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LOCAL
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY AUGUST 6 - 12, 2020 • PAGE 3
Superior court candidates
forum highlights issues
BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County
Division 3 Superior Court
Judge candidates Mindy
Pillow and Yolanda
Parker-Smith participated
in a town hall meeting
hosted by the DeKalb
County Democratic
Committee.
Due to connection
issues, Pillow only gave her
opening response dining
the forum that was held on
Facebook Live.
Parker-Smith and
Pillow will be on the Aug.
11 runoff ballot for Division
3 Superior Court Judge and
were asked about current
issues facing the position
at the townhall moderated
by Political Director of the
ACLU of Georgia Chris
Bruce and retired juvenile
court judge Velma Tilley.
Parker-Smith said the
position of superior court
judge must be held by
someone who can bring
justice to all community
members, no matter where
those community members
are from.
“They do have a
responsibility to make sure
all people believe in the
justice system and that the
justice system works for
everyone,” said Parker-
Smith. “I want to restore
integrity and credibility
back into the justice
system.”
Parker-Smith said as
a superior court judge she
would focus on diversionary
court and using sciences in
the courtroom. According
to Parker-Smith, the
application of science can
help with juvenile cases,
mental health cases and
more.
“I think it’s important
that the legal system catches
up with science. Everyone
deserves a second chance,”
Parker-Smith said. “I would
prop up diversionary courts
and create more partnerships
with churches, colleges and
law enforcement.”
According to Parker-
Yolanda Parker-Smith, left, and Mindy Pillow joined the DeKalb County
Democratic Committee for a town hall ahead of the Aug. 11 runoff.
Photos provided
Smith, those partnerships
could “build a better overall
system.”
Parker-Smith said
voting rights should be
restored to felons and
others, and police brutality
is an issue she won’t shy
away from.
“Police brutality is
something that needs to be
addressed,” said Parker-
Smith.
During Pillow’s
opening statement, she
said she hopes to continue
the work Judge Clarence
Seeliger started as Division
3 Superior Court Judge.
“I think I can kind of
continue his work,” Pillow
said. “The reason I’m
running is because I’m a
family law attorney, and I
think we need a family law
attorney in DeKalb County.
None of our [current
judges] are family law
attorneys.”
Pillow was only able to
give her opening statement
before getting disconnected
and did not respond to
The Champion s interview
request. Moderators said
they would post more
information about her
on the DeKalb County
Democrat’s Facebook
page in the future, but that
information was unavailable
at press time.
Pillow’s campaign
website states she resides
in Decatur and operates her
own law firm.
SEE CANDIDATES ON PAGE 9
Corbyn Golden was one of 850 graduates of the DeKalb Virtual Career
Academy (DVCA). Screenshot from the July 31 virtual graduation
ceremony on DCTV
Youth graduate DeKalb’s first
virtual internship program
BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
While COVID-19 may
have led to a financial strain
on summer employment
programs across the country,
DeKalb County moved
forward with its paid
internship program virtually,
making way for 850 DeKalb
County youth to graduate
July 31 with new skills and
knowledge.
“Before I started this
program, I was in the
process of getting my GED
and then the virus came,
and it was like the door
was shut on me and I didn’t
know what to do. But this
program came and it gave
me the opportunity to get my
GED virtually, which I am
doing now,” said 23-year-
old Cornesha Long, who
also lauded DeKalb Virtual
Career Academy (DCVA)
interactive healthcare course
in which she now has
certification.
DeKalb’s summer youth
academy launched in 2017
as an in-person internship
program for approximately
400 youth but shifted to a
virtual format this year due
to COVID-19. The virtual
academy ran from June 1 to
July 31 with 850 youth, ages
14 to 24, being paid $9 per
hour to leam online.
During the July 31
virtual graduation ceremony
parents and students spoke
of the benefits of the
program.
“Everyone that has
been involved with him has
taken a particular interest
in him, made sure he was
successful, and he feels
it. I am so grateful for the
program because it allowed
him to be successful on
his own,” said one parent
who referenced her son’s
traumatic brain injury, which
makes it difficult for him to
leam and process.
SEE GRADDATE ON PAGE 9
CITY OF LITHONIA
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RFP 2020-FP-003
FY2020-FY2021 MS4 ANNUAL REPORT
DATA COLLECTION AND REPORT
The City of Lithonia, located in Lithonia,
Georgia is soliciting sealed proposals
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data collection and Reporting for the City
of Lithonia for reporting period FY2020-
2021. The bid will be awarded to the lowest
responsive and responsible bidder. The
deadline for submittal is August 28, 2020 at
3:00 pm. The contract will be presented to
Council for award on Tuesday September
8, 2020. Bid documents can be located on
our website at https://cityoflithonia.city/ or in
person at City Hall.
JOB OPENING
The City of Stone Mountain is accepting
applications for the position of Deputy
Court Clerk I. This is a part-time position.
Compensation will be based the City’s Pay
and Compensation Plan for the position
classification and on qualifications. Candidates
must have a high school diploma, a valid
Georgia driver’s license, and Court Services
experience.
To apply: Interested candidates may email
a resume to manager@stonemountaincity.
ora no later than Friday, August 14, 2020 or
submit by mail to City of Stone Mountain, c/o
City Manager Thornton, 875 Main Street, Stone
Mountain, GA 30083. Job description and
additional requirements can be found on the
city’s website at http://www.stonemountaincity.
org/departments/human_resources/index.
php. The City of Stone Mountain is an equal
opportunity employer.