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Brazen, Illegal Activity from the Lucas Campaign

Sat, 18 May 2024 12:42:24 GMT

Brazen, Illegal Activity from the Lucas Campaign

Cary Lucas and his campaign have spent over $80k in illegally unreported funds. In addition those illegal funds, he has refused to file personal financial disclosures. Those disclosures are required by law to help prevent fraud and conflict of interest, but Cary has apparently decided to ignore the law. This represents one of the most egregious ethics violations in the state’s modern history. An ethics complaint has been filed and an investigation is ongoing, but voters need to know.

EDIT: After Cary became aware that we were preparing an ethics complaint, he filed SOME of his paperwork. It’s still incomplete, rife with irregularities and violations, and very late. He has not paid his fine or filed his personal financial disclosure.

February 16th: Cary files Declaration of Intent to Fundraise

On February 16th Cary filed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to run for office. A DOI is required in Georgia before you can raise money for a campaign. It establishes your campaign committee, the treasurer responsible for the committee should it commit an ethics violation, and it requires the candidate to affirm his or her intention to comply with Georgia campaign disclosure requirements. When the DOI is filed, the state ethics commission provides the candidate with the schedule and information required to comply with Georgia election law.

Cary’s filing had some irregularities that make it difficult to ensure there’s no illegal dark money groups spending in this race. He did not name his committee, and he did not list a treasurer. Over the course of April, a series of mailers were sent out attacking Todd. Some of the mailers were sent by “Lucas for Georga” (sic), and some were sent by Friends to Elect Cary Lucas. We believe that Friends to Elect Cary Lucas is Mr. Lucas’ campaign committee, and Lucas for Georga (sic) is an illegal shadow group. Because of Mr. Lucas’s incomplete DOI, it’s hard to know for certain. We know that one of them has to be illegal, because state law limits candidates for State House to one committee.

March: Friends to Elect Cary Lucas Creates Fake Mailer

Most of the mailers were incoherent screenshots from Mr. Lucas’s website, but one in particular was at least coherent enough to convey a message. It included a photoshopped image of Todd’s face in a picture with Joe Biden. The mailer erroneously claimed that Todd Jones gave $250k to Democrats. The picture, and the alleged $250k donation from Todd, never happened. It was all fabricated. That particular mailer was sent by Friends to Elect Cary Lucas.

March 25th: Mr. Lucas Refuses to file Personal Financial Disclosures

Mr. Lucas has repeatedly attacked Todd for his business interests, all of which are reported to the ethics commission. The state of Georgia requires all candidates for office to file paperwork in late March disclosing all of their assets, investments, employers, and business interests. This exists so the ethics commission can monitor and ensure the type of conflicts that Todd is accused of cannot happen. Cary Lucas has refused to file that document. As of 5/16/24, it is over 7 weeks late. Mr. Lucas has apparently decided he would rather pay the hefty fine than allow the ethics commission and the voters to see his conflicts of interest.

March 27th: Ethics Commission Fines Mr. Lucas

Mr. Lucas was fined by the ethics commission for failing to file his personal financial disclosure. As of May 17th at 6pm, he still has not paid the fine. You can check on the state of his fine here. He is currently ineligible for office because this fine remains unpaid, but he can’t be removed from the ballot at this time.

April 30th: Mr. Lucas Refuses to file Campaign Finance Report

On April 30th, every campaign is required to file fundraising and expenditure reports. This disclosure exists for two reasons: to ensure the public knows who funds each candidate, and to ensure candidates aren’t committing fraud and stealing campaign funds for personal use. Mr. Lucas did not file his disclosures. As of 5/15 Mr. Lucas’ had reported $0 in contributions and $0 in expenses for the entire election cycle

May 14th: $42k Xfinity Contracts with Mr. Lucas Discovered

We’ve all seen the fake mailers, received the texts, and seen the illegal signs in the median and right-of-ways around town. It’s pretty obvious Cary is spending money, but there was no way to prove his campaign was spending it, rather than an illegal dark money group. On 5/14/24 we were made aware, through the public filings on the FCC website, that Mr. Lucas had a contract with Xfinity for $42k in TV commercials. This contract requires the candidate to sign a statement affirming that they are abiding by all state and federal election laws. Mr. Lucas clearly lied on that form.

May 16th at 11am: Mr. Lucas files Incomplete and False Campaign Report

On May 15th we sent a letter to Xfinity alerting them to the illegal campaign activity. On 5/16/24 at 11am Mr. Lucas finally filed an incomplete disclosure report. At 11:53am we were forwarded Mr. Lucas’ correspondences with Xfinity, where he said all campaign reports have been filed. (At the time of writing this post, this statement is untrue. He never filed his Personal Financial Disclosure) His incomplete campaign report was clearly filed simply to prevent his ads from being pulled from the air. The incomplete disclosure fails to report $9.5k in contributions, claiming it was an unreported loan he received in January. It was illegal for him to receive a loan before establishing his committee in February, and illegal to fail to report said loan. It appears he was receiving large, illegal, unreported contributions to pay for his consultant. Who’s funding this guy?

He also failed to report the $42k Xfinity contracts, any mailers, texts, facebook ads, merchant fees, or yard signs. In addition to these violations, he reportedly gave himself a $51k loan, and reported his employer as “unknown”. Apparently Cary Lucas is such a shady fellow, he doesn’t even know who’s paying him.

May 16th 3pm: Mr. Lucas Files Amended False Campaign Report

Later in the afternoon, Mr. Lucas filed an amended report attempting to account for the missing $9.5k. This discrepancy was “fixed” by adding two different loans from the candidate, one for $4.5k and one for $5k. The need for this amendment is troubling even on face value, but a closer look at the disclosure raises more red flags. Mr. Lucas reported paying his consultant $5,000 on February 16th, but did not report receiving any funds until February 22nd, when he allegedly loaned himself money. He allegedly spent funds that do not exist. Obviously, that can’t happen. The money does exist, he just doesn’t want to report it to the voters and the ethics commission. That type of dishonesty calls into questions the rest of his report, and his campaign for that matter. Is this the type of “integrity” we want representing us?

May 21st: Voters Send a Message

Mr. Lucas will undoubtedly be hit with countless violations and pay a large fine when this race is over. However, he thinks he can steal this race and just pay the fine afterward. We have NEVER seen such a brazen, illegal strategy in a Georgia House race before. If he gets away with it, will this behavior become normal? The best way to stop it is to send a resounding message at the ballot box on Tuesday; THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

The general public doesn’t often hear about ethics violations. Many times they consist of accounting errors or questionable campaign expenses. Campaigns pour over opponents’ disclosure reports looking for small errors. What they find may constitute an ethics violation, but it’s rarely worthy of a news story. The issue gets hashed out in a hearing, and only a handful of voters ever even know. The process seems mundane, but it’s incredibly important to ensure the integrity of our elections. Before the modern ethics reform, lobbyists and dark money groups were free to buy legislators with lavish gifts and tens of thousands of dollars for the candidate’s personal use. Elected officials got new cars, paid off their mortgage, or got a new pool. The new laws put a stop to that. Unfortunately, Mr. Lucas doesn’t believe the law applies to him. What kind of corruption is he hiding?

All of these issues are incredibly alarming. Rest assured we are doing everything in our power to hold Mr. Lucas accountable, and we are confident the voters will do the same.

Congressman Rich McCormick Endorses Todd Jones

todd@tjventures.net (Todd Jones) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 04:51:51 GMT

Conservative superstar Rich McCormick endorses Todd Jones in bid for re-election

Republican Congressman Rich McCormick endorsed Todd Jones for re-election on Tuesday during his trip to Atlanta to qualify for re-election to Congress. During his brief time in office Congressman McCormick has become popular among conservatives for his leadership in Washington. Here's what he had to say on Tuesday:

"Hey I’m Congressman Rich McCormick. I’m here with Representative Todd Jones. I’m really excited about the things he’s been able to get done on the local level where real government gets done, the most representative government we have. I want to endorse him, say he’s doing a great job, he will continue to fight the good fight, and I want him to be part of this team. I want to grow the church, I want to grow the party, I want to continue looking to the future and he’s a big part of that."

