Lawyer Announces Bid To Run For Alpharetta City Council

ALPHARETTA, GA — An Alpharetta attorney has announced his plans to run for the City Council. John Hipes has lived in the Alpharetta area since 1989, is a member of the Alpharetta Planning Commission and owns the Hipes & Belle Isle Law Group.

Hipes said he and his wife, Karen, "bought into the promise of Alpharetta" when the purchased their home in the downtown area. When he began walking to work, he noticed a sense of community that makes the city special.

"Old friends making new friends as they listen to music at Food Truck Alley on Thursdays, neighbors catching up with each other at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays, the city coming together for events like Taste of
Alpharetta, Wire & Wood, and the Christmas tree lighting," he said. "It is the people who live and work in
Alpharetta, joining together as a community, that make our hometown truly special.”

While the city still boasts that small town camaraderie, Alpharetta has seen remarkable growth that have created new opportunities for residents. On the flip side, this growth has taxed the city's infrastructure and public services.

"In order to preserve our sense of community, we must place a priority on absorbing existing growth rather
than encouraging new development," he added. "As a council member, I will put the needs of our residents
first."

The attorney also said he wants to explore developing "innovative solutions" to improve Alpharettas traffic flow. If elected, Hipes said he'd work to improve traffic patterns during peak hour traffic, expedite the new TSPLOST projects and allocate funds for key intersection improvements. He will take a regional approach in solving traffic problems by working to secure more regional and state funding for projects and will also support initiatives to fund new bike lanes, sidewalks and other safety enhancements for pedestrians. He also notes he will support expanding the city's parks and completing the AlphaLoop trail system.

“Alpharetta has done an excellent job welcoming new residents and businesses to our city, but the time has come for Alpharetta to set a new direction and focus on the needs of our residents," Hipes added. "I am
running for the future of Alpharetta, for our community, the place we call home."

Hipes and his wife live in the Academy Park neighborhood. They have two children who are graduates of the Fulton County School System. He has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta since 1997 where he served as president in 2008-2009. Hipes also serves as vice president of North Fulton Community Charities and as a board member of the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation. The family are active members of Alpharetta First United Methodist Church where he currently serves on the Church Council.

Image via John Hipes