Former Decatur City Commissioner John Ridley sent along this announcement this morning…

I am pleased to announce that at the July 20th meeting of the Decatur City Commission preliminary notice will be given to the existing Commission and members of the City of Decatur Community that former Decatur City Commissioner John Ridley has filed papers with the appropriate State of Georgia entities in preparation to be a candidate for the Decatur City Commission At Large position being vacated by incumbent James Baskett. A formal announcement will follow in the near future. Following a formal announcement, a web site will become available and the input of the people of Decatur about their concerns and hopes will be encouraged.

 

This will be a candidacy unlike any other Decatur has ever seen. Mr. Ridley will run a campaign as John Ridley for Mayor in an effort to get an electoral consensus that the current form of government in the City of Decatur be changed to allow all the people of Decatur to elect at the ballot their choice for Mayor with appropriate executive authority that the office of Mayor should contain. The City of Decatur is one of less than 15 city governments in Georgia – which has over 530 incorporated municipalities – that do not have a Mayor elected by all the voters at the ballot box. Under State law, the current position of Mayor is a ceremonial post appointed annually by a majority of the five City Commissioners and has no executive or administrative authority.

 

Mr. Ridley also says that along with the change in form of government that supporting the City Schools of Decatur should be the city’s number one priority. ” I have a good relationship with our current Decatur City School Board which I consider the best I have ever seen and now is the time for voters to demand that the Decatur City Government put in tangible, serious, and legitimate effort to be supportive of our schools. The time for lip service and behind the scenes interference and non action must end. I look forward to discussing this with anyone, anytime, anyplace. I encourage an open public conversation about supporting our schools and changing the focus of the Decatur City Government from rhetoric to real substantial and obtainable action to support our Decatur City Schools.”

John Ridley sends in this announcement…

Former Decatur City Commissioner John Ridley (1998-2002) is considering a run for the State Senate District 42 being vacated by David Adelman. Senator Adelman has been nominated by President Obama to be ambassador to Singapore.

Former Commissioner Ridley has served as a Vice Chair of the Dekalb County Democratic Party, a Policy Analyst for the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, a Tax Policy Analyst for the Georgia General Assembly, is a third generation alumni of Emory University, a graduate of The American University’s College of Public Affairs, and has lived in Decatur for over 25 years.