O c t o b e r 8 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 1 , N o . 4 1
Video shows Fulton chair endorsing Thorne, insulting rival By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A video is circulating online of outgoing Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts endorsing District 1 Commissioner Bridget Thorne in her reelection campaign and making disparaging remarks about her Democratic opponent, Maggie Goldman. Pitts, a Democrat, spoke in support of Thorne, a Republican, at an August campaign event where he credited her for “a lot” of the “great work at Fulton County.” He then called Goldman a “nutcase.” “I know that there’s probably at least one spy PITTS here who will repeat what I said,” Pitts said. “I want you to hear me clearly. Bridget’s opponent, Maggie Goldman, is a nutcase.” The video was posted on Facebook by Thorne supporter Betsy Shaw Kramer. In his comments, Pitts criticized Goldman’s stance on tax rates and spending priorities. Goldman also uploaded a video of the incident, shot at a different angle, to her YouTube account. The candidate said she captured the video through a screen recording of a since-deleted post on Nextdoor. Goldman later responded to Pitts through an Instagram video, saying she “respectfully disagrees” with the chair’s comments.
See FULTON, Page 25
APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO
The 2026 voter guide By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com Appen Media Group proudly presents your voters guide for the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections. This work would not be possible without the support of our readers. If you value this resource, please consider contributing to our fall fundraiser by making a one-time contribution to the Appen Press Club. Learn more at appenmedia.com/join.
About this voters guide Our goal was to complete the bulk of our elections coverage by the start of early voting on Oct. 13. We have prioritized elections coverage for this issue, which means you will see minimal news coverage and no opinion pieces. However, we will still be keeping our community informed at appenmedia.com.
See GUIDE, Page 4
CANDIDATE Q&A ► PAGE 4: FULTON COMMISSION CHAIR ► PAGE 10: STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 47 ► PAGE 15: US HOUSE DISTRICT 7 ► PAGE 17: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 21
PUBLIC SAFETY
2 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
Milton lifts burn ban for AG-1 properties 770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.
By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandray@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton’s seasonal burn ban ended Oct. 1 for some properties. The ban will resume April 30, 2027. The burn ban applies to Ag-1 zoned properties of one acre or larger. Every year, the State of Georgia's Environmental Protection Division restricts outdoor burns in 54 counties – one of them being Fulton – between May 1 and Sept. 30. The rationale is that, when the weather is warmer, it can help lower the risk of wildfires and enhance overall air quality. Starting Oct. 1, Ag-1 zoned properties can again conduct "open burns" so long as the resulting smoke's opacity doesn't equal or exceed 40%. Those whose parcels are not zoned Ag-1 may not burn material outside all year, including October through April, except for cooking and recreational fires. Residents can check their property zoning
using this map. "As the burn ban is lifted, we encourage residents to enjoy the opportunity to conduct outdoor burning safely and responsibly," said Milton Fire Marshal Johnathan Matyasich. "Taking a few simple precautions, staying aware of current conditions and never leaving a fire unattended can make a significant difference in preventing an outdoor burn from becoming an emergency." According to the Georgia Forestry Commission's fire danger rating map, no burns are allowed outside if the daily rating is three, four, or five, when the chances of fires spreading are higher. Even if all the criteria are met, residents conducting legal open burns should make sure to: • Set up burn piles at least 50 feet from any structure, clearing at least 25 feet
around them that might burn. • Have protective equipment and a rake, shovel, hose and/or extinguisher, in case of a fire. • Burn small piles, generally no more than three to four feet across, as these produce less smoke and are easier to contain. • Make sure piles are dry and have minimal dirt, since moisture can create more smoke. • Let neighbors know of plans to burn and be ready to put out the fire if it causes them problems. Never leave a fire unattended. • Burn on clear days, since smoke can stagnate when conditions are overcast. Do not use flammable liquids to start a fire. • Check the wind, which can quickly disperse both smoke and flames when it is stronger. Burn during the day rather than in the early morning or at night because smoke tends to linger.
