DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Two candidates for DeKalb County’s Chief Executive Officer are looking for voters to cast their ballots one more time after neither one garnered enough votes to win the position in Tuesday’s primary.
Both former Commissioners Larry Johnson and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson believe they are the best fit to be DeKalb County's next CEO.
On Tuesday, neither candidate won the amount of votes needed to clinch the position so they are heading to a runoff on June 18.
Both think they have winning strategies.
“By capturing what I’ve brought out, I want to keep people motivated because I had a very strong women’s presence in this race," said Cochran-Johnson.
Meanwhile, Larry Johnson said it's all about making connections.
“You just gotta keep beating the streets like I’ve been doing. Connect with the people who know you and connect with the people who may be on the fence," said Johnson.
Each candidate agrees affordable housing should be a priority, but both have differing focuses when it comes to the top issues that resonate with voters.
“Working to make sure we have a strong health system around mental health. We have too many folks on the street, and they end up in the DeKalb County jail, and that’s not the place," said Johnson.
Cochran-Johnson said keeping residents safe is paramount.
“Public safety. If you can’t provide a quality of life for people, it affects economic development. It affects property values, and it affects your quality of life," said Cochran-Johnson.
The runoff winner will become the County’s next CEO since there is no Republican challenger.