Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

Possible 5 seats up for grabs on council, Sunday alcohol, $29M city hall bond too


by Hatcher Hurd
write the author

July 20, 2011
ALPHARETTA, GA. – If Councilman Doug DeRito does indeed run for mayor in November (he says he hasn't quite decided), then the special election for his seat will be Nov. 8 with the other four council seats up for election.

With the first reading at the July 18 City Council meeting for the ordinance for the Nov. 8 council elections of posts 4, 5 and 6 – held by incumbents Cheryl Oakes, Jim Paine and D.C. Aiken respectively – a second was added at the request of Councilman Doug DeRito.

DeRito put his own Post 1 up for possible election should he qualify for the mayoral race. But DeRito left the door open to change his mind. He said he would not make his formal announcement until closer to qualifying time.

Qualifying is the term for formally tendering one's name for election to the post during the three-day qualifying period – Aug. 29, 30 and 31 – and paying the qualifying fee. According to City Attorney Sam Thomas, should DeRito qualify, by law his seat as a councilman would immediately be vacated.

By introducing this ordinance calling for a Nov. 8 special election for his seat concurrent with the General Election, DeRito said he was preventing a special election the following March. Not only would his seat be open for seven months, the city would be liable for the cost of the special election – estimated at between $50,000 and $100,000 that the city would have to pay Fulton County for conducting it.

If DeRito opts not to run for mayor, he would keep his seat and the special election ordinance for Post 1 would be rendered void since there would be no empty seat.

Councilmen Aiken and Chris Owens expressed concerns that introducing the ordinance with the intention only that DeRito may run for mayor, introduces a certain amount of doubt for prospective candidates for his council seat.

"How will anyone know if the post is really available? " asked Aiken.

Owens posed the opposite side of the dilemma. If anyone qualified for the seat and DeRito did nothing, they would have no seat for which to run and would be out the $450 qualifying fee for a council seat (it is $9000 mayoral qualifying fee).

That means there could be as many as five new faces on the council come Nov. 9.

Mayor Arthur Letchas has reached the end of his term limits for mayor and is retiring. Paine, who is serving the unexpired term of David Belle Isle, will have that term expire at the same time as that of mayor, i.e. Dec. 31.

For that reason, Paine will not have to resign his post to run for mayor and so will remain on council at least through December. Meanwhile, David Belle Isle, who resigned that post to run unsuccessfully for state senator, has announced he will also run for mayor.

"Is there any assurance the seat will be open," Owens asked.

Thomas said there are no guarantees (that DeRito will ultimately resign his post by qualifying) and that potential Post 1 candidates would file at their own risk.

DeRito spoke up to say that he only wants to prevent a costly March special election.

"However, I would not be doing this if I did not have a strong interest [in running for mayor.] My intent is to run for mayor. I am committed to making a firm announcement two weeks before [qualifying]," DeRito said. "I am not announcing now because I am not yet sure I want to do it. I want to make sure I have the full support of my family first."

After the meeting, he said he has a son studying in Oxford, England, and is waiting for him to come home and participate in the decision. He said the rest of his family are behind his running for mayor, DeRito said.

"I am not the kind of guy to get ahead of the curve," he said.

Labels: Alpharetta, alpharetta city hall, alpharetta community center, City Council, City Council Meeting

Local chefs are creating new tasty menus for the upcoming 19th Annual Taste of Alpharetta. The City of Alpharetta eagerly prepares for restaurants to set their tables along Old Milton Parkway at Wills Park on Thursday, May 14 from 5 to10pm.

To provide enough delicious samples for over 60,000 attendees, restaurants prepare
over 360,000 “Taste of” delicacies. Menus will include BBQ pork sliders, crabmeat
cheese rolls, basil chicken salad, chocolate covered strawberries and much more!
From its beginning 19 years ago with only four restaurants in Milton Square Park across from Alpharetta City Hall, the event has become the largest “Taste of” festival in the South. Now an annual tradition for 60,000 families, foodies and festival-goers, Taste of Alpharetta showcases over 60 local restaurants ranging from 5 Seasons North, to Wildflour, to Schakolad Chocolate Factory.

Participating restaurants serve up an amazing array of appetizers, entrees and desserts from their menus for just $.50- 3 per sample. Tickets may be purchased on-site the evening of the Taste or pre-purchased at Alpharetta City Hall.
“The Taste of Alpharetta is one of our city’s most anticipated events,” said Mayor Arthur Letchas. “Each year our committee invites new restaurants and seeks entertainment for the entire community to enjoy.”

Please save gas and use our free shuttle system. Park and ride shuttle options will be available at Alpharetta City Hall (on South Main Street), Publix Super Market (on Old Milton Parkway at Haynes Bridge), and Milton Center (the old Milton High School at Milton Avenue).

Admission, shuttle and parking for the 19th Annual Taste of Alpharetta is FREE. Park
and walk options available at the Wills Park Equestrian Center (on Wills Road) and
Alpharetta Community Center (on Roswell Street).

Labels: alpharetta community center, old milton parkway, Taste of Alpharetta, Wills Park

Alpharetta Community Center Event Lawn
Saturday, March 28, 2009 10:00 AM

The 7th Annual Alpharetta Children's Festival offers activities and entertainment for the whole family! It will be held on Saturday, March 28th from 10am to 3pm on the Event Lawn behind Alpharetta Community Center. Activities include safety tips from local public safety personnel, interactive arts enrichment activities, vendors, and refreshments. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 678-297-6165 or email arts@alpharetta.ga.us.

Labels: 7th annual alpharetta childrens festival, alpharetta community center, event lawn

Alpharetta Community Center
Friday, February 6, 2009 7:00 PM

Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department will host the Father/Daughter Valentines Day Dance on Friday, February 6th from 7pm to 9pm. Space is extremely limited. Registration for City of Alpharetta residents begins July 30th. Open registration begins August 13th. The cost per person is $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. Evening activities include dancing and dessert. For more information, email accprograms@alpharetta.ga.us or call 678-297-6100.

Labels: Alpharetta, alpharetta community center, alpharetta recreation and parks, father daughter valentine day dance, february 6th, Georgia

The City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department is hosting the Alpharetta Family Challenge ’08 on Saturday, July 12th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. This FREE special event will take place at the Alpharetta Community Center Event Lawn located at 175 Roswell Street.

Alpharetta Family Challenge ‘08 is designed for families to compete against other families for fun and socialization. Competitions and activities will include an obstacle course, a three-legged race, a potato sack race, and much more as well as prizes and concessions. Family members of all ages are welcome but children must be age 6 and up to compete in activities. All family members are welcome to come to support and cheer their family, even if they are not participating. A family “team” must consist of at least one adult (parent or head of household) and one child (age 6 to 17). Registration is going on now and will continue through July 7th.

For more information, please contact Jessica Kim at 678-297-6160 or jkim@alpharetta.ga.us.

Labels: alpharetta community center, city of alpharetta, event lawn, the alpharetta family challenge