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Conyers man charged for not paying restaurant bill ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 36-year-old Conyers man was charged with theft of service after he allegedly declined to pay a restaurant bill Sept. 5. Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the Haynes Bridge Road business a little after midnight. Officers asked restaurant staff whether the man could wash dishes to pay for the meal but staff asked to press charges if they did not receive payment. The bill totaled more than $90. These reports are compiled from information provided by local law enforcement
Ball Ground man accused of engine coolant dumping FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a report of a 38-year-old Ball Ground man pouring used engine coolant into a storm drain Sept. 20. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy was dispatched to Scenic Ridge Way in Ball Ground. A 39-year-old Ball Ground man reported confronting the other man after seeing a Facebook post. The 38-year-old man said he poured a mixture of water and engine coolant into a roadway drain after changing the fluid in his vehicle. The deputy observed a 1.75-gallon container that had remnants of a coolant and
distilled water mixture in it. The incident was classified as a misdemeanor dumping violation.
Alpharetta man jailed for loitering, misrepresentation ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 45-year-old Alpharetta man was arrested on loitering and misrepresentation charges Sept. 2. Alpharetta police said officers were patrolling near a North Point Parkway hotel when they saw a vehicle parked with its windows open. Concerned because vehicle burglaries are common in the area, officers spoke with the driver. During the conversation, the man allegedly lied to officers about his residence, saying he was parked at the hotel for hours because he was fighting with his wife. Officers contacted the homeowner, who said the man no longer lived there. The man was charged and taken to the Alpharetta Detention Center.
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VOTER GUIDE
4 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
CANDIDATE Q&A
Fulton County Commission Chair FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Commission Chair race is a countywide election. This year’s election features Republican Eric Tatum and Democrat Mo Ivory. The candidates’ responses have not been edited. What are your campaign website and social media pages? IVORY: moivory.com, IG @ themoivory TATUM: www.erictatumforfulton. com; X: rictatumforga; Instagram: erictatumforgeorgia, Facebook: Eric Tatum for Fulton Why are you running for this office? IVORY: Fulton County deserves leadership that’s not afraid to tell the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable. Our jail is in crisis, our budget needs oversight, and our communities have been waiting too long for the services they deserve. My entire life has been about one thing: helping people understand their power and use it. Whether in a courtroom, a classroom, or on
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the airwaves, I’ve dedicated my career to making complex systems accessible to everyday people. Now, as your Commissioner for District 4, I’m bringing that same commitment to local government— IVORY because what happens at the county level affects your daily life more than you might think. As Chair, I will do the same for all of Fulton County. TATUM: I have four daughters. Our family looks like Fulton County: TATUM different stories, different backgrounds, one home. I watch them grow up here and asked myself whether this county is doing its part for them. Right now the honest answer is no. Their parents’ tax bills climb every year and the
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Continued from Page 1 Appen Media Group sent Q&As to nearly 80 candidates running for state and local offices. Our focus is on the local races that are closest to you. While there are many sources for coverage of the large statewide races – like the race for U.S. Senate and governor – there are comparatively few resources for the races in your community. That’s the value we add to the discussion. We hope this voters guide will help you as you weigh your options in the voting booth. While we made sincere and per sistent efforts to get Q&A responses from every candidate before our print deadline, some candidates did not respond. We will make note of the candidates who did not respond in this voter's guide. All our election coverage can be found at appenmedia.com/elections. If a candidate responds after this guide is published, we will update the Q&As published on our website with those responses. The responses have not been edited. How to use The voters guide Q&As will be
divided into sections for countylevel and state races. Each race will include a map so you can determine whether you live in that district. For the most accurate information about the races on your ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter page: mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ Important election information The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election was Oct. 5. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters must bring a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport or state-issued voter ID card. Advance voting for the election runs Oct. 13-30. To see a list of early voting locations visit (depends on the issue) • Fulton County: fultoncountyga. gov/inside-fulton-county/fultoncounty-departments/registrationand-elections/early-voting-locations If the Nov. 3 election requires a runoff, that election is set for Dec. 1. The registration deadline for the runoff is also Oct. 5 for most contests, though voters registering solely for a federal runoff race have until Nov. 2. ATTENTION - Double check ad for ALL content. Phone, web, address, coupons, etc. Assume nothing Reply back that ad is approved once ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR ACCURACY.