You can see a video of his endorsement here.

Sheriff Ron Freeman Endorses Todd Jones

todd@tjventures.net (Todd Jones) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:23:35 GMT

"Safety isn't just about what happens on our streets; it's about the leaders who shape our future."

"Keeping our community safe has always been my top priority. But safety isn't just about what happens on our streets; it's about the leaders who shape our future.

That's why I'm excited to support my friend Todd Jones. Todd has been serving our community for nearly two decades, from being the president of the elementary school dad’s club to representing us at the state level. Todd works tirelessly to ensure Forsyth County remains the best place to raise a family.

If we had more dads like Todd Jones, it would make my job a lot easier. His dedication to our community's safety, education, and prosperity is exactly what we need.

I’m proud to support Todd Jones for State House, and I hope you’ll do the same.

Thank you, and God bless.”

Sheriff Ron Freeman

Legislative Survey

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 05:01:38 GMT

Make your opinions known by participating in my legislative survey

Please take a moment to complete my legislative survey! This is a great opportunity to make your voice heard and help me better understand the issues that are important to you. You can also join me Saturday for coffee at 9am at Fuel Coffee to share your thoughts in person.

Why do we need an Ai Elections Bill?

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:05:00 GMT

Distrust in the election process creates political instability, which can bleed into economic and social instability, directly impacting your life

Election integrity is an incredibly hot-button issue in American politics, particularly since the 2020 and 2016 elections. In fact, I think it’s been so hot-button, many people have developed “election integrity fatigue”. Frankly, I get it. I’m tired of watching grifters from across the political spectrum–like Jill Stein or Sydney Powell–use wild conspiracies to create doubt about our elections. That doubt creates political instability that can bleed into economic and social instability, negatively impacting our quality of life.

That’s why I’ve worked hard to strengthen voter confidence in our elections. Before we passed election reforms in 2021, only 56% of Georgia voters were confident in the results of our elections. After the 2022 election, that number increased to 73% . The reforms we worked tirelessly to pass are working, and Georgia has since been ranked as the top state in the country for election integrity. At the same time, an incredible 99% of Georgia voters said they had zero issues casting their ballot.

I would love to use this moment to take a victory lap and move on to other issues, but our election law has to keep pace with advances in technology. Like the widespread use of digital advertising in the 2016 election, recent advances in Ai technology could completely change the way campaigns work in 2024.

Ai is more than just a chatbot now, it has the ability to create photos, audio, and video. Just a few weeks ago, Ai was used to create a fake robocall from President Joe Biden encouraging Democrats to stay home on election day. While this particular attempt may run afoul of New Hampshire’s law against voter suppression, there’s little that can be done under current law to prevent future Ai “deep fakes”. Our election laws simply couldn’t foresee this technology.

That’s why I’m co-sponsoring legislation to prevent Ai “deep fakes”. The legislation would not prevent the use of Ai for campaign purposes, but would make it illegal to create fake content portraying another candidate or elected official. If this practice remains legal, campaigns and consultants will eventually add the Ai “deep fake” to their election strategy. That will further erode trust in our election, and create tremendous instability.

I believe this bill should enjoy bipartisan support and will help put guardrails on Ai to ensure it’s a tool used to create economic growth, not a weapon for political turmoil. I am also working to prevent the use of Ai to create pornographic content, which can be used to bully and embarrass with fake depictions of obscene acts. I should be able to provide more information about these efforts soon.

Until then, I hope you will support HB 986. As always, if you have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out. I would be glad to chat with you over coffee this Saturday at 9am at Fuel House Coffee.

Mental Health America Honors Rep. Todd Jones for Championing Mental Health Policy

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 18:15:55 GMT

2019 Pre-Legislative Update

todd@tjventures.net (Todd Jones) — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 15:25:02 GMT

Please take 5 minutes to give us your feedback.

My colleagues and I have put together a short survey to gather your thoughts on the matters facing Georgia. We hope you take the time to contribute and submit. We would love to have your feedback by Wednesday, January 16th. I will distribute the results back to you during the week of January 21st. Please call or text me with any questions or concerns. My mobile is 770-203-9230. Here is the link (please copy & paste into your browser if necessary):

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019_Pre-Legislative_Survey

Volunteer as a Student Page at the Capitol

Come volunteer at the Georgia House of Representatives for a day. If your son or daughter is between 12 and 18 years old, then they are eligible to sign up to page on the floor of the Georgia House. It is a great opportunity for him or her to learn about civic engagement. They will receive $10, lunch and an excused absence from school. Here is the information if your child is interested (please copy & paste into your browser if necessary):

http://www.house.ga.gov/en-US/HousePageProgram.aspx

Legislative Days Coffee

I welcome the opportunity to meet you in person if you have time on Saturday mornings during the legislative session. Our first sit down will be on Saturday, January 19th at 9am. We will meet at The Coffee Lodge within the First Redeemer Church complex. I plan to be there from 9am to 10am and hope I get a chance to meet many of you. I plan to host a coffee discussion from January 19th through March 23rd. If Saturdays do not work for you, then please call or text me at 770-203-9230 to set up a time and place to connect.

Data Analytics Intern

I am looking for a motivated high school or college student interested in entering into the data analytics field. The internship would initially last three months, January through March, with the option to extend through the summer of 2019. The work does not require travel to the Capitol and can be performed from home (or your local coffee shop:)). Please send me your resume or LinkedIn profile to todd.jones@house.ga.gov if you are interested. Thank you!!!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Please reach out to me via text or phone at 770-203-9230 or through email at todd.jones@house.ga.gov if I can be of any assistance.

In your service,

Todd Jones
Georgia State Representative

Meet You in the Next Industrial Revolution

todd@tjventures.net (Todd Jones) — Fri, 11 May 2018 20:23:20 GMT

By Todd Jones Georgia House of Representatives, District 25

May 2, 2018

Georgia sits at a crossroads. Stay the current course and bet on the tried and true or jump into unchartered waters. Our economy is growing, job rates are at an all-time high and our children attend the best schools in the state.

The challenge is where do we go next. We are on the precipice of the next industrial revolution. Augmented intelligence, 3-D printing and autonomous vehicles will fundamentally change our business and personal pursuits and passions. Individually or combined, these three tectonic technology advancements will forever change the way we live.

The examples are endless, but here are a few:

Healthcare – an orthopedic surgeon printing an exact replica of the patient’s knee nearly assuring the perfect fit and less recovery time, IBM Watson, via AI, making a diagnosis of a rare bone cancer because it had “consumed” years of medical journals to “learn” what humans can’t and providing mobility to the elderly and home-bound patients via AV, liberating a whole segment of our population.

Education – empowering teachers to teach and removing the administrative burden by leveraging AI success coaches to handle the mundane and unlock the educator’s passion to change children’s lives. Providing real-time, 3-D modeling to high school robotics teams and higher education engineering students.

As a community and state, it is an imperative that we embrace AI, 3-D and AV. The intersection of these burgeoning technologies and industries like transportation, education, healthcare and of course manufacturing sets up Georgia’s new “north star”. We must rally private enterprise, education and government toward creating a workforce with the right skills, a business ecosystem with limited regulation and cash liquidity and R&D bolstered through deep partnerships between our higher education institutions and businesses of all sizes.

We have seen how the Internet can be the great equalizer. Uber versus taxis, Facebook versus traditional publishing and on and on. Imagine a manufacturing process comprised primarily of three phases – dream it, design it and print it. An entrepreneur could have a customized product on the company web site within days, not weeks or months. Each customer getting it in the color they choose along with their monogram.

Compare that to today. Today’s manufacturing processes are laborious, inefficient and typically do not create a positive return on investment for quarters and in many cases years. Let’s not pick on manufacturing, this can be said about nearly every industry of today.

