Residents in the Cherokee Hills, Oakcliff Estates and Sequoyah Woods subdivisions overwhelmingly rejected a referendum to become part of Doraville. Seventy-nine percent opposed the second annexation vote – which would have boosted Doraville’s population by about 65 percent to 17,000 residents.
The November annexation vote failed by just 34 votes, but was marred by ballot problems, prompting the second vote.
After admitting irregularities in the November 4 vote, DeKalb County agreed to allow voters in three neighborhoods just outside Doraville a second vote again next month on whether to join the northern DeKalb County city. The settlement agreement resolves a lawsuit filed by Eleanor Crane and is subject to approval of DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Linda Hunter.
If approved by Judge Hunter, the new annexation vote will occur on January 27. In the previous vote, the annexation appeared to have succeeded at first, but then failed by 34 votes out of 1,138 cast.
On Tuesday, September 16, Georgia’s newest city will elect its first leaders. Fifteen candidates are vying for six City Council seats in Dunwoody, while Ken Wright is running unopposed and will become mayor of the north DeKalb County city when it begins operations December 1. You can learn about all the candidates here.
Bob Brown, the owner of Red Baron Antiques, has announced his intention to challenge the first mayor of Sandy Springs, Eva Galambos. Qualifying is not until August 2009 with the election not until November 2009.
DeKalb County’s lame duck CEO Vernon Jones has created a nine-person team to handle the transition of power to Dunwoody, which will take over December 1. The transition team will be led by Vernon’s Chief of Staff Ann Kimbrough. Kimbrough came in a distant, distant third to replace her boss in the recent elections.
Eighty-five percent of the 25,000 homeowners in Rockdale County may be affected by a new sidewalk installation policy approved unanimously Tuesday by the county board of commissioners.
Still a long way to go for the 10 acres proposed for the Alpharetta city center that may include new city hall, commercial space, condominiums, a park and possibly a city library.
Roswell allows Jacob’s Ladder, a small school devoted to teaching autistic and neurodevelopmentally delayed children, will fulfill its conditional zoning and be able to open Monday if it pays $21,388 into escrow or produce a bond to cover future costs to construct a bike path and guardrail.
The Streets of Buckhead will be able to have awnings, canopies or balconies extending over the sidewalks reaching to the curb.
Ott defeats 16-year incumbent Thompson for Cobb County Commission.
Ken Wright, who served as president of Citizens for Dunwoody, the nonprofit group that promoted the community’s incorporation, and as president of the powerful Dunwoody Homeowners Association, was the only candidate to qualify for mayor. All have two or three candidates vying for each of the six city council seats.
Elections are September 16 with any run-off held on October 14. December 1 is the first day of business for the new city.
Dunwoody City Council hopefuls begin announcing intentions for September 15 special election. Cityhood begins December 1, 2008.
With 81% approval, Dunwoody is a go. In other election news that will likely change zoning and land use decisions:
Cobb County Commissioner Annette Kestling forced into a run-off with Woody Thompson. Kestling garnered only 24% of the vote with Thompson besting her with 46.5%. Thompson will take on Republican Barbara Hickey in the general election in November. You may recall Thompson had previously held that same seat for two terms as a Republican before being defeated by Kestling. Conventional wisdom tells you Thompson wins the general.
Cobb County Commissioner Joe Thompson forced into a run-off with Bob Ott. Thompson garnered 40.08% of the vote with Ott besting him by a slim margin of 44%. Likely a toss-up, but incumbents usually lose when forced into run-offs.
Pauling County Commission has a new chair – David Austin.
Gwinnett County Commission Chair Charles Bannister forced into a run-off with former Commissioner Lorraine Green in an ugly, bitter campaign. Bannister got 49.4% of the vote to Green’s 40.4%. Who knows?
DeKalb County Commissioner Burrell Ellis gathered 47% of the vote for DeKalb CEO, but not enough to avoid a run-off with former State Representative Stan Watson who came in a distant second with 24%. Predict Ellis walks away with it.
and just about every incumbent in Clayton County was forced into run-offs.
Any others you know about?