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VOTER GUIDE
6 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
Chair:
What are your top priorities if you are elected? IVORY: Fix the Jail, Fund the Courts, Build Hospitals, Better Healthcare, Free and Fair Elections, Increase Budget Transparency. TATUM: Taxes and Budgetinghold the millage rate at 8.87. benchmarks on every department budget, and justify yearly spending, and appropriately staff the Board of Assessors so high value properties pay appropriately. Public Safety- meet the Consent Decree, deliver on the need for ACDC as a short term fix and a long term diversion solution, and enhance accountability courts because I’ve seen them work; Economic Development- make Fulton the easiest county to build in while protecting our cities natural resources, and joint development agreements with cities. Public Health- make sure the
Continued from Page 4 was nearly raised again in January. The jail is under a federal consent decree. The elections office is under federal investigation. And the people in charge spend more time fighting than fixing. I’m running because my daughters, and every family in Fulton, deserve a county where what you look like and where you come from matter less than who you are and how hard you work. A county that tells the truth, spends your money like it is yours, and treats a family in Palmetto and Milton the same. I have spent 15 years as an attorey fixing problems for people who had nowhere else to turn. I want to do that for the county my girls call home.
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county programs reach the people they are meant to serve, with appropriate reporting for all service priorities. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? IVORY: I will bring real solutions for decades long problems. I’m not running to make promises I can’t keep. I’m running because I know how to get things done. I’m an attorney, educator, businesswoman and former Fulton County Commissioner. I am more qualified than my opponent and my record shows that. TATUM: My opponent made the motion to raise the county’s tax ceiling 12.5%, was the only vote against holding the rate flat, then asked for 14.3% more in January 2026. Then said she’s “never voted to raise anyone’s taxes.” I won’t raise the millage rate. I will finish what I start. If elected for four years, I will serve for four years. I follow all the rules, file campaign documents appropriately, and has the financial discipline in life to manage a $1B budget, as I manage a multimillion dollar budget presently in my law firm. I will be accountable, and ensure accountability for others. As property tax bills climb, residents have raised concerns about both how the county spends that money and the appraisal process. What changes would you make to how the county spends tax money and appraises properties?* First, appraisals. Homeowners see significant increases while some high-value commercial and luxury properties are appraised well below sale values, which shifts the burden onto our families. The Board of Appraisals needs the staff, technology, and oversight to appraise properties correctly and prevent homeowner’s values from spiking. Second, spending. The general fund eclipsed $1B this year, and we need to have more measurable results for our budget expenditures. I will also listen to the constituents, hear their concerns, and act accordingly, in their best interest. As property tax bills climb, residents have raised concerns about both how the county spends that money and the appraisal process. What changes would you make to how the county spends tax money and appraises properties? IVORY: Fulton County manages billions of public dollars each year, yet the budget process is often difficult for residents to follow. Too many decisions happen out of public view, and people are left wondering where their tax dollars go and how priorities are set.
When the process isn’t clear, trust erodes—and opportunities to spend smarter are missed. I will open the budget process with detailed, line-byline reviews that residents can easily access. Require clear explanations for major budget decisions so residents understand what’s being funded and why. I will make tough, informed choices to reduce waste and direct more resources to services that people rely on every day and strengthen oversight of county contracts to ensure fair competition, accountability, and responsible use of public funds. This is your money. You earn it, you pay it in taxes, and you deserve a government that treats it with care and respect. Budget transparency leads to better decisions, stronger services, and greater public trust. When residents can see how their money is spent—and have a voice in those choices—Fulton County works better for everyone. In January, the FBI seized roughly 700 boxes of ballots and records from Fulton County’s elections hub as part of its investigation into how the county handled the 2020 election. What is your opinion on the investigation and the county’s response to it, and what would you do to reassure voters about the integrity of Fulton’s election administration going forward? IVORY: Elections should be straightforward and accessible, but too often the systems that support voting are stretched thin. When departments lack the resources they need, voters feel the impact through long lines, confusion, and uneven access. Fulton County’s responsibility is to make voting work smoothly for the people who rely on it. I will ensure the Department of Registration and Elections has the funding and staffing it needs to run elections effectively and consistently strengthen training and support for election workers so every polling location is prepared and well-run. I will expand early voting opportunities and polling access so working families, seniors, and caregivers can participate fully. Voting is how our voices shape the future of Fulton County. When elections are accessible and well-run, more people participate and communities are better represented. Protecting free and fair elections means protecting the right of every eligible voter to be heard— clearly, confidently, and without unnecessary barriers. TATUM: Election integrity is not partisan. Every voter, regardless of party, deserves to know their vote was counted accurately and that the county followed the law.