The core processes existing in the USA are rooted in post-World War II thinking. That mantra drove a massive economic expansion in the 50’s and early 60’s, but like the abacus and corded phones we need to be willing to walk away from what is comfortable.

Setting us up for success means a commitment from each of us. We are all stakeholders in this revolution. Note revolution, not evolution. Evolving has been what we have been doing for decades. Today is our chance to grab tomorrow. The question is, do we have the resolve?

Representative Todd Jones Announces Upcoming Sharon Springs Town Hall

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 20:56:32 GMT

Speaker’s panel to include Peachtree Corners Mayor, UGA Professor, and others to discuss cityhood issue

Forsyth County - Representative Todd Jones (R – South Forsyth) announced today that there will be a Sharon Springs Town Hall on April 26th at South Forsyth High School (Large Gymnasium) to allow citizens a chance to ask questions about the upcoming incorporation vote. The location is yet to be determined.

HB626, The Sharon Springs incorporation bill, was written by Representative Todd Jones and it allows the community to vote on whether to incorporate the area. The Sharon Springs area represents almost 30% of Forsyth residents.

The Town Hall will provide a speaker’s panel to discuss issues around the city include zoning, taxes, services, fiscal impact, and more. Distinguished panelists will include Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason, UGA Professor Jeffery Dorfman, Municipal Attorney Bill Riley, and advocates for and against incorporation.

“I wanted to provide the citizens of our area with the ability to discuss matters related to incorporation and to hear from both sides in a productive and informative manner. Unlike many events held within the county, I wanted include perspectives from those who’ve experienced the incorporation process and have seen the results, as well as local community leaders that are directly impacted by incorporation should it pass. This event will allow for both ‘sides’ to challenge information provided by the panelists in real time, allowing for a robust discussion on the issue,” said Jones.

“We’ve been having the discussion of incorporation for years. Now is the time for a vote and to make sure that both sides are portrayed accurately and fairly. Voters deserve a chance to know the stakes and impact of their vote,” Jones continued.

The event will have 10-12 commonly asked questions and a brief period where the panel will answer questions from the audience. The Town Hall will be limited to 90 minutes, but speakers will be available afterward to answer questions. Both sides will also be allowed to provide information to voters in the form of handouts or flyers.

For more information about the event, contact Representative Todd Jones at todd.jones@house.ga.gov .

Results of the 2018 Legislative Survey

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

I would love to hear back from you after you have time to review the results. For instance, I was a little surprised by the strong support for a northern expansion of mass transit (about 72% support bus, rail or both). My email is todd.jones@house.ga.gov and my mobile is 770-203-9230. Here is the link to the file! https://gallery.mailchimp.com/02f89f467ef4b21c0bc1d13c7/files/bd19b237-62a9-4453-a646-11cae3576b18/District_25_Survey_Answers_Jan_30_2018.pdf

Best regards,

Todd Jones

District 25 State Representative

The 2018 Legislative Session Constituent Survey

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Can you take a moment to provide me with your thoughts on many of the issues that will arise during this legislative session? The survey covers K-12 education, transportation and other key areas. Please click here to access the survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018SurveyforToddJones . Please cut and paste the URL into your browser if the hyperlink is not working.

I truly appreciate the time and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Best regards,

Todd Jones
Georgia House Representative, District 25
Todd.Jones@house.ga.gov
Mobile - +1 770 203 9230

PS - A town hall is being hosted on January 25th at 7pm at Brookwood Elementary School. The hosts include - Forsyth County Commissioners Brown and Semanson, BOE Chair Morrissey, Sheriff Freeman and me. It will be a Q&A format and open to all topics.

Time to Apply for the GA State House Page Program

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is a great opportunity for your son or daughter to experience a day at the Capitol during the upcoming 2018 Legislative Session. Please do the following to apply:

1) Please go to http://www.house.ga.gov/en-US/HousePageProgram.aspx . If the link does not work, go to www.house.ga.gov and click on Page Program (on the left).

2) Please click on the Page Interest Form and fill out all the details, including preferred dates.

3) Please email the completed Page Interest Form to Vanessa Turner, my assistant and me. Vanessa's email is vanessa.turner@house.ga.gov . My email is todd.jones@house.ga.gov .

A few quick things to consider:

1) Your son or daughter must be at least 12 years old.

2) You will need to provide transportation to and from the Capitol.

3) We will provide lunch and dinner if the day goes through 6pm.

4) Your daughter or son will receive $10 for serving and an excused absence from school.

5) Quick note - Session days get longer as we get closer to the 40th day (normally end of March). So, please keep that in mind when you request certain days - January days will typically be the shortest and March a bit longer.

As always, please call, text or email me if you have any questions or concerns. My mobile number is 770-203-9230.

Best regards,

Todd Jones
Georgia House of Representatives
Representative, District 25 (South Forsyth and North Fulton)
Mobile - +1 770 203 9230
Email – todd.jones@house.ga.gov
Committees – Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Economic Development & Tourism and Industry & Labor

Sharon Springs

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Citizens of Forsyth County:
I am consistently asked the same question – why did you sponsor the Sharon Springs bill? The answer is relatively straight-forward:

“Rip the Band Aid Off” once and for all. In other words, we move forward with a second city or not. The community needs a rallying point.
Allow the formation of a Sharon Springs Feasibility Committee appointed by the seven members of the Forsyth State delegation and the five members of the Board of Commissioners. This provided for a twelve-member Committee, three from within the proposed city limits and nine from outside of the proposed city, but all from within the county.
Preserve the right of the community to vote on the city referendum in May of 2018 if the Committee chose to proceed and the Bill was signed by the Governor during the 2018 legislative session.

This report encompasses the work done by the Committee between May and October of 2017. The Committee, over that time frame, met with a myriad of experts, professionals and citizens. Some had a pro-city bent, others opposed the creation of the city and there were neutral parties also. Personally, I learned a lot from each speaker.

What I can assure you is this, this is not a simple issue. There were solid arguments articulated by both sides of the debate. At the end of this process, I truly hope everyone realizes that all sides have viable issues and need to be addressed as we proceed. This is not political rhetoric, but rather a true call to the entire community. This movement could be a force of good but if mishandled, could potentially rip us apart.

I want to thank the members of the Committee, the Forsyth State delegation and the County Board of Commissioners. The Committee demonstrated objectivity throughout the process. I know this was difficult as many walked into the first meeting at West Forsyth HS with a pre-disposition of go, no-go as it relates to a second city in Forsyth County.

Finally, this report is a chance for the Committee to provide you with its thoughts and concerns about city creation. Frankly, I believe it should be required reading before making any decision on the city. The Carl Vinson and Georgia Tech Reports were challenged by the Committee. Neither was taken as sacrosanct, but as guard rails around feasibility and financing.

As the Committee was completing the final draft of this report, we learned that the county voted to commission a second third party report by Georgia State. In addition, the Sharon Springs Alliance may consider commissioning the drafting of another report, in addition to the Carl Vinson conclusions. I hope that both parties seriously consider requiring their new report writers to work with the twelve Committee members. It is folly to believe that any third party can provide numbers in a vacuum. The Committee members can go beyond the numbers and speak to the variety of positions that the citizens have relating to Sharon Springs.

Thank you for taking the time to read this report. We know you are busy, so we have structured it in FAQ style. We hope that this makes it easier to gather information and the pros and cons of each issue.

Best regards,

Todd Jones
State Representative, District 25

Sharon Springs Feasibility Committee Report

Forsyth County Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Forsyth County Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow (Fulton County Info Below)

Location - Laurel Springs Country Club (6400 Golf Club Drive, Suwanee, GA 30024)

Date - Thursday, August 31 2017

Time - 7pm until the last question (please come by after Curriculum Night at the middle schools)

Format - Very quick introductory comments then move immediately into Q&A.

