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County Board Research
After eight months and approximately 100 person-hours of internet…
Our Mission
To educate the citizens of DeKalb County about county governance issues and to advocate for informed citizen engagement.
Latest News
Recent experiences with the DeKalb County Board of Ethics appointment process and the tremendous interest DeKalb citizens showed in applying for that board led DeKalb Citizens Advocacy Council (DCAC) to question how other County boards are being appointed and how citizens are being engaged with County government through these boards.
Using DeKalb County’s official website, DCAC leaders identified 49 boards, commissions, and task forces, but finding accurate, current information about these boards’ membership and activities proved to be challenging and time consuming. After eight months and approximately 100 person-hours of internet research, virtual attendance at selected board meetings, and review of “best practices” elsewhere in the country, we are releasing a report on our observations and recommendations as they relate to improving the transparency of board information, policies and procedures and clarifying board types, functions, and appointing authorities.
You can view our report here.
Who We Are
DeKalb Citizens Advocacy Council (DCAC) is a group of community members from all parts of DeKalb County, Georgia.
Our goal is to educate the citizens of DeKalb County about county governance issues as well as to advocate for informed citizen engagement in local government. We have great concerns about compliance and transparency in county operations and we support legislation to improve both. During the 2019 and 2020 Georgia legislative sessions, for example, we successfully advocated to maintain the independence and strength of the Board of Ethics and the Ethics Officer position.
Our Leadership Team
ANN ABRAMOWITZ
Resident of DeKalb County since 1987
Professor, Emory University
Practices as a clinical psychologist in the community
Unpaid chief of staff to a State Representative who is a member of the DeKalb Delegation. In this capacity, she has worked with the county, city governments, and various community agencies and programs.
BETTY BLONDEAU
Native Decaturite. Born at Piedmont Hospital, lived and raised in Decatur.
Member, DeKalb County Community Council, District 2
Board Member, DeKalb History Center
Board Member, Downtown Decatur Neighbors
Member, Civic Association Network (CAN)
RYAN BROWN
Native Atlantan, grew up in DeKalb County/City of Atlanta in the 1990’s
Resident of unincorporated DeKalb County since 2014
More than twelve years of experience working in the federal government
Board Member, Pride Rings in Stone Mountain (PRISM)
Member, Rowland Allgood Durham Circle (RAD) Neighborhood Association
Member, Fountainhead Neighborhood Watch
LYNN GANIM
Resident of DeKalb since 1972
President, Medlock Area Neighborhood Association (MANA)
Member, Civic Association Network (CAN)
MARY HINKEL
Resident of DeKalb County since 1976
President, Mason Mill Civic Association
Former Program Chair, Civic Association Network (CAN)
Member, DeKalb County Charter Review Commission
PAT KILLINGSWORTH
Resident of DeKalb since 1985
Former member and chair, DeKalb County Board of Ethics
Member, Leadership DeKalb
– Board of Directors for four years
Board Member, Citizens of Victoria Estates (COVE)
Member, Civic Association Network (CAN)
Member, Blueprint to Restore DeKalb
Recipient of the 2015 Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award from the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism and the State Bar of Georgia.
CLAUDETTE LEAK
Resident of DeKalb County since 1970
Member, DeKalb County Charter Review Commission
Member, Leadership DeKalb
Member, Columbia Valley Community Association
Member, Restore DeKalb (Communications Chair)
Chair, Concerned Citizens in Opposition to Greenhaven – Advocating for an effective DeKalb County Government
MARTHA PACINI
Resident of DeKalb County since 1978
Board Member, Leadership DeKalb
President, Citizens of Victoria Estates (COVE), the civic association for Victoria Estates
Member, Blueprint DeKalb, sector leader for establishing the office of the independent internal auditor
Secretary, Emory University Alumni Board
Advisory Council Co-chair, CHRIS 180
TOM WOODWARD
Resident of DeKalb County since 1992 and previously for 4 years
President 2017-18, Fall Festival Chair 2015-16, LaVista Park Civic Association
Executive Committee 2016-17, Board Member 2011-17, Leadership DeKalb
Coalition Member, DeKalb NAACP/DeKalb Remembrance Project
Member, DeKalb History Center
Member, Informed Georgians for Justice
Volunteer, Toco Hills Community Alliance
Our Allies
DCAC is working collaboratively with other DeKalb reform organizations. These organizations currently include:
DeKalb Citizens Advocacy Council is proud to have support from members of the Blueprints to Redefine DeKalb Leadership Team (Blueprints I), citizens who researched best practices, drafted recommendations, and worked with legislators to achieve unanimous passage of the revised DeKalb County Code of Ethics and the new Office of Independent Internal Auditor, both of which were approved by 92% of voters in a 2015 referendum.