See CHAIR, Page 8
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 7
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8 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
Chair:
VOTER GUIDE
Continued from Page 6 The investigation should run its course, and the county should cooperate rather than treat it as a public relations problem, while protecting our poll workers in the process. The federal government should not have to step into a local elections office, and the way to make sure it never has to again is to run that office so well there is no reason to. That starts with a full, functioning Board of Registration and Elections. Taxpayers are spending $32 million on elections this year, up 82 percent, and they deserve a board at full strength overseeing every dollar and every procedure. It means documented poll worker training so procedures are followed the same way every time, and real transparency: chain-of-custody records, audit results, and board proceedings any resident can see.
its programs reach and where the gaps are.
should be able to stay in the homes they built.
Food insecurity remains a persistent issue across Fulton County, affecting families and a rising number of seniors. What is your assessment of how well current county programs are reaching residents who need them, and what would you do to strengthen access to food assistance? IVORY: Our food programs are reaching thousands of Fulton County residents on a monthly basis, like our food program Fulton Fresh. Along with other key partnerships, we are reaching thousands more. We can always do more. We can partner with more groups, increase funding and have a wider transportation networks to make drops to those that are in need. I will examine all of these options as Chair. TATUM: Fulton County has built real partnerships with food banks, nonprofits, and faith communities, and because of them many residents have weekly access to food. Credit where it is due. The gap is not only supply. It is information. If you are a senior without reliable internet, or a parent working two jobs, finding out where and when food is available should not take a research project. I would do three things. Keep one current county list of every food partner and distribution site, and put it where people already are: senior centers, libraries, MARTA stations, clinics, and houses of worship, on paper and not only online. Use the county’s senior services network and home-delivered meals to reach homebound seniors. And measure it: the county should report every year how many residents
Are there additional steps you think Fulton County can take to protect its senior population and enable them to age in place beyond the homestead exemption and 2026 senior schooltax exemption? IVORY: Make sure seniors are aware of all the services we offer as a county, from healthcare to transportation to in-home medical assistance. There are many services that seniors don’t use because they simply do not know about them or have trouble accessing them. I plan to bridge that gap between education and the offerings so that more seniors can take advantage of all that Fulton County has for them. TATUM: Yes. The Board of Commissioners does not control school taxes, but it controls the county’s own rate, and that is where I can act. First, I will not raise the county property tax rate. When my opponent asked for a 14 percent increase in January, her own party’s Chairman said seniors on fixed incomes could not afford it. He was right. Second, the county already offers a $50,000 exemption from county operations taxes at 65 with no income test, and a full exemption from county operations taxes at 70 for seniors under the Social Security income limit. Too many eligible seniors never apply. I will make sure every one of them knows about these exemptions and receives them. Third, aging in place takes more than tax relief: senior transportation, in-home services, home repair help, and senior centers that are open and staffed. I would review each for reach and results and prioritize them in the budget. Seniors built this county. They
Fulton County remains under scrutiny from a federal Department of Justice investigation that found the county jail’s conditions violate detainees’ constitutional rights, citing overcrowding, inadequate medical care and high numbers of in-custody deaths. What is your assessment of the county’s criminal justice reform efforts so far, and what changes would you push for – beyond jail renovations – to address the underlying issues that were identified? IVORY: The Fulton County Jail did not become overcrowded by accident. Decades of underfunding our courts have slowed case processing to a crawl, leaving people stuck in a system that cannot move them through it. The result is an overcrowded, understaffed jail that has been declared constitutionally uninhabitable and placed under a federal consent decree. This is a systemic failure— one that threatens public safety, drains taxpayer dollars, and violates basic standards of human dignity. I will work to fully fund the courts so cases move efficiently and legally through the system, partner with court leadership to reduce backlogs and unnecessary delays that drive jail overcrowding, implement immediate safety and staffing reforms to meet constitutional standards at the jail and expand mental health and behavioral health services to address crises before they escalate. I will implement and require transparent, public reporting on jail conditions and compliance with the federal consent decree.When the courts are underfunded, the jail becomes the bottleneck—and everyone
APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO
