News and Updates from DeKalb Citizens Advocacy Council

Hello Supporters
Welcome to our very first newsletter. You are receiving this communication because of your support for our efforts opposing the current ballot measure about revising the Ethics Act.

Thank you for your support! We hope you’ll find this newsletter informative and helpful as you talk with your friends, families and neighbors and encourage them to vote NO on this issue.

Campaign Update
We’re very encouraged by our progress to date.  Our outreach efforts are increasingly successful. 

• We have a lot of people attending Legislative Town Halls and neighborhood meetings who wear our sticker that proclaims, “Vote No on the No Ethics Bill.” 
• We’ve brought several DeKalb legislators to our point of view.  Additionally, there are legislators now willing to come out publicly, voicing their objections to the bill. 
• We’ve placed a lot of yard signs and have just ordered more. 
• Our Facebook group is growing.
• We still have a massive education challenge to inform voters about the damage this bill will cause.  We’re about to canvas areas of likely voters, concentrating on cities where there is a mayoral race.  We can use help with canvassing.  Believe it or not, it can be fun!  We have experienced canvassers who can take you along to show you how it’s done.  Please let us know if you’d like to volunteer by sending an email to info@dekalbcitizens.org.

• wearing one of our stickers 
• standing in support as we speak before the legislators

Following these meetings, we need you to email your state representative, state senator, and DeKalb commissioner, as well as the DeKalb CEO.  Let them know that you are voting NO on the referendum AND you expect them to support legislation early in the next legislative session to only fix the appointment process for members of the Board of Ethics.  You can find your legislators and their contact info at:  https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

We must bring public pressure to bear on our legislators and DeKalb leaders to show them we expect the Ethics Board appointment process to be fixed early in the next session!
And we need to turn out the vote – whether it’s through early voting or on November 5^th, or on election day.    
Early voting will start Tuesday, October 15^th and run through Friday, November 1^st.
 Four locations will be open for early voting between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  
            Brookhaven:   Briarwood Recreation Center
                                    2235 Briarwood Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
            Decatur:          DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office
                                    4380 Memorial Dr # 300, Decatur, GA 30032           
            Dunwoody:     Dunwoody Library
                                    5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338
            Stonecrest:     Stonecrest Library
                                    3123 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038
 
How You Can Make a Difference
Spread the word
We are a grassroots organization and need all the help we can get in reaching voters. One way you can help is by spreading the word to your neighbors and contacts. Most people are completely unaware of the Ethics ballot question.  You can learn of key talking points by downloading our Conversation Guide via this link: https://dekalbcitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Conversation-Guide.pdf.  It walks you through our three main concerns about the proposed revisions and provides answers to the questions you will most likely be asked.  As you run into people at the grocery store, dry cleaners or out walking the dog, let them know you are concerned about the ethics revision being called for on the ballot and help educate them about what they will be really voting on. 
 
Share this email with other DeKalb County voters.
Join our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DeKalbCitizens/
Place a Yard Sign in your yard.  A well-placed sign can influence every driver, walker or bicyclist who passes by.  Signs can be ordered at:  www.dekalbcitizens.org      

Funding Our Efforts
The start-up funds contributed by our founding board members are running low.  We need to print more materials to be used as we canvas neighborhoods and attend the candidates’ forums in October. Please consider making a donation to help us continue to fight the good fight for a professional Ethics Office in DeKalb County!  https://dekalbcitizens.org/donate/
Volunteering
Look for our volunteer sign-up sheets at the town hall meetings and on our website.  Key volunteer needs?  Attending city candidates’ forum meetings and handing out information in neighborhoods. Please let us know of your interest by sending us an email at info@dekalbcitizens.org