Alpharetta Mayor Plans Technology Commission

Belle Isle also tells business and community leaders at the first State of the City address by an Alpharetta mayor that the city needs a convention center.

Mayor David Belle Isle hasn't been in office two months, but he's already accomplished a first: He apparently is the first mayor in 154 years to give an official State of the City address. The Alpharetta Business Association organized the event, using a large tent from It's My Party Rental on the parking lot next to City Hall for the breakfast event. The mayor said public safety and transportation are two building blocks for a good city. The ISO rating of 2 for Alpharetta's firefighters and a steadily declining crime rate in the city are testament to one building block. Completion of Westside Parkway's last section in June, plus improvements at nearly every major intersection in the city show the other building block is being addressed. …

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Alpharetta's New Mayor, Council Members Take Office

Only one council member has served a full term, but Mayor David Belle Isle said not to judge them on that ineeperience.

Alpharetta has a new mayor and two new City Council members, who took the oath of office during the Jan. 3 City Council meeting at City Hall. David Belle Isle had his pastor, Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church, swear him in. Municipal Judge Jim Matoney did the honors for Jim Gilvin, a new council member, and DC Aiken, who kept his council seat in the November election as he ran unopposed. Michael Cross had Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural D. Glanville do the honors for him as he took his seat on council. City Council next meets on Monday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m.

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With City Hall Closed Today, Alpharetta Swears in its New Mayor on Tuesday

David Belle Isle takes the oath of office, along with new council members Jimmy Gilvin and Michael Cross.

City Halls in Milton and Alpharetta are closed today, Jan. 2, for the New Year's holiday. That's caused Alpharetta to move its City Council meeting to Tuesday, Jan. 3. A new mayor starts his term after being sworn in Tuesday night, along with two new council members. David Belle Isle, who previously served part of a term on City Council, takes over as mayor He'll be joined on the City Council dais by newcomers Michael Cross and Jimmy Gilvin. Donald Mitchell won a special election to fill a seat vacated by Doug DeRito, and was sworn into office in late November 2011, so the City Council has a radically different look. D.C. Aiken, Chris Owens and Mike Kennedy round out the council. Before Tuesday's meeting begins, a public reception will be …

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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 City Hall, 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. Donald Mitchell.............64.91% Ron Carter......................34.52% David Belle Isle had a brief stint on City Council before he resigned to run for …

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Travis Allen

9:00 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011

That should be fixed, Alpharetta has elected someone to the Mayor's office that was not a consensus winner. Milton had run-offs in the first set of elections because two districts failed to have someone get the necessary 50% of the vote. How is this a good process when fewer than half the voters wanted you in office?   more ›

Live Blog: What's the Top Issue for You in Today's Milton and Alpharetta Elections?

Will Milton's council incumbents hold their posts? Does Alpharetta's City Center have a chance to be built? Share your thoughts.

Cover It Live is your chance to share your thoughts, ask questions and even post photos from today's elections.

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Check Alpharetta-Milton Patch Live Blog for Local Election Results Tuesday Night

We'll be live blogging the results for local elections in Alpharetta, Milton and surrounding communities as they come in on Tuesday, Nov. 8 beginning at 7 p.m.

If you're interested in the results of local elections jump on Alpharetta-Milton Patch Tuesday night after the polls close for live coverage and a chance to interact with other residents and candidates. We'll be live blogging the results of the Alpharetta Mayor's race and City Council races, as well as the Milton City Council races. Voters in Milton have two ballot questions–E-SPLOST and Sunday alcohol sales. Alpharetta voters have those same two questions, plus a $29 million bond referendum for the city Center project. Occasionally we'll even post what's going on in neighboring North Fulton cities, like Alpharetta and Johns Creek. So what can you expect to see on Alpharetta-Milton Patch throughout the evening? An interactive live feed …

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Letter to the Editor

Local Elections Called 'The Mean Season'

A member of the Alpharetta Planning Commission, a Windward resident, speaks out.

As a long-time member of the Alpharetta Planning Commission, and a former member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Windward Community Services Association, and the Windward Homeowners Association, and an active member of Alpharetta and the Windward Community, I feel it necessary to speak out on the up-coming election. Our local elections could well be called “The Mean Season” because of things otherwise sane and upstanding citizens and their supporters are driven to do in search of an elective office.  In the past, I took very active roles in mayoral and council races.  This election season, I made a commitment to myself and my family to remain neutral since I know and have been friends with all of the candidates running for office in …

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No Name

4:17 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011

Yes, he was against it then. It was not a good deal for the city. This is what Letchas refers to in his flyer against Belle Isle. DeRito and Aiken were against it too. As I recall *someone* put a video out about that first City Center. ~Anni   more ›

Mayoral Candidates Back Alpharetta's City Center Plan

As council members Paine and DeRito helped work on the current plan, which needs voters to pass a bond referendum on Nov. 8 to build it.

UPDATED, 3 P.M., Oct. 28: Mayoral candidate David Belle Isle took it on the chin from his opponents over his backing of a public-private city center plan that failed during the Alpharetta High Debate Club candidate forum on Oct. 26. Jim Paine and Doug DeRito participated in the forum, but Belle Isle left after making an opening statement. His two opponents fault him for his support of a public-private partnership in that previous City Center plan, which DeRito attacked as being sole sourced to one developer with no bidding process. And DeRito said Belle Isle has received a campaign contribution from that developer. Belle Isle, in his opening statement at the forum, said he supports the current City Center plan and has a passion for …

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DeRito, Paine Answer Questions Posed by Alpharetta High Debate Club

Alpharetta gets a last chance to hear council, mayor candidates address issues.

The invitations may have come a short time before the forum held Oct. 26 at Alpharetta High School, but only one candidate skipped full participation. The Alpharetta High Debate Club sponsored the fourth candidates forum for Alpharetta candidates, developing the questions and running the event. Mayoral candidates were asked questions, while City Council candidates were given the chance to make a campaign statement. Jim Paine and Doug DeRito participated in the complete forum for mayoral candidates. David Belle Isle made an opening statement, but left for a prior commitment at another campaign event.

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Don't Forget the Mayoral Debate at Alpharetta High Tonight

Alpharetta City Council candidates won't be asked questions, but they will get to make statements.

The Alpharetta High School Debate Club holds what could be the final faceoff between mayoral and City Council candidates in just a few hours at the school. Nearly 50 students are running the forum. Only the mayoral candidates will be asked questions. They'll also get a chance to make short closing statements. The City Council candidates will be given a chance to make a slightly longer campaign statement once the mayoral forum concludes. It all starts at 7 p.m. in the school's auditorium, and will finish two hours later. Candidates for Mayor David Belle Isle Douglas J. DeRito Jim Paine City Council – Post 1 Ron Carter Donald Mitchell City Council – Post 4 James E. Gilvin Cheryl Oakes - Incumbent City Council – Post 5 Hans Appen Michael …

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