pays the price. Overcrowding fuels unsafe conditions, increases costs, and undermines confidence in our justice system. Fulton County can and must do better. By funding the courts and fixing the jail, we protect public safety, respect the Constitution, and reaffirm our shared commitment to a system that works—fairly, efficiently, and humanely. I will also push for increased use of diversion services. TATUM: The Justice Department found the jail unconstitutional. Progress is real but slow. The biggest step forward this year is one I pushed for. When the county and the city were deadlocked over the Atlanta City Detention Center, I stood at the public comment podium on September 3rd and urged commissioners to buy it, because housing detainees in-county during renovations beats shipping them out to another county. Last week the county agreed, at $68 million. My opponent had her chance. On August 20, 2025 the board approved the $1.2 billion plan to fix Rice Street and build a new facility, 4 to 1. She was the one. She wanted ankle monitors instead. In June she said she “absolutely supports building a new jail.” You cannot be the only vote against the fix and then claim to support it. Beyond buildings: the consent decree calls for 200 net new officers a year; the county netted 34 through July. Fix pay. And 62 percent of people entering the jail have mental health or addiction needs: fund the Center for Diversion and Services and expand accountability courts. In 15 years of family and juvenile law, I have seen what those programs can do when funded and run well. Nationwide, Flock Safety cameras have come under fire for privacy concerns and for being misused by police officers. What are your thoughts on both Flock Safety and the backlash it has caused? IVORY: Safety cameras should not be used for anything other than there intended purposes. As a attorney, I am deeply troubled by the privacy violations and the use of these systems to gather information on citizens which can then be uses in an unlawful manner. TATUM: I understand why law enforcement wants these tools; in theory a license plate reader is a faster set of eyes. In practice, the story nationally has been misuse: plates run for personal reasons, data shared with agencies far outside our county without a warrant, and no meaningful oversight. That is government overreach, and I will not support it.
See CHAIR, Page 10
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 9
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10 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
VOTER GUIDE
Candidate Q&A: State House District 47 The race for state House District 47 features Republican Jack Miller and Democrat Lindsay Defranco. The district includes the cities of Milton, Alpharetta and Roswell. To see a map of the district, click here. Appen Media sent both candidates our Q&A. The candidates’ answers have not been edited.
quo instead of challenge it. For the past two and a half years, I’ve been showing up. I’ve sat through committee hearings, testified on bills, spent hours listening to debates in the House gallery, and attended State Election Board meetings. I wasn’t running for office. I wanted to understand how our government actually works, who it works for, and where it falls short. Those in power spend a lot of time fueling division and pointing fingers. But Republicans have controlled Georgia’s government for more than two decades. At some point, you have to take responsibility for the government you’ve been running. I’ve seen what happens when accountability disappears. Special interests gain influence, decisions get made behind closed doors, and corruption thrives when nobody is paying attention. I know how important it is to have someone in those rooms who isn’t afraid to speak up. I want to bring transparency to the State House. Many people disengage because we make government seem more complicated than it is. You deserve a representative who tells you what’s happening, explains it in plain English, and isn’t afraid to show their work. The government should actually solve problems. When we invest early in healthcare, safety, schools, and strong neighborhoods, we can spend less fixing problems later and get more for our money.
Campaign website and social media pages: MILLER: www.jackmillerforgeorgia. com | facebook.com/JackMillerGA | instagram.com/JackMillerGA DeFRANCO: lindsayforga.com, https://www.instagram.com/lindsayforga, https://www.youtube.com/@ lindsayforga MILLER
What is your occupation? MILLER: I am a financial planner, serving families and business owners throughout North Fulton and Cherokee County. DeFRANCO: Small business owner, Mom
What neighborhood do you call home? MILLER: Milton. I grew up here, met DEFRANCO my wife here, and we chose to come back and build our life in the community that raised us. DeFRANCO: Milton Why are you running for this office? MILLER: As a financial planner, I sit across the table from families every day and help them build a plan with what is left after the government takes its cut, and after insurance, housing, healthcare, and every other rising cost. Too many Georgians, especially the younger generation, are beginning to question whether the American Dream is still within reach. Recent graduates are worried about finding good jobs. Parents are worried whether their children will ever be able to afford their first home. I don’t believe government can deliver the American Dream, but I do believe it can either make it harder or easier to achieve. We need leaders at the State House who understand that every dollar the government spends came from someone who worked for it, and who will focus on keeping Georgia the best place to raise a family.
