Ward 4 Councilwoman Virginia Reagan will face challenger Lance Lamberton. The At-large Post 2 spot is also up, with incumbent Randy Green taking on challenger Suzanne Thomason.
Mayor Joseph Jerkins and Ward 2 Councilman Scott Thomas are also up for re-election but are unopposed.
Austell has no referendums on the ballot.
Virginia A. Reagan
Age: 72
Family: Widow, mother of two sons and four daughters
Education: Graduate of South Cobb High School
Occupation: Retired
Previous political experience: Member of Austell City Council for 16 years
Residence: Austell
Political affiliation: None
Major issues: Clean water; as federal, state, and local regulations and standards become ever more stringent, I remain committed to the protection of our environment. I will continue to work with staff within our Stormwater Management division to assure the protection of our water resources. I will serve my city and constituents to the best of my skill and ability. I will continue to support tax reduction, no layoffs, and wise spending.
Our first-rate Police Department is dedicated to keeping our citizens and city a safe place to live and do business. Our Fire Department has one of the best response times in the metro area, with their ISO rating it gives the residents of Austell a reduction on their homeowner’s insurance premium. And, because we have our own Fire Department the residents receive right at 3 mils off their Cobb County Taxes almost as much as their city taxes 3.123 mils. Public Safety has my full support and commitment.
I will continue to support the business owners in our city; we’re living and working in “leaner” times, but we’ll make it through this together.
I am committed to support the troubled children through the Truancy Intervention Panel at Garrett Middle School. I am committed to donate funds to each school in the City of Austell to be used at their discretion for things not funded by the Cobb County Board of Education. The money used to fund these two projects comes from the Norfolk Southern interest money.
Lance Lamberton
Age: 60
Family: Married with two sons
Education: Graduate of Syracuse University
Occupation: Sales Consultant
Previous political experience: Ran for city council in Lewisville, Texas, in 1999
Residence: Austell
Political affiliation: Independent
Major issues: I think the major problem Austell is facing is complacency: “Don’t rock the boat.” I don’t understand this. When we’ve got a city where close to one in four storefronts is vacant, that’s a problem. I would review city ordinances, codes and permitting requirements to make it as business friendly as possible.
I would also get a Sunday alcohol sales referendum on the ballot as soon as possible. If we don’t have alcohol sales on Sunday and our neighbor communities do, residents are going to go to other communities and stop and buy more than just alcohol.
I would fix the clock on top of City Hall. It has been stuck at 2:25 for years. The mayor says he doesn’t know where to get it fixed.
I would also allow online quick pay for water bills. Now if you pay online, the payment goes to the bank, which has to cut a check.
Randy Green
Age: 53
Family: Wife, Cheryll; son and two stepsons
Education: Graduate of South Cobb High School
Occupation: Self-employed construction
Previous political experience: 12 years on Austell City Council
Residence: Austell
Political affiliation: “Too early to tell.”
Major issues: Trying to keep businesses that are here in Austell and trying to create more. Hopefully people are happy with what I’m doing.
Suzanne Thomason
Age: 50
Family: Married with a daughter
Education: Graduate of Osborne High School in Marietta
Occupation: Office manager for physician
Previous political experience: None
Residence: Austell
Political affiliation: Republican
Major issues: Revitalization, especially of our downtown. We need to get it cleaned up, codes enforced, get the buildings fixed up. Get it revitalized.
I would be willing to offer incentives to get more businesses to come downtown. It’s a great city, but it can be better.
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