Smyrna Ward 1 Candidates Face Off Thursday

Editor's note: Smyrna’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8 is less than a week away. Early voting is ongoing at the through Friday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

In the 2007 election, less than 3,000 of 29,000 registered Smyrna voters bothered to go to the polls. For the past two elections combined, less than 7,000 casted their ballot for mayor in Smyrna.

Will the presence of a record 19 candidates on the ballot help send more to the polls this year? Most observers say yes, as it has been and at times in the Jonquil City.

Oh, and residents will also vote on whether they want the choice to buy alcohol in stores on Sundays. The law would go into effect on Jan.1 if the referendum passes.

Longtime is facing a pair of challengers in and , while four of the seven council seats are being vied for.

The council positions pay $17,100 per year and , Ward 6, and , Ward 3, are running unopposed. So is , Ward 2, who is set to take the seat of , who is not seeking re-election.

On Tuesday, we asked questions involving the Ward 7 race and let’s now take a peek at the Ward 1 race between Councilwoman Melleny Pritchett and her opponent, Wheeler High School teacher John Miller.

Hopefully voters and candidates can use this forum to intelligently and respectfully discuss the issues at hand heading into next week’s election.

So, with Election Day rapidly approaching, who are you going to vote for in Ward 1 and why? The candidates have been actively campaigning, knocking on doors and both have introduced themselves on Patch.

On Thursday night, both candidates have agreed to attend a public forum for residents of the Vinings Pointe neighborhood only.

What have you learned about them? What about their position on schools, including decisions that will affect Ward 1 school children?

Spring Road is the gateway into Smyrna from Cobb Parkway, but rush hour traffic can be a nightmare there. What do you feel about the candidate’s view of this issue and how they stand on the 1-cent sale tax dedicated to transportation infrastructure funding that metro Atlantans will vote on next summer.

How about the economic condition of the ward and Smyrna as a whole? Were you for or against the new RaceTrac that was approved in July to be built along Spring Road?

Has the six-month been more of a nuisance than it will ultimately be worth when it opens early next year?

Do you want more town hall meetings? How about the crime in the area? Let us know what you think and let’s get the conversation started.