Candidate Profile: Adam D'Anella For Milton City Council

MILTON, GA — Six city council candidates are running for four seats in Milton's Nov. 2 municipal election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Adam D'Anella is running for Milton City Council, District 1 Post 1.

Age (as of Election Day)

42

Position Sought

Milton City Council District 1/ Post 1

Party Affiliation

Unaffiliated

Family

Anne D'Anella (Wife), Taylor Clayton (12, step-daughter), Hart Clayton (10, step-son), Scarlett D'Anella (5, daughter), Wilkes D'Anella (3, son), Shepherd D'Anella (1, son)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

High School Diploma - North Springs High School (Sandy Springs, GA), graduated 1997;
B.S. Business Administration, Concentration in International Business - Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL), graduated 2002;
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) - Mississippi College School of Law (Jackson, MS), graduated 2005.

Occupation

Attorney with 16 years experience. Present serving as General Counsel at BioGenesis Industries in Dawsonville, GA.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None.

Campaign website

www.AdamForMilton.com; www.facebook.com/AdamForMilton

Why are you seeking elective office?

My wife, Anne, and I have five children and we decided to make Milton our home to raise our family. We love this city for many reasons including its "small-town" feel, incredibly friendly people, award winning schools, and endless character. I have the opportunity to support Milton as a City Council Member and give back to my community. I have seen first-hand the negative impact of unrestricted growth with a lack of vision that has led to over-development, extreme traffic, increased crime, and a lower quality of life in many of the surrounding areas of metro Atlanta. I'm running to help preserve Milton’s historic character and charm and uphold Milton’s vision for the future.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing Milton today is the implementation of Milton's vision for the future. We are still a very young city. A big first step was the approval of Milton's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Now we need to take action to begin the priority projects outlined in the Plan by bringing together the city and the community to ensure success. I intend to help guide Milton's vision by supporting and strengthening Milton's 2040 Comprehensive Plan which, in part, conserves the natural landscape and protects Milton from any plan to bring high-density development to Milton, including the extension of public sewer.

What are your short- and long-term goals if you are elected?

I believe that Milton residents are underserved in the area of active parks and recreation areas and programs. One of my immediate goals is to assist in the identification and acquisition of land for active park space. Other short-term goals include: 1) gathering ideas to identify Milton as a distinct and unique city at its boundaries so that residents and visitors know when they are entering Milton, and 2) increasing our public safety presence to decrease incidents of speeding in Milton and improve roadway safety.
My most important long-term goal is to protect and preserve Milton's rural heritage which sets us apart from our neighboring cities. I will maintain my positions in opposition of public sewer expansion, high-density housing, and the over-development of Milton. Another long-term goal is to assist in the revitalization of our Highway 9 corridor to improve the look and feel of the area and match it to the Milton way of life. We have developed extremely attractive commercial properties in Milton and I would like to maximize those spaces with strong and self-sustaining businesses that will positively affect our commercial tax basis.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe all of the candidates' platforms are very similar in that we all have a love for Milton and are interest in preserving its charm. What sets us apart is that I have lived in Georgia for the past 32 years and I have had the benefit of living and working in numerous metro Atlanta cities during that time. I have a strong pulse for what makes Milton distinct and special. I am also an attorney with nearly 20-years experience. My legal education, experience, and training are an asset to Milton and City Council. I am resolution focused. I analyze issues from all sides to make the best possible decision to reach the long-term goal. As such, I provide a unique perspective to evaluating the decisions facing Milton today. My wife and I have five children with ages ranging from years 12 to 1. Our long-term goals are to see our children grow up in Milton, over the next 18 years graduate from Milton High School, and to find a quaint farm in Milton where we can grow old.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I do not think it is possible for me to answer these questions, as I have not been privy to the information that our local leaders and officials have used to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This pandemic is unlike any other issue before, and I hope that our leaders have made the best decisions possible for our community with the information that was available to them at those times. I believe as more information becomes available, we must continue educating ourselves and evaluating our decisions for the betterment of our community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Throughout my life I have participated in numerous team sports, including at the collegiate level. I have led teams on and off the field. I also lead a family of seven. It takes hard work, determination, and passion. Further, I work in a very collaborative industry. As an attorney for nearly 20 years, I have objectively advocated on behalf of my clients inside and outside of the courtroom. City Council members are empowered to make policy decisions and to approve ordinances, resolutions, and other local legislation to govern the health, welfare, comfort, and safety of the city’s residents. My expertise is in evaluating issues and advising clients on making decisions to solve problems. I have also been trained on reading, understanding, and interpreting statutes and ordinances, and applying those laws to any given situation. I bring that experience to Milton City Council, where I would be helping make decisions for the good of Milton and its residents. In addition, I have been involved as a member of the Crabapple Community Association, and I have served on two neighborhood homeowners' association boards in the Crabapple community. I presently service as Vice President of the Braeburn community homeowners' association.

What do you like best about living in your city (or county)?

My family and I love Milton for being uniquely rural. Milton has a small-town feel, that’s safe, with great schools, and a great sense of community. It is a perfect place for us to raise our children.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My family comes first to me and protecting our community for my family and the Milton residents is extremely important. I have children at Northwestern Middle School, Crabapple Crossing Elementary School, and St. Thomas Aquinas preschool. I look forward to Milton being my family's forever home and seeing my children grow up in this great community.
Being an informed voter is crucial to the election process. Voting in our local election is crucial to making a direct impact on our community. A vote for Adam D'Anella is a vote that preserves Milton’s historic character and charm, protects our equestrian heritage, supports the citizen-drafted Land Use Plan and the restriction of sewer expansion, opposes over-development and high-density housing, strengthens public safety to prevent crime and protect our citizens, and maximizes access to active and passive parks and recreation facilities and programs.

Other candidates for Milton City Council, District 1 Post 1:

• Candidate Profile: Jami Tucker For Milton City Council
• Candidate Profile: Andrea Verhoff For Milton City Council