Voters Talk SPLOST, Sunday Alcohol Sales

Patricia E. Garrett lives in the City of Stone Mountain, where three council races -- two of them uncontested -- Sunday alcohol sales and Educational SPLOST were on the ballot.

"Yes, alcohol sales should go through," Garrett said. "If people are going to drink, why should they stock up on Saturday?" She voted "no" to E-SPLOST.

Venet Charles voted for the only item on the ballot in unincorporated DeKalb, E-SPLOST.

"I think it's OK for us to be taxed," said Charles, who went to to vote. "We need to get over that."

But Lawrence Buchthal, who accompanied Garrett to the gym where she voted, doesn't agree with extending E-SPLOST. He lives in unincorporated DeKalb.

"I don't mind paying taxes," he said, but added that he does mind how DeKalb County spends the money.

Four candidates, including an incumbent, are running for the City Council's Post 2 seat:

• Claus Friese;
• Denise D. Glenn;
• Mozell Sims Hurley;
• Cyril Mungal (incumbent).

City council member Richard Mailman, Post 1, and Mayor Pro Tem Chakira Johnson Sallee, Post 3, are unopposed in their respective races.

Local voters are also deciding whether to renew the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST) - the measure to continue a 1 cent sales tax intended for for DeKalb, Decatur, and Atlanta school systems.

Stay tuned to Stone Mountain-Redan Patch for a live blog of the election results starting at 7 p.m.