Candidate Seeks To Protect Quality of Life, Address Transportation Woes

ALPHARETTA, GA -- A longtime Alpharetta resident and volunteer is hoping to succeed an outgoing City Councilman in serving citizens of the bustling North Fulton County municipality. Ben Easterling qualified in late August to fill the Post 2 seat on the Alpharetta City Council that will be vacated by Mike Kennedy, who isn't running for re-election.

Easterling is one of two candidates who qualified for the seat. He and fellow challenger Ben Burnett are vying for the hearts and minds of voters who will have the final say in the city's only contested race on Tuesday, Nov. 7 (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Easterling and his wife of 34 years, Beth, moved to Alpharetta more than 20 years ago and have four children: Brooke, 30; Benjamin, 25; John Britt, 25 and Mary Margaret, 22. Since relocating to Alpharetta, Easterling has been involved in the city, including serving in leadership positions with Senior Services North Fulton, Ed Isakson Alpharetta YMCA and the Rotary Club of Alpharetta. He's also a graduate of the Leadership North Fulton program.

“I have known Ben for most of my life," said former City Councilman D.C. Aiken. "We both grew up in North Fulton as kids, raised our families here and for decades, we’ve both called Alpharetta our home. Ben has served on numerous boards and committees over the years that have helped organizations, ranging from civic groups and nonprofit boards."

Easterling is also the former chair of the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Commission where "he played large role" in shaping the city's quality of life through the extension of the Big Creek Greenway, installation of artificial turf fields at various parks and renovations that are underway at the Wills Park pool, his news release notes.

Kennedy said he was "thrilled" to learn Easterling was running for the post he currently holds on the City Council, adding that the city's Recreation and Parks Department has gained recognition as one of the best in the country under his role as commission chair.

"Additionally, Ben’s business experience and 20 years of service to Alpharetta in other organizations have uniquely prepared him to work with our mayor and council to continue to make Alpharetta one of the most sought-after destinations in the country to raise a family or start a business," he added.

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The candidate said he was thankful for the support he's received from Kennedy and Aiken, adding that he hopes to build on the work that those two gentlemen and other city leaders have done to make the city a "place our residents will be proud to raise their children, live, work and play."

"If elected, Alpharetta can count on me to focus on three objectives: protecting our quality of life, enabling technology to strengthen our communities and tackle current transportation matters," he added. "Furthermore, my priority will be to listen to Alpharetta City residents and their invaluable feedback.”

For more information about Easterling and the campaign, visit votebeneasterling.com or email info@votebeneasterling.com.

Image via Easterling campaign