Tucker Cityhood Movement Planning Legislature Advocacy

My name is Michelle Penkava. My husband, two children and I have lived in Tucker since 2001. We moved here specifically so our children could attend Livsey Elementary, not only one of the best schools in Georgia, but one that has achieved national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School. Yes, we came for the schools but we stay and we care because we fell in love with the community.

With all of the talk of new cities forming in DeKalb County, I felt particularly moved to get involved with friends and neighbors to see Tucker achieve city hood. Tucker is 121 years old this year, has a thriving Main Street, many dedicated volunteer organizations - both civic and business - and a new progressive Tucker CID. Tucker offers a wonderful balance to its residents, many of who have lived here for decades.

I want to see Tucker realize its full potential. For 121 years, Tucker has been an “unincorporated city.” In other words, a city in the spirit of our community that functions well together, although we have never been officially designated as such by the Georgia General Assembly. I feel the time to act is now, lest we are left behind by other forward thinking communities, or worse, divided into separate communities through the annexation of other cities, new and old.

We need your help. After weeks of community meetings, other Tucker residents chose to move forward and seek an opportunity for cityhood. At a meeting on June 24, over $17,000 was raised. Ninety percent of the necessary $30,000 for the Tucker feasibility study was raised in just four weeks. 

Now that the feasibility study is under way, the advocacy in the legislature must begin to secure a referendum for the citizens of Tucker so that we may have the opportunity to vote on our future. This takes a commitment of time and money. All financial contributions can be made at Tuckertogether.org or Tucker2014.com.

Please educate yourself on this matter by visiting the two websites listed above and share your opinions with your local legislators and county commissioners listed below. Thank you.

Fran Millar, District 40,
404-923-3607 Fran.Millar@senate.ga.gov

Steve Henson, District 41,
404-243-5107 stevehenson@mindspring.com

Mary Margaret Oliver, District 82,
404-377-0485 mmo@mmolaw.com

Michele Henson, District 86,
404-656-7859 michele.henson@house.ga.gov

"Coach" Williams, District 87,
404-656-0202 earnest.williams@house.ga.gov

Billy Mitchell, District 88,
404-656-0126 billy.mitchell@house.ga.gov

Tom Taylor, District 79, 
404-656-0152, tom.taylor@house.ga.gov

Mike Jacobs, District 80, 
404-590-7377, repjacobs@gmail.com

Elaine Boyer, County Commissioner, District 1
404-371-2844 ecboyer@dekalbcountyga.gov

Stan Watson, County Commissioner, Super District 7
404-371-3681 stanwatson@dekalbcountyga.gov