The presidential election is a year away, but there’s plenty to keep metro Atlanta voters busy on the Nov. 8 ballot. Scores of local elected offices are up for grabs. Here’s a list of who’s running for what in local communities.
Clayton County
College Park: Incumbent Mayor Jack Longino faces a challenge from Roderick Gay. City Council Ward 1 incumbent Ambrose Clay faces no opposition. Ward 3 incumbent Tracey Wyatt faces competition from Wesley Meadows.
Forest Park: City Council Ward 3 incumbent Maudie McCord is unopposed. In Ward 4 Latresha Akins, Lillian Holloway and Heidi Wylesky are challenging incumbent Donald Judson. In Ward 5 incumbent Linda Lord faces Warren Gerton. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Jonesboro: Joy Day and John Templeman are challenging incumbent Mayor Luther Maddox. Nine candidates are running for three at-large City Council seats: Jack Bruce, Wayne Day, incumbent Roger Grider, Suzanne Igler, incumbent Wallace Norrington, Billy Powell, Randy Segner, incumbent Bobby Wiggins and Rick Yonce. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Lake City: Incumbent Mayor Willie Oswalt is running unopposed. Four candidates are running for two at-large City Council seats: incumbent Dwight Ginn, Raymond Johnson, Aric Walker and incumbent Bobby Williams. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Lovejoy: Incumbent Tommy Green III faces LaToshia Gray for City Council Post 1. In Post 2, 3 and 4 incumbents Marci Fluellyn, Rebekah Holland Wright and Bobby Cartwright are unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Morrow: Joseph "J.B." Burke and Jeffrey Allen DeTar are running for mayor. For City Council Seat 1, incumbent Jeanell Bridges is unopposed, as is Larry W. Ferguson isfor Seat 2.
Riverdale: Incumbent Mayor Evelyn Wynn Dixon faces Alton F. Jones. In City Council Ward 2, incumbent Wayne F. Hall faces An'cel Davis. In Ward 4 incumbent Kenneth Ruffin is unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Cobb County
Acworth: Only Alderman Post 3 is contested, where incumbent Bob Weatherford is facing challenger Brett North. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Austell: Long-time incumbent Mayor Joe Jerkins is running unopposed. Ward 4 City Councilwoman Virginia Reagan is being challenged by Lance Lamberton. At-Large Post 2 incumbent Randy Green is facing a challenge from Suzanne Thomason.
Canton: Incumbent Gene Hobgood is running unopposed. Ward 1 incumbent Patricia Tanner is challenged by E. H. Huffman. Ward 2 incumbent Jack Goodwin is facing Bill Grant and David Stoker. Ward 3 incumbent Amelia Rose is facing Glen Cummins.
Holly Springs: Three candidates are running for the Post 3 At Large Council seat: Kevin Bailey; Andrew Whitaker, and Michael Zenchuk.
Kennesaw: The mayor's race will be a rematch of the 2007 election, with incumbent Mark Matthews facing former two-term mayor Leonard Church. Post 1 council incumbent Cris Eaton-Welsh is being challenged by Kimmarie Gollahon; Post 2 council incumbent Tim Killingsworth faces Jimmy Dickens. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Marietta: No election.
Smyrna: Incumbent Mayor Max Bacon is facing challenges from Alex Backry and Donna Short Woodham. Ward 4 incumbent Mike McNabb is facing three challengers: Alex Bretch, Judith Causey Jones and Charles Welch. Four candidate are running for the vacant Ward 7 seat: Ron Fennel, Garry Osborne, Ziad Salameh and Vic Yankouski. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Powder Springs: Incumbent Mayor Pat Vaughn is being challenged by Rick Richardson, the former police chief, and Paul Moore.
Woodstock: Ward 4 Council incumbent Tracy Collins is facing a challenge from Elizabeth Baxter. Ward 2 Council member Christopher Casdia is running unchallenged, as is Ward 6 Council Member Tessa Basford.