Presenters - Kristin Morrissey, Chair of the Forsyth Board of Education, Laura Semanson, District 5 Forsyth Board of Commissioners and Todd Jones, District 25 State House Representative (north Fulton and south Forsyth).

Can't Make It - Please email us at kmorrissey@forsyth.k12.ga.us, losemanson@forsythco.com or todd.jones@house.ga.gov

___________________________________________________

Forsyth and Fulton Residents

I will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall on September 14th at 7pm on Facebook Live. Please like my Facebook page, TurntoTodd, to ensure the video is streamed to your device. The Virtual Town Hall will be interactive. You will be able to send questions and comments during the event.

Finally, Fulton County residents , I welcome the opportunity to host an in-person town hall in north Fulton soon. Please let me know your thoughts on who you would like to see at the Town Hall. For instance, City Council, County Commissioner, Board of Ed, etc. As a reminder, my email is todd.jones@house.ga.gov and my mobile is 770 203 9230 (please call or text).

___________________________________________________

See you tomorrow night.

Best regards,

Todd

The FOCO Library System will provide Tutor.Com for students and adults.

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I thought you would appreciate this news with school coming up. The FOCO library system has contracted with tutor.com to provide free tutoring to students (and adults) this year. Here is the memo, including FAQs, from the Director. A huge thank you to the library, its leadership and board.

_____________________________
Just in time for the new school year, Forsyth County Public Library is launching Tutor.com to bring students of all ages live, one-to-one homework help from professional tutors online for free. Any community member with a Forsyth County Public Library card can access this new service beginning August 1 from any library computer or from home using an Internet-connected computer or mobile device.

How does Tutor.com work?

Tutor.com helps students be better prepared for class each day by providing one-to-one assistance right when they need it most: at homework time. Beginning August 1, online tutors will be available daily between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and students may access the service by visiting www.forsythpl.org and logging in with their library card account. Tutor.com services are free for all library cardholders.

Which subjects does Tutor.com cover?

Tutor.com includes personalized tutoring, a real-time writing center, test preparation, practice quizzes and 24/7 access to worksheets, videos and tutorials in over 40 subject areas for students in grades K - 12, including math, science, English, Spanish, social studies, and SAT/ACT test preparation.

Can adults use Tutor.com ?

Yes! Tutor.com provides academic tutoring and writing assistance to students through the second year of college. Adult learners can also access job search assistance with professional job search coaches for help with job searching, online applications, resume writing, and interview preparation.

How do I tell my constituents about this free service?

The Library Board and staff are grateful to our funding agencies for their continued support of literacy and educational services for our community. If you’d like to let your constituents know about the free Tutor.com services available through the Library, I encourage you to share this blog post via email and social media.

Sincerely,

Anna Lyle
Director
Forsyth County Public Library
585 Dahlonega Street
Cumming, GA 30040
678-513-9378

Todd Jones - Georgia House District 25

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Georgia sits on the precipice of two burgeoning industries – 3-D Printing (Distributed Manufacturing) and Autonomous Vehicles . We can take leadership in both areas. As a state, we have the know-how, corporate interest and business landscape to succeed. The know-how comes from our citizens, K-12 school system, Technical Schools and Higher Education. The corporate interest has been demonstrated by UPS, Kia and so many others. Finally, Georgia’s business landscape continues to improve with low regulation, high employment rates and a highly-educated workforce; especially in District 25!

The challenge now is to grab the mantle of leadership in 3-D and AV. It is not enough to have all the pieces. We must commit every resource available to a common vision. A vision that ensures alignment of interests, commitment of resources and a path for every Georgian to participate and win. To the latter, this can’t just be the metro-Atlanta initiative but rather one that grabs each Georgian and raises him or her up to a higher level. Together, we can make this happen!

I will be leading a 3-D Printing study group later this summer. This group will meet across Metro Atlanta, southern, northern and central Georgia. The study group’s objective is to work with all stakeholders and craft a recommendation to the Georgia State House by late fall.

The Sharon Springs Study Committee has met twice; once in May and another time in June. The Committee’s next meeting is on July 25th at 6pm at NFHS. The Committee’s initial focus has been on bill review and speaking with different individuals knowledgeable in Forsyth County and municipal laws and regulations. The final meetings will be on August 8th and August 22nd. The August 22nd meeting is reserved for public comment and will start at 6pm. I will send out another newsletter and post on Facebook additional details for the August 22nd meeting. As always, please email, text or call me if you would like to discuss.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the members of the Committee who have committed their time and objectivity. Please be sure to say thank you if you see these gentlemen around Forsyth or Fulton:

JB Bader appointed by State Senator Steve Gooch
Eric Bennett appointed by Commissioner Pete Amos
John Carroll appointed by Commissioner Cindy Mills
Chris Clark appointed by Representative Wes Cantrell
Greg Hammond appointed by Representative Geoff Duncan
Craig Holmes appointed by Commissioner Laura Semanson
Alfred John appointed by Commissioner Rick Swope
David McBrayer appointed by Representative Kevin Tanner
Chris Pike appointed by Representative Sheri Gilligan
Ted Richards appointed by Commissioner Todd Levent
SreeRam Royyala appointed by Representative Todd Jones

Tommy Walke appointed by State Senator Michael Williams

I hope everyone is having a good summer. I know the summer is tough for everyone’s schedules, so the Town Hall meetings are all scheduled after the start of school. In the interim, please email, call or text me. I’ve had numerous one-on-one constituent meetings and look forward to meeting all of you. I’d love to hear from you if you have time to connect one-on-one this summer. In the meantime, here is the Town Hall schedule for August and September:

Town Hall Meeting (North Fulton County) – August 17, 2017 @ 7pm (location is TBD)
Town Hall Meeting (South Forsyth County) – August 31, 2017 @ 7pm (location is TBD)

Town Hall Meeting (Virtual) – September 14, 2017 @ 7pm (Facebook Live)

AT&T is providing a great opportunity to help change the world right here in ATL. We have a ton of tech talent in District 25; so, I hope a team from our area brings home the big prize of $40,000! Here is the information:

AT&T, in collaboration with the City of Atlanta and Code for Atlanta, recently announced the launch of the Atlanta Civic Coding Competition (C3), which offers the public an opportunity to help solve some of Atlanta’s toughest challenges through an app challenge.

The C3 program will allow individuals and teams from the nonprofit, start-up and educational communities to help make #AtlantaSmarter by developing an app using open-sourced data that seeks to solve city challenges. Individuals and teams will compete to develop an innovative app with the chance to win as much as $40,000.  AT&T, the City of Atlanta and Code for Atlanta believe technology innovation can help transform communities across Georgia.

As a leader in the Internet of Things and smart cities solutions, AT&T is utilizing our technology expertise and our relationships in the developer community to help Atlanta and cities across Georgia address the issues most important to their citizens. We are proud to work with Mayor Kasim Reed and Code for Atlanta on this competition, helping create an even more connected Atlanta.

By connecting things like lighting, water, parking, energy grids and public transportation to the Internet, AT&T is helping cities save money, preserve natural resources and build better relationships with their citizens. These innovative, intelligent solutions create more livable cities today and are a powerful bridge to the future.  In Atlanta, city leaders, led by Mayor Reed, have been working together with its world-class business community on technology-based solutions to address daily infrastructure challenges — traffic issues, power outages, water leaks and more. The solutions are the result of a collaborative effort to bring together experts to build world–class solutions, enabling smart cities that are connected as a part of the Internet of Things.

“We are always working to attract and support companies committed to investing in Atlanta and improving the quality of life for our residents,” Mayor Reed said. “This competition brings out the best in Atlanta’s technology community and demonstrates how innovation and collaboration will continue to make Atlanta a smart city leader.”

Registration for the C3 program closes June 30 , and app submissions will be taken from July 1 through July 31 . Judging will occur in August, with the winners announced in September. First place submission will win $40,000; second place submission will win $15,000; and third place submission will win $5,000.  For additional information, please visit http://engage.att.com/c3Atlanta .

