Thirty-five candidates are preparing for municipal elections this November in five of Cobb County’s seven cities.
Four incumbent mayors are vying for reelection. Those include Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton, Austell Mayor Ollie Clemons, and Powder Springs Mayor Al Thurmon, who all face challengers. Only Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling is running unopposed.
All of the municipal elections are nonpartisan and will be conducted by Cobb County elections. Each city will have one advanced voting location with an absentee ballot drop-box. Early voting will take place Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., for three weeks from Oct. 16 to Nov. 3. Saturday voting will take place Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A runoff election, if necessary, is scheduled for Dec. 5.
Acworth
Acworth’s Board of Aldermen are all elected at large. Those currently serving in Posts 1 and 2 opted not to run for reelection, paving the way for new candidates.
Post 1: Toby Carmichael and Robert Lipham
Post 2: Kimberly Haase and Steve Prather
Post 3: Brett North (incumbent, unopposed)
Austell
The city of Austell has two posts elected citywide, and four others elected by ward. All of the incumbents are running for reelection and face challengers, except for the current Ward 4 council member, who is running unopposed.
Mayor: Ollie Clemons (incumbent) and Chris Djonis
At-large Post 2: Valerie Anderson (incumbent) and Tim Adams
Ward 2: Devon Myrick (incumbent) and Bob Reid
Ward 4: Sandra Simpson Leverette (incumbent, unopposed)
Kennesaw
In Kennesaw, all council positions are elected citywide. The city held a special election to fill the Post 1 seat vacated by James “Doc” Eaton last year. That position is now up for election for a full term with some of the same candidates who ran last year trying again.
Mayor: Derek Easterling (incumbent, unopposed)
Post 1: Lynette Burnette (incumbent), Jon Bothers, Kyle Magro, Madelyn Orochena
Post 2: Tracey Viars (incumbent) and Anthony Gutierrez
Powder Springs
Powder Springs has two city-wide positions, both of which are up for election with single candidates. In the at-large Post 1, incumbent Patrick Bordelon opted not to run for reelection.
Mayor: Al Thurman (incumbent) and Larry Thomas
At-large Post 1: Dwight McMutry
At-large Post 2: Patricia Wisdom (incumbent)
Smyrna
In the city of Smyrna, all eight positions are up for reelection, and three of the incumbents face challengers. Council members are elected in wards or districts while the mayor is elected citywide.
Mayor: Derek Norton (incumbent), Alex Backry and Ken Hymes
Ward 1: Glenn Pickens (incumbent, unopposed)
Ward 2: Latonia Hines (incumbent, unopposed)
Ward 3: Travis Lindley (incumbent, unopposed)
Ward 4: Charles ”Corky” Welch (incumbent) and Michael Power
Ward 5: Susan Wilkinson (incumbent) and Suz Kaprich
Ward 6: Tim Gould (incumbent, unopposed)
Ward 7: Rickey Oglesby
For more election information, go to cobbelections.org
