Decatur Election 2019: Commissioners Race, Unofficial Winners

DECATUR, GA — The polls have closed in Georgia and the Decatur City Commissioners race has been decided by voters. There were three seats open in this race, District 1, Post B, District 2, Post B and At-large. Here are the projected winners according to unofficial vote totals.

District 1, Post B

George Dusenbury is the projected winner with 1,782 votes. His opponent Erin Braden followed behind with 1,464 of the total 3,246 votes.

Dusenbury said one of his top priorities is pausing major new development and focusing closely on the city's transportation, green space and stormwater infrastructure.

In a questionnaire to Patch he wrote, “Pause major new development; plan for the transportation, greenspace and stormwater infrastructure needed to maintain the integrity of our residential neighborhoods and the quality of our school system. Addressing development is my top priority because it is stressing our city's infrastructure and impacting our quality of life.”

District 2, Post B
Lesa Mayer is the projected winner with 1,454 votes, with Phillip Wiedower with 539 of the total 1,993 votes collected.

Mayer said her top two priorities are affordable housing and safe transit.

“There should be residential options affordable to our teachers, our seniors, single parents who want to be able to keep their kids in the school system, individuals who work in the city and even young professionals who are looking for a place to live that is convenient to Marta and shopping,” Mayer said in a questionnaire to Patch.

Safe transit for Decatur is another top priority that Mayer promises will get addressed during her time in office.

“Traffic has become a real problem in Decatur that must be addressed, while the need to develop and promote the use of alternative transit methods is more important than ever,” she said.

City Commissioner At-large

Lastly, voters chose between incumbent Tony Powers and Christopher Gagnon for the City Commissioner At-large seat. Powers is the projected winner with (3,907) votes. Gagnon follows behind with 1,357 out of a total of 5,264 votes.

Powers, who helped create Decatur’s Affordable Housing Task Force, said he plans to continue addressing the affordable housing issue, which is a big one for the city.

“Lack of affordable housing is an issue that Decatur faces, as well as many other communities,” he said in a questionnaire to Patch. “We have an opportunity to take their recommendations and implement them into policy.”