Sincerely,
Bill Leahy
 President — AT&T Georgia 
Visit us at: georgia.att.com .

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.

Best regards,

Todd
Representative, District 25

Virtual Town Hall

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

March 9, 2017 @ 7pm

Be sure to like the Turn to Todd Facebook page @ fb.com/turntotodd . The FB Live video will start right at 7pm EST this Thursday. The recording will be available immediately after the meeting.

First Virtual Town Hall Scheduled for February 13th

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The month of January flew by in Atlanta. We have already completed twelve of the forty days we are expected to be in session this year. Key dates to keep in mind:

Crossover Date (28th day of session this year – March 3rd).
Final Day of Session (40th day of session – March 30 2017).

I have been assigned to three committees:

Budget Affairs and Oversight
Economic Development and Tourism
Industry and Labor

In addition, I am leading the effort on House Bill 194 that will require local municipalities (e.g. counties and cities) to take school impact(s) and overcrowding into consideration when making any zoning or variance decision.

Further, I would like to thank Elizabeth Pehrson, Executive Director of The Exchange, for allowing me to host my South Forsyth Town Hall at their facility. In addition, thank you to Dan McCabe and the Seven Oaks HOA Board for permitting to host my North Fulton Town Hall at their Clubhouse.

Finally, I want to announce my first Virtual Town Hall on Facebook Live and remind everyone about my contact information and public calendar:

Virtual Town Hall – I will host the first House District 25 Virtual Town Hall on Monday, February 13th at 7pm EST. Please go to my Representative Facebook Page – Todd Jones ( FB.com/TurntoTodd ) a few minutes before 7pm on the 13th. Please be sure to Like the page so you have access to the Town Hall.
Contact Information – As a reminder, my mobile is 770 203 9230. Please text or call me. My email is todd.jones@house.ga.gov .
Public Calendar – My public calendar is at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=5f37mjcae193irftq5n9pb4u7c%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New York . Please remember to email, call or text me if you are meeting me for coffee or breakfast. Here are some key dates:
1. February 13th – Virtual Town Hall @ 7pm
2. February 18th – Breakfast @ 9am (call, email or text if attending)
3. February 20th – Reserved Time for Calls @ 6:30pm
  1. Please text me if you ever need to speak. We can set up a time for a call via text. I am happy to take a call to address any concern or question.
4. March 3rd – Coffee @ 9am (call, email or text if attending)

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.

Best regards,

Todd
Representative, District 25

Todd Jones State House Representative-Elect – District 25 Update

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I look forward to representing you in Atlanta and around the State. Session will commence on January 9, 2017 and is expected to continue through the end of March 2017. In preparation of taking the oath and serving you, I wanted to share some information and ask for your assistance.

First, I would like to thank Mike Dudgeon. Since my announcement of my intention to run, he has been a true mentor. He is giving of his time, knowledge, opinion and support. I joke with Tracey, my better half, that I need to speak with Obi Wan when I am on my way to meet Mike for another prep discussion. A genuine thank you Mike.

Further, through the process of deciding to run, campaigning, the election and getting prepared to take office, one thing has been abundantly clear to me: Things are changing around here, and quickly. This rapid rate of change has caused a lot of frustration in the community. As a long-time resident, I feel it too. My sincere goal in serving is to help make this change positive. To do this, I need your input, participation and partnership. I have some things I am going to do to accelerate our collaboration and make me more effective in representing the citizens of District 25. Please review the information and call-to-action sections below.

Hyperlinks to Key Topics in this Update –

Informational	Call to Action
Town Hall Meetings	District 25 Advisory Committee
Calendar Sharing	Internships
Contact Information

Information sharing:

Town Hall Meetings
1. Face-to-Face – I hosted a town hall on January 5th and plan another one in North Fulton on January 17th. I will let you know the time and place shortly.
2. Virtual – I will host virtual town hall sessions the end of January and February. We will get the conferencing information out by the second week of January.
Calendar Sharing
1. Google Calendar – the link to my calendar is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=5f37mjcae193irftq5n9pb4u7c%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New York . I have reserved weekday and weekend days for phone calls, coffee, breakfast and lunch meetings. I would like to use these calls and meetings to discuss issues that are top of mind for you. Google allows me to share my calendar, but it will not permit me to give edit rights. Hence, please email, text or call me if you would like to schedule one of the time slots. Please note, I have scheduled first quarter 2017 in the calendar. I will schedule second and third quarter events by February 2017.
Contact Information
1. Email and Phone – I will not be given my House email account until January 9th. Please use todd@jonesfor.us during the interim. My mobile is 770 203 9230. Please email, text or call me if I can be of assistance.

I need your help in the following areas:

District 25 Advisory Committee
1. Members –There will be a myriad of bills regarding topics where I do not have significant substantive experience. I am asking for your assistance. Yes, there will be a multitude of stakeholders telling me about the good and bad of each bill, but I need colleagues, like you, to better inform me how a bill may or may not impact a certain industry. I would appreciate your help all year long, but especially during Session. My ask would be that you would review the bill then have a quick call with me to walk me through the issues presented. Here are the areas I need the most coverage:
  1. Transportation
  2. Healthcare (hospital administration, insurance, medical, etc.)
  3. Energy (generation, alternative energy, etc.)
  4. Travel & Tourism (hotel, airline, etc.)
  5. Education (K-12 and Higher Education).
2. Please email, text or call if you would like to become a member of the Advisory Committee.
Internships
1. Interns. I would like to appoint two interns for this coming Session. Their primary tasks would include – a) reviewing bills, b) drafting executive summaries and c) coordinating constituent contacts. These are unpaid positions, but do provide the interns with a closer look at the legislative process and a good networking opportunity. I will give preference to students (graduate, undergraduate then HS) who live in House District 25 (or have family in District 25). Please let me know via email of your interest.

I look forward to working with each of you in the future. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Todd Jones
Representative-Elect, District 25

Pre-Session Legislative Update 2017

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:36:00 GMT

First, I would like to thank Mike Dudgeon. Since my announcement of my intention to run, he has been a true mentor. He is giving of his time, knowledge, opinion and support. I joke with Tracey, my better half, that I need to speak with Obi Wan when I am on my way to meet Mike for another prep discussion. A genuine thank you Mike.

Further, through the process of deciding to run, campaigning, the election and getting prepared to take office, one thing has been abundantly clear to me: Things are changing around here, and quickly. This rapid rate of change has caused a lot of frustration in the community. As a long-time resident, I feel it too. My sincere goal in serving is to help make this change positive. To do this, I need your input, participation and partnership. I have some things I am going to do to accelerate our collaboration and make me more effective in representing the citizens of District 25. Please review the information and call-to-action sections below.

Hyperlinks to Key Topics in this Update –

Information sharing:

I need your help in the following areas:

Please email, text or call if you would like to become a member of the Advisory Committee

I look forward to working with each of you in the future. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Todd Jones

Representative-Elect, District 25

Unbelievable.

Mon, 23 May 2016 22:02:00 GMT

That’s the only word I can think of to describe today’s last minute smear by my opponent. You read that right. Today. One day before the election. Worse, the flyer includes doctored photos, fake quotes, and accusations without a single citation of proof. It’s literally made up out of thin air. I guess it’s not surprising coming from a candidate that’s already been fined for

That’s the only word I can think of to describe today’s last minute smear by my opponent.

You read that right. Today. One day before the election.

Worse, the flyer includes doctored photos, fake quotes, and accusations without a single citation of proof. It’s literally made up out of thin air.

I guess it’s not surprising coming from a candidate that’s already been fined for breaking elections laws this year and has never voted in a single Republican primary.

The facts are simple: It is an outright lie that I do not support the Religious Freedom Act. It’s also an outright lie that I support the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage. My position has been clear and consistent since I entered this race.

It is disgusting and nothing more than typical gutter politics at its worst. Stuart Jones has lied to your family and should be ashamed of himself for bringing this filth into our community.

