Announcements Pouring in on City Council Races

The qualifying period is a week away, and new announcements continue to paint a picture of who will run for City Council in November, and who will not.

With all six council seats up for election District 3 Councilman Chip Collins has announced that he will not seek re-election. In a letter to constituents, Collins said he only recently decided not to run and instead focus on his family and law practice.

Sandy Springs attorney, Graham McDonald plans to announce his run for the District 3 seat on Monday. McDonald is president of the North Harbor Neighborhood Association.

On Sunday,  Tochie Blad announced that she intends to run for the District 4 City Council seat, currently held by Gabriel Sterling. Blad is a board member of the Greater Branches Homeowners Association and District 4 director for Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods. 

The longtime resident is also an environmentalist and has served on the Fulton County Citizens Commission on the Environment and the Sandy Springs Conservancy board.

In a statement Blad said, "As well as neighborhood protection, I have been working on parks and green space with the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods and the Conservancy. “But I still see areas for improvement. The most effective way to implement my ideas is to be elected to city council representing District 4.”

Since District 6 City Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnery said that she will not run for re-election, environmental advocate Patty Berkovitz, businessman Andy Bauman, and Sandy Springs Rotarian and businesswoman Sonja Tonpea have said they plan to run for the seat. 

On the mayoral front, former City Councilmember Rusty Paul and Red Baron’s Antiques owner Bob Brown has said they intend to run. 

See also:

Patty Berkovitz and Andy Bauman Will Make District 6 Race Interesting

Councilwoman Says Mayoral Run Requires Too Much Energy

Sandy Springs Resident Produces Film on Historic High School

Eva Galambos Wants to Hand City Reins to Rusty Paul

Councilwoman Says Mayoral Run Requires too Much Energy

Running for Mayor: Bob Brown Says He Would try to Bring 'Real Stores' to Roswell Road