Chair: Continued from Page 8 Privacy is not partisan; it is constitutional, and the backlash is coming from the left and the right for good reason. Fulton County should not expand or renew any surveillance camera contract without enforceable guardrails: short data retention, no sharing outside the county without a warrant or court order, a public log of every search and who ran it, independent audits, and the right to cancel the contract the moment it is abused.
IMAGE OBTAINED VIA LEGIS.GA.GOV.
A map showing the boundaries of state House District 47. I felt called to serve because my work with the Milton First Responders Foundation, Rotary, the Milton Historical Society, and other community organizations has given me a close understanding of what matters to my neighbors. Our community is growing faster than our infrastructure, and too often decisions that affect our neighborhoods are being made without enough input from the people who actually live here. I am running to keep those decisions closer to home and to bring financial discipline to the State House. DeFRANCO: I’m running because I believe we deserve better. For too long, this community has been represented by people who want to maintain the status
Because those safeguards have failed nearly everywhere the cameras are used, I oppose Fulton County using Flock cameras. A citizen’s privacy comes before a government’s convenience. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? What will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? IVORY: I promise to be ethical and transparent and believe that my record already shows a pattern of that behavior. What I will do is what I have already done. Open the government to its citizens. Educate on what happens
What are your top priorities if you are elected? MILLER: First, lowering the cost of living. I will keep Georgia’s income tax moving lower, build on property tax relief, expand senior homestead exemptions in Fulton and Cherokee, and challenge regulations that increase the cost of housing, insurance, healthcare, and everyday goods. Second, keeping our neighborhoods safe and protecting the way of life we’ve built here. Our public safety departments deserve the pay, staffing, training, and equipment the job requires. I support giving law enforcement resources to keep career criminals, gang members, and drug traffickers off our streets, with stricter consequences for repeat offenders. Protecting our communities means protecting local control. Decisions about how our neighborhoods grow should stay with the local leaders we elect and the people who live here, not unelected bureaucrats in Atlanta. Third, giving our children the strongest possible
in government, what it means and how it affects your life. Since day one of becoming a commissioner, I recorded explainer videos at every single Board of Commissioners meeting I sat in since January 2025. I will continue to do so as Chair. TATUM: Absolutely, and I have lived it. For 15 years I have practiced law under a professional code of ethics where a lapse can cost you your license, and I will bring that standard to the Chairman’s office. Transparency starts at the top. My opponent has not shown that a single signed, notarized, file stamped 2026 campaign report was received
See HD47, Page 12 by the county, and still owes state fines from 2017. I have filed and will continue to file every disclosure and campaign report completely and on time, with nothing hidden behind trusts or shell entities. I will open the county’s contracting process so residents can see who bid, who won, and why. I will strengthen protections for whistleblowers who expose waste, fraud, or ethics violations, including by elected officials. And I will insist on a culture of accountability measured by actions, not press releases. Fulton County residents should never have to wonder whether their government is working for them.