Unlike Stuart Jones, however, I will not run that type of campaign. I simply refuse to lie about Stuart and his record. The truth about him is all that one needs to see.

As Pastor Andy at North Point said yesterday, I will not “use someone else’s behavior as an excuse to behave badly.”

Instead of waiting until the last minute to try and con you, I will talk about how I walked the conservative walk throughout my life.

I have created jobs and built businesses. I fought for private sector solutions to improve education and to stop Common Core. I’ve worked with others to stop overdevelopment in our community that prioritizes developers over our citizens. I have also worked to elect conservatives by voting in Republican primaries. I have made it abundantly clear that I supported the Religious Freedom bill passed by our legislature this year.

I encourage you to see who has endorsed me or certified me on an issue. My support comes from some of the most conservative members of the General Assembly, Mike Dudgeon, and the newest member of the Forsyth state delegation Sheri Gilligan.

I also have the backing of every homeowner group fighting overdevelppment including Fix Forsyth Traffic and the Homeowners Coalition.

And conservative Erick Erickson stated today that “all the conservatives we have helped elect are supporting Todd Jones.”

I have been certified pro-life by the Georgia Life Alliance, achieved the highest ranking, for a non-elected official from the NRA, signed the Georgia Fair Tax pledge, signed the ATR pledge to never raise taxes and committed to serve no more than eight years, if you choose to keep me.

In the end, that is why I ask that you research all of the facts in this race. There you will see that I have walked the walk. I believe we need a representative who has been fighting on the conservative frontlines for years, not one that just decided to get involved this year. Only I have done that.

That’s why I ask for you to turn to me, Todd Jones, for State House. I believe my past actions demonstrate that I have walked the walk.

Like Common Core, Stuart Jones’ Math Doesn’t Add Up

Mon, 16 May 2016 17:10:00 GMT

At its most basic, we all know the problem with Common Core: it teaches students that 2+2 doesn’t really equal 4. Now my opponent, Stuart Jones, is using “Common Core” campaign math that doesn’t add up either. As a first time candidate for office, I must admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect. We’ve all seen races turn on manipulations and distorting a person’s

As a first time candidate for office, I must admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect. We’ve all seen races turn on manipulations and distorting a person’s record, but until you are the one in the arena, you can never be quite certain about how your opponents will attack you.

While I have never mentioned my opponent’s name in a mailer, online or in any advertising until Friday, my opponent has continued to make erroneous assertions about me since the day he announced. They’re mostly silly, really. Things like “I refuse to debate.” (which if you’ve ever met me, I’ve never been one to shy away from giving my opinion.)

That said, I was quite amazed about the latest desperate “attack” against me by my opponent that I support common core.

The math that Stuart Jones uses to get to his conclusion, really, is just like Common Core math: It makes no sense.

First and foremost, I have earned the support of one of Forsyth County’s – and Georgia’s most conservative Representatives, Sheri Gilligan. Anyone who knows her can attest, as one of the fiercest critics of Common Core, she would not back me if I supported it.

After Stuart’s ridiculous attack, Sheri Gilligan even issued the following statement: “I am a staunch opponent of Common Core. When I met with Todd, one of my first questions was where he stood on Common Core and important education matters. Todd unequivocally opposes Common Core. He also strongly opposes all federal encroachment in our schools, wants local control of education, and supports school choice. These were part of the reasons I endorsed and continue to support Todd Jones for State House.”

Our current State Representative Mike Dudgeon has endorsed my campaign, and because Mike sponsored legislation ending Common Core in Georgia, Stuart Jones states I support common core.

Yes, you read that right.

I have served as a 14 year advisor to the Florida Virtual School (FVS) the largest PUBLIC virtual and blended school in the country serving 325,000 enrollments in Florida and over 2.5M in the rest of the world. I worked with school systems throughout the USA and outside of the country. That experience solidified for me the importance of state and local control of standards, even if that means turning away federal dollars. We cannot sacrifice our children’s education for a quick and easy dollar.

As a candidate with children that currently attend or have graduated from Forsyth County Public Schools, no one has been more dedicated than I to stopping Common Core.

I actually have a track record of opposing Common Core and finding education solutions that work. The fact is we need to do more for our children. For instance, we need to provide personalized solutions that cater to each child’s learning style and level. My K-12 experience taught me that curricula variety and choices drive greater learning because each child is not the same! Common Core does not provide that flexibility.My opponent’s attacks simply ring hollow in the light of the truth and are an indictment of the status quo of campaigns today. Fighting back against this system is why I am running for office.

You see, unlike so many career politicians, I believe that when you say you will do something, you do your darndest to get it done. And you should always be honest on where you stand.

That is why, unlike my opponent, I would never pledge to deny all outside support from special interest groups, but hold a secret, closed door meeting with a group tied to my personal financial interests and that gives money to Democrats.

Rather than be secretive, I would tell you about the groups I have earned the support of and will work with.

I am honored to have earned the support of people like Greg Dolezal, Founder of Fix Forsyth Traffic.

He endorsed me and I am prepared to work with his organization because, as residents of Forsyth County, we know that it will take a joint effort to rein in the overdevelopment that is plaguing our community. We will work to implement a plan that reverses the recent trends to get our cars moving and ensure our schools are not seas of trailers.

I am also willing to stand with our state and nation’s leading conservative groups. I signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge to never raise taxes because I didn’t want this commitment to be empty words; I wanted you to be able to hold me accountable.

I am also the only candidate to be certified pro-life by the Georgia Life Alliance. I am unbending in my commitment to protect life and unafraid to stand with those who will do the same.

This is where I stand, and I trust that you’ll be able to determine the difference between political rhetoric and the facts. And unlike my opponent, when I tell you something, you can bet it will add up.

Will You Turn To Todd?

Tue, 03 May 2016 23:49:00 GMT

If you told me 5 years ago I would be knocking on doors campaigning for my husband, I would have believed it. Not because Todd has always wanted to run for office, but because he has always been dedicated to helping our community. He also happens to be the hardest working man I know. He has managed to build and run quite a few successful

He also happens to be the hardest working man I know. He has managed to build and run quite a few successful companies over the years, all while being a loyal husband and committed father to our four kids. And somehow, he manages to find the time to volunteer at our children’s schools and help better our community whenever an opportunity presents itself.

As I hit the campaign trail and talk to voters about Todd’s plan, one of the more common questions I get is, “Is he actually going to DO anything?” And my response is always the same. Look to what he has already done to see what he will do as your representative. As they say, the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior, and there is plenty for us to look to in order to see what we can expect from Todd in the State House.

He’s created businesses from the ground up. He’s developed high-paying technical jobs.. He was named co-volunteer of the year for Forsyth County Schools. And he has already started working with Mike Dudgeon to prepare himself for what to expect at the State Capitol if he has the chance to represent District 25.

I turned to Todd 23 years ago and never looked back, and I’d like to ask all of you to turn to Todd on May 24th when you go to the polls. He won’t let you down.

– Tracey

Relentless Conservative Todd Jones Certified Pro-Life by Georgia Life Alliance

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 13:14:00 GMT

The only candidate in the race so far to receive the pro-life certification (Forsyth and Fulton Counties) Last week, Todd Jones became the first candidate in the House District 25 race to be certified pro-life by Georgia Life Alliance, the state’s official affiliate of National Right to Life. “I believe being pro-life is about more than just supporting laws to prevent abortions. It’s about making

The only candidate in the race so far to receive the pro-life certification

(Forsyth and Fulton Counties) Last week, Todd Jones became the first candidate in the House District 25 race to be certified pro-life by Georgia Life Alliance, the state’s official affiliate of National Right to Life.

“I believe being pro-life is about more than just supporting laws to prevent abortions. It’s about making sure women across our state have access to and are informed about positive alternatives to abortion so they can choose life for their unborn child.

