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LOCAL
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CHAMPION
April 7 - 13, 2016 » Page 16A
Three seek tax commissioner's seat
compiled by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
The current tax commissioner,
the daughter of a former tax
commissioner and a former
county commissioner will
face each other in the May 24
Democratic primary in the race to
fill the tax commissioner position.
Candidates for the position
include Irvin Johnson, who was
appointed to fill the position after
former tax commissioner Claudia
Lawson retired in December
2015 after serving as tax
commissioner for approximately
nine years.
Susannah Scott, daughter
of former county Commissioner
Jacqueline Scott, is seeking to
fill the tax commissioner position
Name: Irvin J. Johnson
Johnson
Scott
held by her father Tom Scott from
1992 to 2006.
Former DeKalb County Super
District 7 Commissioner Stan
Watson resigned his commission
seat to run for the position he
first attempted to fill in 1988.
Watson also served as a state
Watson
representative August 1997 to
December 2008.
Each candidate was given a
questionnaire by The Champion
with instructions to limit answers
to 50 words. Answers that
were more than the limit were
truncated.
Education:
B.A., liberal arts, Slippery Rock University
M.A., education, Slippery Rock University
Occupation:
Tax commissioner, DeKalb County
What political offices have you held in the
past?
None
Why are you seeking this office?
• Provide trusted, ethical and transparent public
service
• Faithfully discharge the duties of this office.
• Be fiscally responsible once annual budget is
approved by the Board of Commissioners.
• Ensure the integrity and reputation of your tax
commissioner’s office in the future
What expertise do you have that will help you
fulfill the duties of this office?
• 15 years of multifunctional experience within
the DeKalb tax office since July 2000
• Customer service, tag and title, property tax,
delinquent collections, tax sale process
• Knowledge and training in the application of
above and the allowable exemptions
• Knowledgeable about tax digest preparation
and property tax billing and payment cycle
• Knowledge.... (answer truncated after 50
words)
Why should you be elected (or re-elected) to
this office?
My qualifications as listed above are uniquely
suited to perform the duties of the tax
commissioner on day one, no onthejob training
is required. I am currently performing the duties
of the tax commissioner (since Jan. 1) and the
team is meeting service expectations daily.
I received the enthusiastic endorsement....
(answer truncated after 50 words)
What is your campaign website address?
www.irvinfordekalb.com
Name: Susannah Scott
Education:
Mount Holyoke College (BA)
Georgia State University College of Law (JD)
Trinity College Dublin University (LLM)
Occupation: Attorney
What political offices have you held in the
past? None
Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking the office of DeKalb County
tax commissioner because I have the skills,
motivation, and fresh perspective needed to
serve the citizens of DeKalb fairly and ethically,
while striving to ensure the office adapts to the
needs of its constituents over time.
What expertise do you have that will help you
fulfill the duties of this office?
Through my work as a contract negotiator and
my volunteer service with the League of Women
Voters of DeKalb and Junior League of DeKalb,
I have developed skills in problem-solving,
working collaboratively with diverse groups, and
evaluating systems and processes for continued
improvement.
Why should you be elected (or re-elected) to
this office?
As a native of DeKalb, I care passionately about
DeKalb. I am dedicated to working for my fellow
citizens to provide ethical, efficient, and effective
services, while holding employees to a high
standard of public service and making sure staff
members are valued for their execution of quality
service.
What is your campaign website address?
www.ScottForDeKalb.com
Name: Stan Watson
Education:
Georgia State University (1980-
1984), majored in criminal justice and
corrections, played basketball and
was 2nd Lieutenant in Army ROTC;
Columbia College (1976-1978), majored
in criminal justice/police science.
Occupation:
I am a U.S. Navy veteran who also
has more than 16 years’ experience
as a healthcare professional. I have
worked as a regional manager for
Tenet Healthcare and served as the
vice president of government affairs for
Matria Healthcare, a division of Alere
Inc.
What political offices have you held
in the past?
I have served as Super District 7 County
Commissioner from January 2010 until I
resigned this position in March 2016. In
1997, I was elected to DeKalb County’s
91st district seat and served as a state
representative. I was the chairman of
DeKalb House Delegation and worked
with Republicans and Democrats served
on the healthcare, insurance, public
utilities and appropriations committees.
Why are you seeking this office?
My goal is to help DeKalb County
move forward by making sure I improve
access by adding another office and
upgrading technology to expand greater
customer service.
What expertise do you have that
will help you fulfill the duties of this
office?
I have a lifetime of service, both in
the private and public sector of the
community. I have skills in healthcare,
collections, reimbursements and credit
and in local government. I also worked
as a financial accounts examiner with
the U.S. Department of Education for
eight years with student loans.
Why should you be elected (or re
elected) to this office?
As a state representative and
commissioner, I presented and
prepared budgets at the federal, state
and local level for over 18 years.
I would work with the appropriate
branches of our county government
to alert them of foreclosures, tax liens
and vacant properties that violate code
enforcement.
What is your campaign website
address?
www.stan4dekalb.com