Incumbent council members in Riverdale, Forest Park die just before election
Dead men will appear on ballots in two Clayton County municipalities Tuesday after the sudden deaths of incumbent city councilmen in Riverdale and Forest Park.
Forest Park City Councilman Donald Judson, a 53-year resident of the Clayton town, died Thursday evening of undisclosed causes. The Ward 4 incumbent, elected to the council 12 years ago, will remain on the ballot along with two other candidates, homemakers Latresa Akins and Lillian Holloway.
Ballots marked for Judson will not be counted in accordance with state law, said Dave Painter, Forest Park elections superintendent.
Riverdale City Council member Wayne Franklin Hall's name also will remain on Tuesday's ballot. Likewise, votes cast for Hall, a 62-year-old retired Atlanta firefighter, will not count, city clerk Stephanie Thomas said.
The two-term Ward 2 councilman died suddenly Oct. 23. Hall's seat was the lone contested race among Riverdale council members. His lone opponent, An’Cel Davis, will effectively have no competition Tuesday in his bid to succeed Hall.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
