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Jefferson announces

as write-in candidate in 77th District race

Jonesboro attorney Sherri Jefferson has announced that she will run for

State House District 77 as a write-in candidate against Darryl Jordan, who

won the Democratic primary in July.

House District 77 is mostly in Clayton County but covers a northeast quadrant

of Fayetteville, roughly running up Ga. Highway 85 to Riverdale.

In a press release, Jefferson said she believes Clayton and Fayette counties

need strong representation and a voice in the Capitol.

"Statistics show that Clayton County leads the metro area in job losses,

high school dropouts, and foreclosures," said Jefferson in announcing

her candidacy. "Clayton County has no industries seeking to establish

an operation within its borders. The taxpayers of this county are suffering

and do not need to suffer anymore."

Further, she cited discussions about merging the Clayton County police and

sheriff's departments as cause for concern.

"The county has spent millions of taxpayer dollars building two new

facilities to house the two departments," Jefferson declared in her

press release. "Despite the clear differences in their duties, the departments

currently operate in the same manner as most counties and such an issue should

not be placed before the taxpayer/voters. The taxpayers will spend years

of the county budget addressing such a mistake."

Jefferson claimed both Fayette and Clayton counties are experiencing an

increase in juvenile delinquencies, truancy, child abuse cases and displacement

of children.

"In addition, while both counties have a 'No Child Left Behind' system

in place, it is not successful," read her press release. "State

legislation needs to allow parents more time for notification that their

child's school is on the NCLB list. Also, they need at least 45 days to transfer

their child before the start of school. Currently, they do not notify parents

and schools until August, when school begins, after that, they have until

September to transfer. The current process disrupts learning."

However, in Fayette County, no schools failed "Adequate Yearly Progress" this

year and so no Fayette schools were required to allow parents to request

transfers.

Jefferson also cited "complaints about shoddy-home building and predatory

lending and their nursing homes," according to her press release.

"We must protect homebuyers and the elderly from such abuses. We must

afford Department of Human Resources funding to engage in proper inspections

of care facilities with follow-up. We must enforce laws to protect our seniors.

Further, we must enact legislation to govern the home-building industry and

discipline predatory lenders."