DeKalb County Commissioner
Commissioner Dr. LaDena Bolton—widely known throughout the community as Dr. B—is a dynamic leader, accomplished chemist, and lifelong advocate for equity, safety, and opportunity in DeKalb County. Elected to represent Super District 7 in December 2024, she brings a bold, compassionate, and collaborative approach to governance, grounded in her deep roots in the community where she was raised, is raising her family, and continues to serve. Under her leadership, District 7 has been proudly branded as the district of bee pollinators—a symbol of collective purpose, productivity, and care. Just as pollinators sustain ecosystems, Dr. B’s mission is to cultivate a community where every resident is valued, and every family is healthy, safe, and thriving.
She chairs the Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee, championing constituent services, crisis response, and interdepartmental coordination. Her district motto—“Growing Businesses. Empowering Families.”—guides her work to uplift legacy neighborhoods, support small businesses, and expand equitable access to resources. Dr. Bolton now serves as the 2026 Deputy Presiding Officer for the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, providing strategic and unified leadership across the Board. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Clark Atlanta University and a B.S. from Savannah State University. Her global career as an analytical forensic chemist has advanced national security, energy sustainability, and health equity at the county, state, and international levels.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. B is a dedicated civic leader. She was elected Vice President of the DeKalb Young Democrats Benefit Corporation in 2021, Chair of the DeKalb Democrats’ House District 85 in 2023, and has served as a DeKalb County Poll Manager since 2020, recruiting more than 50 fair-election champions. In 2017, she and her husband, Dr. Clement J. Bolton II, co-founded Bolton Legacy, a scholarship and advocacy initiative supporting students pursuing college or technical careers, with a focus on restoring and strengthening underserved communities.