Politics & Government

Three New Faces Heading to Alpharetta Council Chambers After Election

The city's next mayor previously served on City Council.

UPDATED: Job turnover was really high this year at Alpharetta City Council. Before the end of the month the first new council member will take his seat in council chambers at , and in January a new mayor and two new council members will be sitting on the dais.

Donald Mitchell, a downtown Alpharetta businessman, is the apparent winner in the race for the unexpired term vacated by Doug DeRito in his bid for mayor.

DeRito's bid failed, so he won't be seen sitting up there. And Jim Paine also fell short in the mayoral race, so that's another familiar face leaving come January 2012.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Donald Mitchell.............64.91%
Ron Carter......................34.52%

David Belle Isle had a brief stint on City Council before he resigned to run for state Senate, an election he lost. But last night he won the Alpharetta mayor's race, according to unofficial results. So while the city will get a new mayor, the local attorney has helped shape city policy before. His predecessor, current Mayor Arthur Letchas, is in his 29th year on council or as mayor.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

David C.Belle Isle..............43.47%
Jim Paine............................39.14%
Doug  DeRito.......................17.05%

Michael Cross has been seated at the front of council chambers in Alpharetta City Hall before, but most recently that was as a member and chairman of the Alpharetta Development Authority. Now he takes a new position as the Post 5 councilman, a position to be vacated by Jim Paine at the end of his term on Dec. 31. 

Michael Cross................63.82%
Hans Appen.....................35.88%

And even the "newest" face to city government is quite familiar to those keeping track of city issues. Jim Gilvin stepped out of his community activist role to try to join the governing body, and he'll start that job on council for Post 4 in January. He unseated an incumbent, Cheryl Oakes.

Jim Gilvin...........................54%
Cheryl Oakes (I)...................46%

D.C. Aiken ran unopposed for his Post 6 council seat, so he'll stay put.

D.C. Aiken..............98.46%

Terms for Councilmen Chris Owens and Mike Kennedy won't end until Dec. 31, 2013, so expect to see them around for a while, too.


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