Voters will soon decide whether to re-elect District 3 Council Member Alexis Weaver or elect newcomer Sam Ulrich. Rough Draft sent both District 3 candidates a list of three questions about their backgrounds and the topics that Tucker residents are most concerned about as they travel the campaign trail.
Below, Alexis Weaver and Sam Ulrich share their answers, which have been edited for length.
Alexis Weaver
Email: alexis@alexis4tucker.com
Website: www.Alexis4Tucker.com
1. What led you to run for office?
I decided to run for the Tucker City Council in 2021 because I couldn’t stay silent when our city passed an urban camping ban that criminalized people simply for being unhoused – despite wide community opposition. As a nonprofit leader focused on stakeholder-led decision-making, I’ve spent 20-plus years helping cities work to end poverty and improve the lives of people with disabilities. During my campaign and throughout my first term, I have advocated for stronger partnerships with DeKalb County and with regional and local service providers, pushed for the creation of a homelessness and mental-health coordinator position to connect unhoused residents with services, and called for a city-convened coalition that brings nonprofits, faith groups, and businesses together to address the root causes of homelessness. I saw the potential for Tucker to grow into a community where everyone can thrive, and I believed my experience could help make that vision a reality.
Those motivations still guide me today. I’m running for re-election to continue providing inclusive, experienced, and creative leadership for District 3 and the city as a whole. Over the past four years, I’ve helped pass a non-discrimination ordinance to protect LGBTQ neighbors, led efforts to make Juneteenth a city holiday, prioritized accessible housing options and smart zoning, and invested in parks, trails, sidewalks, and public safety.
Tucker is at a turning point. As we shift from establishing basic services to implementing our many plans for housing, economic development, transportation, and trails, I want to ensure that we carry out these plans in a way that honors our diversity and keeps Tucker a welcoming city for everyone.
2. What concerns are you hearing most from Tucker residents right now?
The number-one topic I hear about is housing. Neighbors want to know how we can keep Tucker a place where people of different income levels, ages, and abilities can live, work, and stay – while preserving the character of our neighborhoods.
Housing accessibility and affordability affect everyone in our community. When housing costs overly burden renters and homeowners, families have less income to spend locally. We need a variety of housing options for seniors who want to retire, adults with disabilities seeking independence, and average-income workers in Tucker – teachers, police officers, nurses, and others. That’s why I’ve championed gathering the local data we need through our 2023 Housing Study and brought ULI Atlanta to Tucker this past spring to help identify best practices and policy recommendations most applicable to our city.
Our next step as a city is to work together – as a council and with a community-based housing task force – to determine which areas to address first, such as streamlining existing codes and policies, while also identifying strategies for longer-term solutions, including participation in the DeKalb County regional land bank to transition abandoned properties for redevelopment. We must recognize that there are many paths forward to increase housing options for people who are already living, working, and engaging here.
Another frequent topic I hear about is sustainability. From protecting our tree canopy and old-growth trees to creating safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians to access downtown without a vehicle, residents want more options to help make Tucker a more vibrant, connected community. Some of these solutions are straightforward policy changes that simply require the political will to enact. Others demand a more thoughtful approach to funding and infrastructure – which is why I made sure to include “bikeways” as a funding category in our most recent SPLOST II referendum.
3. What are your plans for the campaign over the next few weeks?
Over the final weeks of the campaign, I plan to continue listening and connecting with constituents while also fulfilling my responsibilities as a sitting council member. I’ll be present at our city council meeting on October 27 at 7 p.m. to conduct the business of the city. I’ll also be attending neighborhood meetings, community forums, and civic-organization events.
You’ll see me and others encouraging early voting – reminding neighbors to take advantage of the opportunity to vote early at the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, ahead of Election Day on November 4. Above all, my goal is to ensure that every District 3 resident knows their voice matters and that I’m ready to continue working alongside them for another four years to build a more inclusive and thriving Tucker.
Sam Ulrich
Email: samfortucker@gmail.com
Website: sam4tucker.com
1. What led you to run for office?
I decided to run in an effort to keep the culture of collaboration forefront and, hopefully, to help it become an integral part of the city’s fabric. It is my goal to create an open channel of communication, both between the public and council, as well as between other council members, so that ideas (even differing ones) can be expressed. While not every idea can make it into final results, it is important for them to be heard.
I am hoping to inform the voters about projects before they are up for a vote, and use direct feedback to hopefully improve the way the council communicates complex ideas, and motives, behind some large-scale decisions. I am also hoping to help steer Tucker development by helping to simplify the code and lessen our dependence on SLUPs [Special Land Use Permit].
2. What concerns are you hearing most from Tucker residents right now?
The main things I hear about are: How do we continue to drive economic activity (including housing developments) in a way that keeps Tucker growing, but maintains the close neighborhood feel? How do we address public safety issues, and not only ensure businesses and people are safe, but also ensure that they feel safe? How do we deliver on our city charter, while also continuing to improve existing services, in order to provide every Tucker resident with relevant programs that build community?
I want to continue to invest in our parks and recreation and community programming. Tucker has become synonymous with wonderful events and offerings for people of all ages, with the Summer of Fun, rec sports leagues, summer camps and regularly scheduled activities reaching far outside of Tucker to bring people into the city and help them experience the small-town feel that this city of almost 40,000 has been able to maintain. These programs keep our community well-connected and drive the neighborhood feel that a town of our size can sometimes lose. It also helps keep Tucker safe, as a well-connected community is always a safer community.
3. What are your plans for the campaign over the next few weeks?
Face-to-face time is everything. With this election being limited in scope, turnout in general is going to be critical. I want to talk to as many people as possible, to both encourage them to go vote, and to make sure they feel like their voice is being heard. People need to know that their concerns are being addressed in a meaningful way, but also that their hopes and dreams for the community are implemented as well. There are going to be so many events in the coming weeks, with people getting out on their own.