Bob Gibeling
Democrat
Occupation: Marketing Consulting
Previous elective office: no.
Other community service experience: Organized public service projects for the Buckhead Business Association, as a Vice President; appointed to the Fulton County AIDS Task Force; organized volunteers to sing Christmas carols door to door in Garden Hills and directed choral music programs for several seniors’ residential towers in Buckhead; elected four times to the governing council of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, serving one term as Vice President.
Q: Why should voters choose you for this position?
A: I will more accurately represent the people of Buckhead. I will never support bad tax ideas that would cause Georgia’s credit rating to be downgraded, as warned by Gov. Nathan Deal, or gut the budget of the Atlanta Public School system, unlike my opponent. My votes will embrace the future with confidence not fear. I will be a bridge to the future, reflecting the strong pro- business attitudes of Buckhead residents, as well as celebrating our diversity. I have broad support, including Buckhead Business Association Republicans and loyal Democrats. I am a man who is a long-time supporter of women’s and LGBT equality,
Q: What is the biggest issue facing the constituents you seek to represent? How will you address that issue?
A: As I go door to door, I hear the biggest challenges Buckhead residents face are rising property taxes and traffic congestion. I will be a strong advocate for ending actions of the legislature which put pressure on local property taxes. For example, unfunded mandates by the legislature dictate what local governments must do but do not provide any funding to accomplish these requirements. It is also a big problem that the Georgia Legislature is the only state government in the nation that has not financially supported the rapid transit system in that state. I will advocate for state funding for MARTA expansion.