DeKalb County
DeKalb voters will consider extending a penny sales tax for school improvements.
Avondale Estates: David A. Milliron is challenging incumbent Mayor Edward Rieker. Randy S. Beebe, Lindsay A. Forlines, John L. Quinn and John Washburn are running to fill two City Commission seats. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Clarkston: Andrew Brim, Christopher Busing, Cathy Case, Warren Hadlock and Dianne Leonetti are running to fill three City Council seats. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Decatur: Incumbents Bill Floyd (City Commissioner District 1, Post B), Kecia A. Cunningham (District 2, Post B) and Jim Baskett (At-Large City Commissioner) are unopposed. In the Board of Education District 1, Post B, Peg Bumgardner faces Garrett Goebel. In Board of Education District 2, Post B, incumbent Julie P. Rhame is unopposed. Voters will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales. They also will consider extending a penny sales tax for school improvements.
Doraville: Tom Hart and Lou Ella B. Jenkins are challenging incumbent Mayor Donna Pittman. In City Council District 1, incumbent Pam Fleming faces John Noonan. In District 2, Chris Avers and Trudy Jones Dean are challenging incumbent Bob Roche. In District 3, incumbent Maria T. Alexander faces Ginny Calvert and Sharon Spangler. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Dunwoody: Bob Dallas, Mike Davis and Gordon Jackson are vying for the mayor's seat being vacated by Ken Wright. Post 4 Councilman Robert Wittenstein will face Rick Callihan and Terry Nall. Kerry De Vallette and Lynn Deutsch are competing for the Post 5 seat being vacated by Danny Ross. Post 6 Councilman John Heneghan is unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Lithonia: Incumbent Mayor Tonya Peterson Anderson faces Doreen Carter, Al T. Franklin and Deborah A. Jackson. Darold Honore and Shameka S. Reynolds are running for two City Council seats. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Stone Mountain: In City Council Post 1, incumbent Richard Mailman is unopposed. In Post 2, Claus Friese, Denise D. Glenn, Mozell Sims Hurley and incumbent Cyril Mungal are vying for three seats. In Post 3, incumbent Chakira Johnson Sallee is unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Fayette County
Brooks: Incumbents Ted Britt (City Council Post 3), Jake Kunz (Post 4) and Todd Speer (Post 5) are unopposed.
Fayetteville: Greg Clifton is challenging incumbent Mayor Ken Steele. In City Council Post 1, Edward Johnson is challenging incumbent Wilson Price. Cathy Cochran and Mickey J. Edwards are competing for Post 2. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Peachtree City: In City Council Post 1, Steve Allen is challenging incumbent Eric Imker. Scott Brown and George Dienhart are vying for Post 2. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Tyrone: Eric Dial and Derrick L. Jackson are running for mayor. In City Council Post 1, Linda M. Howard faces Tammy Proctor. Pota Coston and Ryan Housley are running for Post 2. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Woolsey: City Council Post 1 incumbent Kenny Wright and Post 2 incumbent Frank Carden are running unopposed.
Forsyth County
Cumming: Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, Post 1 Councilman Rupert Sexton, Post 2 Councilman Quincy Holton, Post 3 Councilman Lewis Ledbetter, Post 4 Councilman Ralph Perry and Post 5 Councilman John Pugh are all unopposed.
Fulton County
Fulton voters will consider extending a penny sales tax for school improvements.
Alpharetta: Two former and one current city councilman will face off for the mayor's post being vacated by Arthur Letchas. Councilman James Paine will face challenges from former Councilmen Douglas DeRito and David Belle Isle. In Council Post 1, Ron Carter will face off against Donald Mitchell. In Council Post 4, James Gilvin is challenging incumbent Cheryl Oakes. In Post 5, Hans Appen faces Michael Cross. Post 6 incumbent D.C. Aiken is unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Atlanta: Five candidates are vying to serve out the term of school board member Khaatim Sherrer El, who resigned to take another job out of state. They are Byron Amos, Angela Brown, Dwanda Farmer, Michael Jeter and Donald Walker. The district covers south-central Atlanta and the winner would serve the remaining two years. City voters will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales. They will also consider extending a penny sales tax for school improvements.
