Karen Padilla
October 22, 2019
Most people are familiar with midterm and presidential elections. 2019 is also an election year; this year cities are having municipal elections. It is important to consider voting in the municipal elections as these council members will create policies and regulations that will specifically benefit your city. The decisions that local governments make directly affect you as a voter as they are responsible for public transit, alcohol ordinances, school quality, etc. Your vote will make a difference in your community and your life. For more information on who your candidates are, the following municipalities will be having elections November 5, 2019: Doraville, Gainesville, Smyrna, and Norcross. Meet your candidates:
The candidates in Doraville running for Mayor are Joseph Geierman, Tom Hart, MD Naser, and Donna Pittman (I).
For City Council District 1– Tom Owens, Andy Yeoman
For City Council District 2– Danielle C. Brown, Jessica Killingsworth, Rebekah Cohen Morris
For City Council District 3– Maria T. Alexander, Shannon Hillard (I)
Special Election for City Council District 2– Tammie Bailey, Christopher Henshaw
The candidates in Gainesville running for City Council Member Ward 2 are: Zach Thompson, Kris Nordholz
For City Council Member Ward 3: Barbara B. Brooks, Willie Mitchell, Sammy Smith, Chad Payne
For City Council Member Ward 5: Juli Clay, William “Bill” Bush
The candidates for Smyrna running for Mayor are: Alex Backry, Ryan Campbell, Laura M. Mireles, Derek Norton, Steven Rasin
For City Council Ward 1: Glenn Pickens
For City Council Ward 2: Andrea G. Blustein (I), Austin Wagner
For City Council Ward 3: Maryline Blackburn (I), Travis Lindley
For City Council Ward 4: Charles “Corkey” Welch (I)
For City Council Ward 5: Suz Kaprich, James “JD” Smith, Susan D. Wilkinson (I)
For City Council Ward 6: Tim Gould (I)
For City Council Ward 7: David W. Monroe, Lewis A. Wheaton
The candidates for Norcross running for Mayor are: Craig Newton (I), Chuck Paul
For Councilman Watch’s Seat: David McLeroy, Tyler Christian Hannel, Bruce Gaynor
For Councilman Paul’s Seat: Matt Myers, Alex Hecht, Jeff Hopper
If you are not registered to vote, click on this link to direct you to the Go Vote Ga website for voter registration, or visit GALEO.org.
If you are not sure if you are registered to vote and would like to check, click on this link to direct to the Secretary of State’s website.
Resources
Vote, Rock the. “Why Local Elections Matter.” Medium, Medium, 7 Mar. 2017, medium.com/@RockTheVote/why-local-elections-matter-6e7ba4545c00.
NOTE: The opinions expressed in this blog are the opinions of the author only. It is not to be assumed that the opinions are those of GALEO or the GALEO Latino Community Development Fund. For the official position on any issue for GALEO, please contact Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO at jerry@2014old.galeo.org.