When elected, I will work with GLA to support conservative, common sense reforms that promote a culture of life in Georgia. Specific steps we can take to achieve this goal include making it easier to adopt and reforming our foster care system.

I’m proud of the work our state legislature did this year to help provide women with positive alternatives to abortion. Senate Bill 308, a bill that creates a grant program to provide funds for non-profit pregnancy resource centers that provide positive alternatives to abortion, was passed and sent to the governor’s desk.

I’m happy to receive Georgia Life Alliance’s pro-life certification, and I look forward to working with members of the State House in their efforts to promote life in our state.”

Another Grassroots Endorsement Rolls in For Relentless Conservative Todd Jones

Tue, 05 Apr 2016 13:59:00 GMT

Well-known community leader and faith-based public speaker Elizabeth Pehrson announces her endorsement of Todd Jones (Forsyth and Fulton Counties) Elizabeth Pehrson, another well-known leader in the Forsyth County community, has joined a growing list of supporters backing Todd Jones for State House. “I’ve known Todd Jones for eight years, and his record of leadership and commitment to our community is second to none. Todd has

Well-known community leader and faith-based public speaker Elizabeth Pehrson announces her endorsement of Todd Jones

(Forsyth and Fulton Counties) Elizabeth Pehrson, another well-known leader in the Forsyth County community, has joined a growing list of supporters backing Todd Jones for State House.

“I’ve known Todd Jones for eight years, and his record of leadership and commitment to our community is second to none. Todd has been on the front lines fighting to ensure the best interests of homeowners, students, and families are well represented at every level.

As school overcrowding increasingly threatens the quality of our schools, we have an opportunity to send someone to the Gold Dome who has our students’ best interests at heart. Todd has been an active part of our local school system, having received the Co-Volunteer of the Year award in 2010 from the Forsyth County Public Schools. We know he is dedicated to our children.

Further, our community faces a number of other challenges stemming from the unrestrained development that has been allowed to occur. Todd is a homeowner and parent from our community that understands these challenges. We can turn to Todd to get us back on the right track. Please join me in voting for him on May 24 ^th .”

Elizabeth Pehrson is best known for her public speaking engagements on faith based parenting and relationship strategies through programs at many local churches, including NorthPoint Ministries and Creekside UMC. She has served as the Shiloh Point Elementary PTA President, on the Parent Advisory Council as well as led in various roles on all three levels of the local school system. She is currently serving/leading a large community of women called The Exchange.

Pehrson’s endorsement marks the fourth grassroots endorsement for Todd Jones as he continues to build momentum heading into the primary. Early voting for the House District 25 race begins on May 2 ^nd .

Community Leaders Continue to Rally Around Conservative Todd Jones

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 17:44:00 GMT

Sharon Springs Alliance leader Phillip Barlag joins growing list of supporters (Forsyth County) Relentless Conservative Todd Jones continues to rack up support from community leaders in Forsyth County. Today, Phillip Barlag, leader of the grassroots organization Sharon Springs Alliance, announced his endorsement of Jones’ campaign. Barlag issued the following statement: “As the only candidate in this race from Forsyth County, Todd understands the issues that

Sharon Springs Alliance leader Phillip Barlag joins growing list of supporters

(Forsyth County) Relentless Conservative Todd Jones continues to rack up support from community leaders in Forsyth County. Today, Phillip Barlag, leader of the grassroots organization Sharon Springs Alliance, announced his endorsement of Jones’ campaign. Barlag issued the following statement:

“As the only candidate in this race from Forsyth County, Todd understands the issues that are most important to our families.

As a homeowner, Todd knows that something must be done about steadily rising property taxes and stagnant property values. As a parent, Todd knows we must reign in overdevelopment that is negatively impacting our schools. As an active member of our community, Todd knows the importance of allowing us to decide for ourselves how this community is represented at the local level.

Todd will fight for our interests at the state capitol, and he will protect our right to decide the future of Sharon Springs for ourselves. We can trust him to represent us at the state capitol, and not bow down to special interests when things get tough. That’s why I’m turning to Todd on May 24th.”

Barlag’s endorsement follows an announcement last week that Rep. Dudgeon had introduced revised legislation to allow for a vote on Sharon Springs. By introducing the bill before officially leaving office, Dudgeon has given his replacement a head start when it comes to deciding the future of Sharon Springs. South Forsyth residents could decide the issue by a vote some time in 2017.

Jones voiced his appreciation for Barlag’s support:

“Phillip has done an extraordinary job leading the Sharon Springs movement. As a resident of Forsyth County, I understand the strain that has been placed on our infrastructure over the last few years and the importance of letting voters decide this important issue. I look forward to seeing this through if elected to serve House District 25.”

Fix Forsyth Traffic Founder Green Lights Todd Jones for State House

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:30:00 GMT

Marking the third grassroots endorsement in as many weeks for Jones’ campaign (South Forsyth and North Fulton) Yet another grassroots leader in Forsyth County has announced their endorsement of conservative businessman Todd Jones in his campaign for State House. Greg Dolezal, founder of Fix Forsyth Traffic and a respected leader in the community, issued the following statement Friday morning: “I am excited to support a

Marking the third grassroots endorsement in as many weeks for Jones’ campaign

(South Forsyth and North Fulton) Yet another grassroots leader in Forsyth County has announced their endorsement of conservative businessman Todd Jones in his campaign for State House. Greg Dolezal, founder of Fix Forsyth Traffic and a respected leader in the community, issued the following statement Friday morning:

“I am excited to support a proven leader that will represent the interests of Forsyth and North Fulton residents. Someone who is a member of this community that understands the issues we face. Todd Jones has demonstrated leadership and a commitment to this community that is unparalleled. I urge those of you that care about better schools, safer roads, and lower taxes to get out and vote for Todd Jones on May 24th.”

Dolezal’s announcement follows a steady outpouring of support from other community leaders, business owners, and elected officials in Forsyth County.

Early voting for the House District 25 race begins on May 2nd.

Relentless Conservative Todd Jones voices his support for term limits

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 20:03:00 GMT

Today, business executive Todd Jones qualified to run for the State House seat being vacated by retiring State Representative Mike Dudgeon. Shortly after qualifying, Jones issued his strong support for enacting term limits on elected officials. “I’m not a career politician, and running for office is not my retirement plan. I believe our elected officials should be held to the same standards that we set

“I’m not a career politician, and running for office is not my retirement plan. I believe our elected officials should be held to the same standards that we set for our Governor and our President. Serving is a privilege, and should not be viewed as a career. As your representative, I will do everything in my power to fight for term limits legislation in Georgia and Washington D.C.”

Forsyth HOA & Homeowners Founder Endorses Relentless Conservative Todd Jones for State House

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 21:17:00 GMT

Marks the third major endorsement for the Jones campaign before qualifying (Forsyth County) Founder and leader of Forsyth HOA & Homeowners, Kristen Stevens, announced her endorsement of businessman Todd Jones for State House on Friday morning, issuing the following statement: “The residents of south Forsyth have an opportunity to send a strong advocate for homeowners to the state legislature. After years of overdevelopment and rising

Marks the third major endorsement for the Jones campaign before qualifying

(Forsyth County) Founder and leader of Forsyth HOA & Homeowners, Kristen Stevens, announced her endorsement of businessman Todd Jones for State House on Friday morning, issuing the following statement:

“The residents of south Forsyth have an opportunity to send a strong advocate for homeowners to the state legislature. After years of overdevelopment and rising property taxes in south Forsyth, it is more important than ever that we elect a candidate who is part of our community and who understands the challenges we face.

That’s why, on May 24th, I will be voting for Todd Jones for State House.

Todd has a proven record of leadership and unwavering dedication to our community and I know that he will be the voice we need under the Gold Dome.”