Johns Creek: Swapna Bhave, Steve Broadbent and Brad Raffensperger will vie for the City Council Post 2 seat being vacated by Dan McCabe. Post 4 Councilman Ivan Figueroa and Post 6 Councilwoman Bev Miller are unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Milton: Two incumbent city council members face challenges. In District 2, Julie Zahner-Bailey faces Matt Kunz. Incumbent Alan Tart will face Lance Large for the District 6 seat. District 4 Councilman Bert Hewitt is unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Roswell: For City Council Post 1 incumbent Rich Dippolito faces challenges from Mike Nyden and Thomas W. Shelton. Post 2 incumbent Becky Wynn is being challenged by Lee Fleck, Salma H. Ahmed, Michael N. Martin and Adam L. Braund. Incumbent Betty Price will face Craig Voth for the Post 3 Council seat. Municipal Judge Maurice H. Hilliard Jr. is unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Gwinnett County
Gwinnett voters will consider extending a penny sales tax for school improvements.
Auburn: Incumbent Mayor Linda Blechinger and Council members Peggy Langley and Dorissa Shackelfored are running unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Berkeley Lake: Incumbent Mayor Lois Salter and Council members Bob Smith and Rebecca Spitler are running unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Braselton: Council members Tony Funari and Richard Mayberry have no opponents. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Buford: Phillip Beard, a 36-year incumbent, is running for reelection as the City's Commission chairman. He faces opposition from Charles L. VanHouse Jr. In races for two seats on the city's School Board, incumbent Daren Perkins is unopposed but incumbent Leon Johnson will face challenger Beth Lancaster. City voters will consider extending a penny sales tax for school improvements.
Dacula: Incumbent Councilman Tim Montgomery will face challenges from Vanessa Hall Green and former councilman Hubert Wells. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Duluth: Dustin Lloyd "Dusty" Graham and Kelvin "Kelly" Kelkenberg are vying for Doug Mundrick's seat on the City Council. Mundrick decided against running for re-election. Mayor Nancy Harris and Councilman Greg Whitlock are running unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Grayson: Incumbents Mayor Jim Hinkle and Council members Allison Wilkerson Rooks and Katie Mitchell are running unopposed. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Lawrenceville: Former Mayor Rex Millsaps is aiming for a return to city hall, this time in a Council race against incumbent Peter "P.K." Martin IV and Renita Hamilton. Former Council member Bob Clark will compete with Brad Sullivan and Eric Reid in the other City Council race. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Lilburn: Mayor Diana Preston will seek reelection against Councilman Johnny Crist. Teresa Czya and Thomas Wright will vie to fill Crist's seat. In the other Council race, incumbent Scott Batterton will attempt to hold off contenders Kay Bennett, Porter Deal and Angel Alonso Jr. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Norcross: Mayor Bucky Johnson and Councilman Charlie Riehm will run unopposed, while incumbent Councilman Craig Newton will contend with Greg McFarland. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Snellville: Former Councilwomen Barbara Bender and Kelly Kautz, who stepped down last month because of the city's election ordinance, are vying to replace Jerry Oberholtzer as mayor. Only three candidates qualified to fill three vacant seats on the Council -- Dave Emanuel, Diane Krause and Bobby Howard -- meaning they will not face opposition. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Sugar Hill: Incumbent Council members Steve Edwards, Marc Cohen and Susie Gajewski drew no challengers. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Suwanee: Jimmy Burnette, a councilman for the past 15 years, will compete against Dan Pittman in the race to replace Mayor Dave Williams. Doug Ireland and Jimmy D. Spiro will vie for Burnette's old seat. Voters also will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
Staff writers Joel Anderson, Patrick Fox, Tammy Joyner, Jeffry Scott and David Wickert contributed to this article.
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