Candidates Rack Up Endorsements In Roswell Runoff Elections

ROSWELL, GA -- We are a week away from the start of early voting in the Dec. 5 runoff to select Roswell's next mayor and City Council member. Fulton County will open 18 early voting locations Monday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Dec. 1 so residents can cast their ballots. Polls will be open at the locations (listed below) from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Due to the holidays, we can only offer one week of early voting for these runoff elections,” said Richard Barron, director of Registration and Elections for the county. “We encourage residents to verify their eligibility to vote in this runoff before heading to the polls.”

In Roswell, voters will have their pick of Lee Jenkins or Lori Henry to succeed Jere Wood to become the city's next mayor. The Post 6 City Council seat will be a battle between Matt Judy and Karen Parrish while the special election to fill the Post 3 seat on the Council will be between Mike Nyden and Sean Groer.

These candidates working to become the city's newest elected officials are already getting some support from incumbents. Outgoing Mayor Jere Wood said while he's not formally endorsing anyone, he will be voting for Jenkins, Judy and Groer.

When asked by Patch why he is backing Jenkins, a political newcomer, as opposed to Henry, the Post 4 incumbent who has experience under her belt with a previous City Council tenure, Wood said he doesn't believe Henry "has the right temperament to be mayor."

“I have served with Lori Henry," he said. "I don’t believe she would do well...managing the city of Roswell.”

He also said he's supporting Judy because he grew up on Roswell and seems to have a good idea of what's going on in the city. He also said Groer seems "to bring a lot of energy" to Roswell and believes he will do a good job on the Council.

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Incumbent City Council member Mike Palermo has thrown his support behind Lori Henry in the race for mayor, adding she stands for lowering taxes, bringing more quality paying jobs to Roswell and would provide a "clean break" Wood's 20-year tenure over the city.

"Mayor Wood was very effective in using the mayoral office for pushing an agenda and creating divisiveness," he said in a Nov. 4 post on his Facebook page. "You pick a successor because you want your legacy to continue. Lori Henry will ensure that there is a new approach, a clean break from current practices."

Palermo later added in a separate post that he looks forward to working with whomever is elected and hopes to continue moving the city of Roswell forward.

"I am very optimistic that this next City Council will be able to disagree and work well together at the same time," he said.

On Monday, Donald Horton, the Post 3 Councilman who ran and lost the Nov. 7 bid for mayor, announced he would endorse Jenkins for mayor and Groer and Judy for the City Council races.

"As a conservative, I pledged as mayor to never raise taxes, Horton continued in a Nov. 17 statement. "That’s why Lori Henry’s record of raising taxes and fees while on the City Council concerns me. While she has told many residents what we want to hear, her votes tell a different story. And it certainly isn’t conservative. That’s why I believe in Lee Jenkins. He’s authentic and straightforward. While we had our differences in the campaign, he promises me that he will passionately protect our homeowners, taxpayers, and community."

Early voting locations around North Fulton County include:

• Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek
• Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton
• East Roswell Branch Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell
• Roswell Branch Library, 115 Norcross Street, Roswell
• North Fulton Service Center (Room 232), 7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

For more information, visit www.fultonelections.com or call 404-612-7020.

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