Relentless Conservative Todd Jones Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 01:45:00 GMT

(Forsyth County) Business executive Todd Jones today announced his signing of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge to never raise taxes. He is the first candidate in the race for House District 25 to sign the pledge. “Today I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge from Americans for Tax Reform. Too often, candidates do not want to be held accountable for the promises they make

(Forsyth County) Business executive Todd Jones today announced his signing of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge to never raise taxes. He is the first candidate in the race for House District 25 to sign the pledge.

“Today I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge from Americans for Tax Reform. Too often, candidates do not want to be held accountable for the promises they make when running for office. That’s why I’m proud to be the first in this race to let taxpayers know where I stand by signing the pledge to never raise taxes.”, said Jones.

Todd Jones’ campaign has enjoyed strong support from community leaders, homeowner groups, business owners, and conservative Republicans since his announcement last month.

Join Us For Todd Jones’ Campaign Kickoff!

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:39:00 GMT

We hope you can join us for Todd’s campaign kickoff at the Creekstone Clubhouse on March 1st. This will be a great opportunity to meet Todd and discuss the issues most important to you and your family. You can RSVP by clicking the link below!

Another Forsyth Legislator Announces Support for Relentless Conservative Todd Jones

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:08:00 GMT

Campaign continues momentum on heels of endorsement by Rep. Sheri Gilligan. International business executive and Republican State House candidate Todd Jones continues to solidify his support among conservative legislators. Representative Sheri Gilligan, one of Forsyth County’s most conservative members in the State House, today announced her unwavering support for Todd Jones in his campaign to replace outgoing Representative Mike Dudgeon in House District 25. Representative

Campaign continues momentum on heels of endorsement by Rep. Sheri Gilligan.

International business executive and Republican State House candidate Todd Jones continues to solidify his support among conservative legislators. Representative Sheri Gilligan, one of Forsyth County’s most conservative members in the State House, today announced her unwavering support for Todd Jones in his campaign to replace outgoing Representative Mike Dudgeon in House District 25.

Representative Gilligan issued the following statement:

“My dear friend and colleague Mike Dudgeon has decided not to seek re-election. His replacement needs to continue to fight for smaller government, fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility.

Todd Jones is that man.

Unlike many politicians today, Todd is driven by service for others and not selfish ambition. Todd is a true constitutional conservative and believes that stronger families, not bigger government, hold the key to prosperity. Todd is proudly pro-life, will never vote to restrict our second amendment rights, has been a strong advocate for education reform and innovation, and opposes any attempt to raise taxes

The people of the south Forsyth and north Fulton will be well served by Todd Jones and I am proud to support a conservative like him.”

Representative Gilligan’s announcement comes after retiring State Representative Mike Dudgeon issued his endorsement of Todd Jones to replace him in the State House.

Jones’ campaign has enjoyed significant support from business owners, community leaders, and fellow Republicans since his announcement and has secured over $75,000 in donations to fund his efforts to keep this seat in the hands of a conservative Republican.

Representative Mike Dudgeon Endorses Todd Jones For State House

Fri, 05 Feb 2016 19:18:00 GMT

Outgoing state representative Mike Dudgeon announced his full support of Todd Jones for State House District 25 on Thursday with the following statement: “Todd Jones is a great fit for our community. His business background and commitment to our conservative values will help lead our community forward. Todd has proven leadership skills and I know he can get the job done for us in Atlanta.”

Outgoing state representative Mike Dudgeon announced his full support of Todd Jones for State House District 25 on Thursday with the following statement:

Republican Todd Jones’ Campaign Gains Early Momentum

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:09:00 GMT

One week after declaring his candidacy for State House, international business executive and community leader Todd Jones released fundraising figures showing strong support for his campaign. In total, Jones’ campaign is reporting more than $61,000 in receipts, including a $50,000 personal investment. With no other candidates announcing intentions to challenge Jones’ candidacy, it is clear momentum is building behind the emerging front-runner. Jones’ candidacy follows

One week after declaring his candidacy for State House, international business executive and community leader Todd Jones released fundraising figures showing strong support for his campaign.

In total, Jones’ campaign is reporting more than $61,000 in receipts, including a $50,000 personal investment.

With no other candidates announcing intentions to challenge Jones’ candidacy, it is clear momentum is building behind the emerging front-runner.

Jones’ candidacy follows the announcement of current State Representative Mike Dudgeon’s decision to vacate the seat after the current term. Representative Dudgeon reported just over $30,000 at this same reporting period in his first election.

“Our campaign is built around bringing conservative principles to the capitol to lower the tax burden on families and business, protect our schools, and strengthen Georgia’s business climate”, Jones said. “I believe the outpouring of support of this past week is a clear indication that voters agree that my unique experience as a business executive is best fit to take on career politicians in Atlanta.”

Having never run for office before, Jones currently serves as Executive Vice President of ProcessMAP Corporation, an international EHS technology firm with customers including Johnson Controls, Goodyear, Cardinal Health, John Deere and Walgreens and previously served as Vice President of Cambridge Technology Partners. In addition, Todd has served on several boards in the past including acting as an advisor for the Florida Virtual School, the largest public online education program in the USA that has served over 2,000,000 enrollments in Florida, expanded into the remaining 49 states and 53 countries and has an approximate annual budget of $150 million dollars.

Republican Business Executive, Todd Jones Announces Campaign for House District 25

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:03:00 GMT

(Forsyth and Fulton County, Georgia) – Todd Jones, an accomplished international business executive and community leader who was formerly named the Forsyth County School Board’s Volunteer of the Year, announced his intention to run for House District 25 today, calling for an outsider’s approach to bring a better quality of life to local residents. “Like so many others, I’ve grown tired of politicians who can

(Forsyth and Fulton County, Georgia) – Todd Jones, an accomplished international business executive and community leader who was formerly named the Forsyth County School Board’s Volunteer of the Year, announced his intention to run for House District 25 today, calling for an outsider’s approach to bring a better quality of life to local residents.

“Like so many others, I’ve grown tired of politicians who can only hear their own voices and see each office as a stepping stone for their political ambitions,” Jones said. “I believe in our community and what makes it special; the people and their belief to build a better life for their family. I am a committed conservative who understands a lawmaker’s decisions are about serving his constituents, not making headlines.”

Jones, a committed fiscal and social conservative, is dedicated to bringing Forsyth and Fulton County’s unique concerns to the Georgia Assembly. His platform consists of lowering the tax burden for families and businesses, protecting and enhancing public schools, strengthening the state of Georgia’s business climate to encourage entrepreneurship, and creating more public input, transparency and control in local issues.

The announcement of Todd’s campaign was also accompanied by the endorsement of current State Representative, Mike Dudgeon. “Todd Jones is a great fit for our community. His business background and commitment to our conservative values will help lead our community forward. Todd has proven leadership skills and I know he can get the job done for us in Atlanta” Rep. Dudgeon said.

Jones currently serves as Executive Vice President of ProcessMAP Corporation, an international EHS technology firm with customers including Johnson Controls, Goodyear, Cardinal Health, John Deere and Walgreens and previously served as Vice President of Cambridge Technology Partners. In addition, Todd has served on several boards in the past including acting as an advisor for the Florida Virtual School, the largest public online education program in the USA that has served over 2,000,000 enrollments in Florida, expanded into the remaining 49 states and 53 countries and has an approximate annual budget of $150 million dollars.

Ever since moving to Forsyth County, the Jones Family has been actively involved in the community. Todd co-founded the Shiloh Point Elementary School Dad’s Club in 2009 and was awarded the co-volunteer of the year in 2010 by the Forsyth County Schools for his work. He has served on the Board of Directors for South Forsyth High School’s Touchdown Club and most recently successfully led the effort to bring the Nike Rating Day to Forsyth County.

He and his high school sweetheart Tracey have been married for 23 years and have four children: Justin (19), Bryce (16), Colton (14), and Riley (12). Tracey’s involvement has been centered around their four children where she has served on the Executive Boards of Shiloh Point’s and Piney Grove’s PTAs. In addition, Tracey was appointed multiple times to the Forsyth County Local School Council.

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