor, she covered 100% of insurance premiums and increased pay for public safety officers, and increased starting salary to $50K. 

Provided Police Officers with tasers, body camera's, and GPS installation in all police vehicles.

- As Pro Tem Mayor, she covered 100% of insurance premiums and increased pay for public safety officers, and increased starting salary to $50K. 
- Provided Police Officers with tasers, body camera's, and GPS installation in all police vehicles.

Public Safety

As Pro Tem Mayer, she helped develop a new home construction/Hearthstone subdivision.

- As Pro Tem Mayer, she helped develop a new home construction/Hearthstone subdivision.

Housing & Urban Development

Renovated playground at McCurdy Park, repaved roads with SPLOST(Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds and completed draining projects aimed to improve infrastructure and essential services such as fire and police equipment.

Wants to prioritize enhancing infrastructure, including the water and sewer system, stormwater conveyance system and roads and bridges.

- Renovated playground at McCurdy Park, repaved roads with SPLOST(Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds and completed draining projects aimed to improve infrastructure and essential services such as fire and police equipment.
- Wants to prioritize enhancing infrastructure, including the water and sewer system, stormwater conveyance system and roads and bridges.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Facebook

Chakira Johnson

Gabrielle graduated from Morrow High School and holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from Walden University and a second bachelor's degree in Print Journalism and Communication Studies from Troy University. She resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia and is married to her husband, with whom they have two children. She served as Vice President of the DeKalb Young Democrats, Committee Chair of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Decatur-DeKalb Chapter, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Community Commission on Policy Review/

Gabrielle is an Ambassador of Student Transformation with the Maxwell Leadership Foundation and is the Vice President of Marketing and a Digital Marketing Advisor for a non-profit organization, Growing Leaders. She also worked as a Marketing and Sales Manager with Medieval Times, Content Strategist with DigitalSherpa and a self-employed Marketing Consultant. 

Ballotpedia, Gabrielle Rogers

Gabrielle Rogers ran for the George House of Representatives representing District 88 in 2022, but did not win. 

As Committee Chair of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, her chapter implemented 50 programs and provided $100,000 for Dekalb county families in Health, Economic Empowerment and Education.

Co-founded the Stone Mountain Action Coalition which aims to reduce memorializing confederacy in Stone Mountain Park.

Wants to alter voting process to ensure accuracy through replacing machines with legitimate paper trails, conduct election result audits regularly and implement cybersecurity training for elected officials.

Wants to streamline accessibility of public records

- As Committee Chair of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, her chapter implemented 50 programs and provided $100,000 for Dekalb county families in Health, Economic Empowerment and Education.
- Co-founded the Stone Mountain Action Coalition which aims to reduce memorializing confederacy in Stone Mountain Park.
- Wants to alter voting process to ensure accuracy through replacing machines with legitimate paper trails, conduct election result audits regularly and implement cybersecurity training for elected officials.
- Wants to streamline accessibility of public records

Advocated for small and minority-owned businesses and young professionals as a board member on the DeKalb Chamber.

Said primary areas of focus are economic development, public safety and housing.

Wants to attract new businesses to the area, support local businesses, and develop more job opportunities as she believes that will foster economic growth and improve quality of life for local residents.

Wants to increase affordable housing by stabilizing rent and offering programs helping low-income residents.

- Advocated for small and minority-owned businesses and young professionals as a board member on the DeKalb Chamber.
- Said primary areas of focus are economic development, public safety and housing.
- Wants to attract new businesses to the area, support local businesses, and develop more job opportunities as she believes that will foster economic growth and improve quality of life for local residents.
- Wants to increase affordable housing by stabilizing rent and offering programs helping low-income residents.

As of June 7, 2025, Gabrielle Rogers’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and community organizations in an effort to address crime.

- Wants to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and community organizations in an effort to address crime.

Supports increasing accessibility to affordable housing.

- Supports increasing accessibility to affordable housing.

Instagram

Youtube

Gabrielle Rogers

Lance was raised in South-Central Los Angeles and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Redlands and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from DeVry University.  Lance is married to his wife, Freda, with whom they have four children and seven grandchildren. He serves on the DeKalb Board of Education Citizen Superintendent Search Advisory Committee, the DeKalb County Charter Review Commission, and the DeKalb Schools Superintendent Citizens Advisory Committee, and has held board positions in other community organizations previously. 

Lance is a Broker with Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers and as Vice President of Marketing and Government Relations with S. L. King & Associates, Inc. He also has experience as a chemical salesman for Chevron Chemical’s Ortho Division, a crop advisor for farmers, and as a Government Account Manager. 

Ballotpedia, Lance Hammonds

Lance Hammonds ran for the DeKalb County School District school board representing District 6 in 2018, but did not win. 

Plans to focus on community engagement by backing neighborhood organizations and increasing the number of community meetings.

Wants to develop county parks and residential gardens.

Wants to increase the number of walkable paths and trails.

Wants to alter Dekalb County transit to reduce congestion, shorten commute times, and promote mobility for county residents.

- Plans to focus on community engagement by backing neighborhood organizations and increasing the number of community meetings.
- Wants to develop county parks and residential gardens.
- Wants to increase the number of walkable paths and trails.
- Supports programs for youth and seniors.
- Wants to alter Dekalb County transit to reduce congestion, shorten commute times, and promote mobility for county residents.

 Decaturish, Candidate Q&A: DeKalb County Commission District 4

Plans to renovate Memorial Drive, as he believes that will attract business to the area and improve customer service .

- Supports mass transit.
- Supports small businesses.
- Plans to renovate Memorial Drive, as he believes that will attract business to the area and improve customer service .

As of June 7, 2025, Lance Hammonds’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said public safety is amongst key priorities, and wants to expand and increase pay for the police force, 911 operators, and animal control staff.

- Said public safety is amongst key priorities, and wants to expand and increase pay for the police force, 911 operators, and animal control staff.
- Wants to broaden community partnerships.

Lance Hammonds

DeKalbs CEO nominates union lobbyist to MARTAs board of directors

Rita received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Miami Dade College. She is a mother and grandmother.

Rita is President of Communication Workers of America Local 3204 RMC. She also represents DeKalb County on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority board of directors.

Candidate Q&A: DeKalb County Commission District 4

Rita Scott's campaign for DeKalb County Commissioner is her first entry into politics.

Wants to establish "Community Coalitions" to address any concerns residents may have.

- Wants to establish "Community Coalitions" to address any concerns residents may have.
- Wants to support animal shelters.

Wants to create a benchmark property tax for seniors who have lived in their homes for more than 30 years.

Supports increasing pay and benefits, like paternity and maternity benefits, for DeKalb employees to attract and keep workers.

- Wants to create a benchmark property tax for seniors who have lived in their homes for more than 30 years.
- Supports increasing pay and benefits, like paternity and maternity benefits, for DeKalb employees to attract and keep workers.

Wants to establish apprenticeship and partnership programs to improve workforce development.

- Wants to establish apprenticeship and partnership programs to improve workforce development.

Wants to improve "our county's 911 system."

Supports increased pay for police officers and firefighters.

- Wants to improve "our county's 911 system."
- Supports increased pay for police officers and firefighters.

Supports creating affordable housing through community initiatives.

- Supports creating affordable housing through community initiatives.

- Wants to improve public transportation.

Rita A. Scott

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

DeKalb County Commissioner, District 4, Democratic Primary

Election results

Runoff election

Candidates (4)