Candidate Name: Aaron “Adot” Whitely
Candidate’s Preferred Pronouns
He/Him
What office are you running for?
District 6 Commissioner on Chatham County, Georgia’s Board of Commissioners
With which party are you running for office?
Democratic Party
Election Date
Primary:May 19, 2020; General: November 3, 2020
Why are you running for office?
I have worked in the community as an athletic coach, community volunteer and in various board capacities and have seen the ground level of the policies being implemented by our government. I want to help bring a spirit of cohesion and unity to the table while enacting meaningful policies that positively affect our district and our county as a whole. I am fearless in addressing the issues that some may be afraid to address, I believe I have the skills and attributes to represent our district well from the richest to the poorest and from the average citizen to the business owner.
What is the biggest issue facing your community and how do you propose helping?
Transparency/Government Engagement- Our district has had low turnout in elections and in public forums, it is obvious that there is a disconnect between the citizens and the government. Often times there is a misunderstanding of what portion of government is responsible for what(county/city). I want to help bridge that communication gap by encouraging more outreach from the county government to; A.)Keep a pulse on what the community needs, wants and is expecting from their government. B.) Get the public’s opinion on potential changes, implementations and initiatives the County is looking to implement. I think we can do that by creating a polling database that can only be accessed by residents of districts based on voter registration a DDS data for addresses, Allow them the opportunity to voice what they feel is necessary for the community rather than always dictating it to them.
How do we fix the partisan divide in our country and start working together again?
- Empathy
Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean I can’t see from your point of view. Treat others how we want to be treated, understand that we can peacefully disagree as the exchange of opposing views helps get to solutions. We need leaders who are willing to be the example of this, respectfully disagreeing but being willing to talk more to get to find common ground. - Equity
When people have the tools to do better most of the time they do better. We need to encourage and express this to our colleges across the aisle.
Who is your hero?
Barack Obama
What are your hobbies?
I like to play and watch sports and socialize with people from different backgrounds. I enjoy cooking and listening to music.
What is the most recent book you read?
The Conservative Heart by Arthur Brooks
Do you have any kids/pets/talking houseplants?
3 kids and a Goldendoodle named Jinx
How can our readers get involved in your campaign?
They can message the campaign via the website or on Facebook.
Candidate Social Media:
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Post created from answers submitted by candidate to our Meet the Candidate survey.
