ATLANTA –State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) today released the following statement regarding House Bill 586, local legislation to provide a referendum on the annexation of parts of unincorporated DeKalb into the city of Atlanta:
“My constituents in the 82nd House district have clearly stated a wish to vote on whether to be annexed into the city of Atlanta. HB 586, local legislation of the Atlanta delegation, will give them a referendum, which will be held in November 2015. If passed and signed by the Governor, all citizens of the proposed annexed area in unincorporated DeKalb can engage in the democratic process through public conversation, asking questions about schools, taxes and services, and decide how they wish to vote.”
HB 586 was introduced on March 10 by Representative Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta), Chair of the Atlanta legislative delegation. The area to be annexed includes parts of Druid Hills, Briar Vista, LaVista Park, Clairmont Heights and Medlock.
Rep. Oliver is a member of the House Government Affairs Committee, which has voted upon all proposed DeKalb cityhood bills. She has raised objections to the proposed city of LaVista Hills, due to conflicting borders with the proposed annexation into Atlanta. Rep. Oliver represents all neighborhoods affected by the proposed annexation and LaVista Hills legislation.
“People have a right to decide how they wish to be governed, and I support a referendum for a decision to be made,” continued Rep. Oliver. “Any border dispute between LaVista Hills and Atlanta must be resolved to give citizens clear choices.”
HB 586 must be approved by the Atlanta legislative delegation, before it can be considered by the full body of the Georgia House.
For more information on HB 586, please click here.
To view a copy of the proposed annexation map, please click here.
Representative Mary Margaret Oliver represents the citizens of District 82, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, and she currently serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources and the Governmental Affairs, Judiciary, Juvenile Justice, and Science & Technology committees.
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