It’s Time to Set the Record Straight.

Over the past few weeks since I decided to run, I’ve received call after call and text after text and the final one came this morning at 7:06 a.m. “Good Morning, Someone asked me and I did not know. Are you a Democrat or Republican? What Presidential Candidate did you vote for in 2024?”

I knew it was time to address this directly.

There’s been a lot of chatter online lately, people wondering whether I’m a Democrat or a Republican.

I was really hesitant to post this, because sometimes when you say you’re for one group, people assume you’re against another. That’s not who I am, and that’s not what this is about. Yet this needs to be said.

Well, let me set the record straight. I’ve been a registered Democrat my entire life and I’ve stated this multiple times.

Yet as a candidate in a nonpartisan race, I believe in understanding and listening to everyone — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike.

When I decided to run for office, I made a commitment to understand all sides of our community. That meant attending both Democratic and Republican meetings to listen, learn, and build relationships. It was an eye-opening experience. I learned more about the Republican Party, met some great people, and even gained new supporters. It was scary at first, I’ll admit. I’m walking into a room with one or two other people who looked like me, one man had a firearm on his hip and I didn’t know what to expect. They were respectful, kind, and embraced me from the first meeting.

This is a nonpartisan race, and that’s not just a label; it’s a responsibility. I don’t just say I represent all the people; I actually take the time to listen to all the people. That means small business owners, homeowners and renters, seniors and youth, veterans and working families — everyone who lives, works, plays, prays, and votes in the city of McDonough.

Unfortunately, my opponent has been telling people I’m a Republican. When I confronted her about it and asked where she heard that, her response was, “I just know you are.” My response? “If I didn’t say it, then it’s gossip and it’s not true. Stop spreading rumors.”

My voting record is public. I voted for Kamala Harris and Joe Biden in 2024. Because of my work with small businesses, I’ve been invited to the White House under both administrations and sit on a few national boards. Although I’m new to Henry County, I’m not new to the business world .

I am a conservative Democrat.

I’m also a fiscal conservative, and I recognize that many of my views align with Republican principles around business, family, and faith. Over time, I’ve grown to appreciate perspectives on both sides. However, I’ve also witnessed how some individuals, especially online, can use politics as a shield for hate and that’s not acceptable. The racism and bullying I’ve experienced from a few individuals who identify as Republican has been disappointing and disheartening.

I want to be clear, I don’t believe this represents all Republicans. I have Republican friends, neighbors, and supporters whom I respect and appreciate. Yet our nation still carries wounds, and those words and actions matter. We can’t heal or move forward if we’re not honest about that truth.

I will continue to attend both Republican and Democratic party meetings because I am about faith, family, and the future of McDonough. I have friends on both sides, and no, I will never vote down party lines without researching candidates. I want to choose the best leaders for our community and our country.

My husband is a retired 21-year veteran, and my son proudly serves in the military. For me, this is bigger than party politics. It’s about our people, our neighborhoods, and our shared future.

Recently, I’ve also been called “fake” online by people upset because I supported the DG Market on Avalon Parkway. I stand by that decision because I believe it serves our broader community — not just the subdivision of 296 homes, but also the 2,000+ residents in nearby apartments and our local small businesses. The subdivision was built in 2016 and the apartment building was built in 2006 and the land sat empty and vacant for more than 20 years.

DG Market has a proven record of supporting diverse, women-owned, minority-owned and small businesses, and that matters to me.

There’s so much more to me than what you read online. If you haven’t had a conversation with me, I invite you to do so before forming an opinion based on rumors, gossip and lies. Our community deserves better and so do I.

Let’s finish these last two weeks strong and build a better McDonough, together.

— Montina Young Fraiser
Candidate for McDonough City Council At-Large