Roswell councilman endorses fellow councilmember for mayor

Marcelo Zapata, the Post 1 councilman in Roswell, has made it clear which box he will check when the city elects a new mayor in November.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Zapata said that he is endorsing Lori Henry for Roswell's next mayor.

Henry is currently the councilwoman for Roswell’s fourth post, taking that seat last April. She previously served on the council from 2001 to 2009. She has lived in Roswell for more than 35 years and is the owner of a small business.

Zapata wrote that he decided to endorse candidates who “are not part of special interest groups and establishment of the last 20 years” and candidates who “demonstrate knowledge of current issues and a clear vision for the future” of Roswell.

The councilman also wrote that he is supporting candidates who support “smart residential growth” and those who “may have different views, but can still debate with respect.”

For the open council seats, Zapata endorsed Mike Nyden for Post 3, Meg McClanahan for Post 4, Keith Goeke for Post 5, and Karen Parrish for Post 6.

Henry unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2009, and for the Fulton County Commission in 2010.

The Ohio State University graduate will face tough competition in the race. Others who are running to succeed longtime mayor Jere Wood include fellow councilmember Donald J. Horton, local activist Sandra Sidhom, pastor Lee Jenkins, and Michael Litten – who first ran for mayor in 2005 and has lived in Roswell for more than 30 years. Litten's lawsuit led a judge to rule that the mayor violated term limits.

Early voting is already underway. Election Day is set for Nov. 7 across Fulton County.