Dunwoody beats Berkmar for first win of season ► PAGE 12
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Democrats successful in Dunwoody and DeKalb elections By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody voters turned out in droves for last Tuesday’s general election, yielding favorable results for area Democratic Party candidates. Congressional 6th District Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Karen Handel by 36,575 votes, or 9 percent. McBath edged out Handel in the 2018 midterm election by 3,264 votes.
Both incumbents defended Georgia Assembly seats for the first time. Democratic Sen. Sally Harrell defended her Senate District 40 seat with a 21 percent margin over Republican rival Garry Guan. District 40 includes Dunwoody and several surrounding cities. House District 79 Democratic Rep. Michael Wilensky defeated Republican Andrea Johnson by almost 20 percent. Democrats won both contested county seats representing Dunwoody.
Incumbent Republican District 1 County Commissioner Nancy Jester lost her seat to Democratic challenger Robert Patrick by 10,034 votes, more than 13 percent. Jester had been the sole Republican on the county commission. DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox, the incumbent Democrat, defeated Republican opponent Harold Dennis by 242,672 votes, a margin of almost 2-1. Democratic success did not translate to immediate success in the Georgia
General Assembly since Republicans retained solid majorities in both chambers. Republicans picked up one House seat in rural Georgia. Democrats won three metro Atlanta district races, resulting in a two-seat net gain. Democrats flipped one Senate seat in Gwinnett county. Democrats hoped to shift the balance of power, reducing Republican control over statewide redistricting set to take place next year following the Census.
School Board set to decide on new elementary school By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — The DeKalb County School Board was expected this week to consider approving $35 million in funding to build a 950-student elementary school on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, the former site of Shallowford Elementary School. The design of the school will mimic that of the newly opened Austin Elementary School on Roberts Drive. According to documents filed in advance of the meeting, the former Shallowford site is the logical choice for a new school, because the school district already owns the land. “This site is also located close to the border of the Dunwoody and Chamblee clusters and provides several potential
options for relief of nearby overcrowded schools,” the report said. An architectural rendering of the school shows a 118,000-square foot, three-story structure with a 1.5-acre play field, an amphitheater located in a courtyard, and room on the edge of the property for placement of five modular classrooms. A Dekalb County School spokesperson said the school opening is projected to be August 2022. “The attendance area for this school has not been set,” a statement from the district said. “Attendance area planning for this school will be part of the current Comprehensive Master Planning Process that is kicking off this month and will run through November of 2021.”
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Plans for a new elementary school on Chamblee Dunwoody Road show a central building with space for modular classrooms at the west.
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