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HD47: Continued from Page 10 start. 62% of Georgia third graders do not read proficiently. The Early Literacy Act put a reading coach in every elementary school, and I will keep funding those coaches a priority. We must also keep teacher pay ahead of the cost of living, cut red tape that pulls teachers away from teaching, and build on the phone-free classroom law and Georgia’s school safety investments so no place is safer or more focused than a classroom. Those priorities come back to the same principle: state government should focus on the basics, spend responsibly, and create opportunity for the next generation. DeFRANCO: Lower Costs: Families are being squeezed by property taxes, insurance, utilities, childcare, and groceries. Georgia has the resources to provide relief without raising taxes. My job is not only to communicate that, but to make it happen. I want to use existing state dollars for investments that reduce household costs, and stop subsidizing corporations and special interests that don’t need our help. Public Schools: I want to keep public dollars in public schools, invest directly in teachers and classrooms, and stop shifting the state’s responsibilities onto local taxpayers. I refuse to stand by while our teachers, librarians, and administrators are treated like the enemy. Voucher programs divert state dollars from public education, leaving local taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden. A well-educated public benefits everyone, whether you have children in public school or not. Every child deserves easy access to a world-class education--and we have the resources to do that. Healthcare: Health insurance premiums and deductibles are too high. We need to lower costs and grow Georgia’s healthcare workforce so patients have more choices and shorter wait times. We should bring home the federal healthcare dollars Georgians already pay for, expand affordable access, strengthen rural healthcare and mental health services, and demand price transparency. I also believe insurance companies should not be able to overrule your doctor and deny medically necessary care. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? MILLER: I bring a different kind of experience to this race. Professionally, I spend every day working with budgets, investments, tax law, and long-term financial planning. The General Assembly is responsible for a state budget measured in tens of billions of dollars, and I will arrive prepared to understand where that money comes from, where it goes, and whether
VOTER GUIDE
taxpayers are getting value for it. Just as important is my involvement in this community. I have spent years serving alongside our first responders, civic organizations, local leaders, businesses, and families. Those relationships were built long before I ever became a candidate. My platform is built on real solutions, not broad campaign promises. When I talk about property tax relief, infrastructure, public safety, or lowering costs, I want voters to know what I would actually do and how I would pay for it. I am not running to build a career in politics. This district deserves a representative who sees this community as home, not as a political opportunity. I am running because I believe public office should be an act of service, and because I know this community well enough to carry its priorities to the Capitol and work to deliver results. That is the kind of serious, responsible leadership I will bring to the State House. DeFRANCO: I am a parent raising two children in this district, and that gives me a whole-system view of the community I will represent. Schools, healthcare, safety, roads, utilities, childcare, and taxes aren’t separate issues. Every government decision comes back to the same kitchen table. Being a parent means I experience firsthand what happens when schools are underfunded and families absorb the cost. When healthcare is inaccessible, parents miss work and children miss school. When costs rise, families have less. When communities fail to plan, we experience more traffic and strained public services. But the biggest difference is independence and transparency. I have spent 20 years in the public eye. My successes, mistakes, opinions, and evolution are all out there. I’m not presenting voters with a carefully curated persona. With me, you know who you’re electing. With him, it’s a mystery. My husband and I built an independent media organization from the ground up and earned the trust of millions. I know how to run a business, make payroll, solve problems, and make difficult decisions with real consequences. I’m running without special-interest money. Over 3,000 individual donors have funded this campaign. My opponent has taken money from PACs and his employer, while outside dark-money groups have spent heavily to support him. Corruption begins when money, relationships, and political power become so intertwined that the public cannot tell whose interests are being served. Gov. Brian Kemp has told government agencies to submit level budgets as they prepare for next year’s budget cycle. Kemp has also cut in-
come taxes. Do you support continuing to reduce government spending while also cutting taxes? If so, what is your plan to provide services with less revenue? MILLER: Yes. Families across Georgia have to make a budget every year while the cost of groceries, insurance, housing, and everything else goes up, often faster than their income. They have to prioritize, make tradeoffs, and live within what they earn. State government should be held to the same standard. Georgia has already shown that we can keep more money in taxpayers’ pockets without sacrificing the services families rely on. The income tax rate is now 4.99%, with additional reductions toward 3.99% scheduled when fiscal conditions allow. I want to keep us on that path. I support requiring state agencies to justify their budgets rather than assuming an automatic increase each year. We should protect core responsibilities like public safety, education, and critical infrastructure, eliminate programs that are outdated or ineffective, and maintain strong reserves. When revenues grow faster than necessary to fund core responsibilities and maintain adequate reserves, return that money to taxpayers rather than automatically creating new permanent spending. Families do not get an automatic pay raise simply because their expenses increased. Government should not expect one either. We can provide excellent public services while still demanding discipline with every taxpayer dollar. DeFRANCO: I support responsible spending, cutting waste, and lowering taxes when the math works. Every dollar in the state budget should have a purpose, and programs that do not deliver results should be reevaluated or eliminated. But a tax cut should actually save taxpayers money. I reject the idea that every fiscal challenge is simply a “spending problem.” Sometimes spending is wasteful, and we should cut it. But sometimes reducing state spending transfers the cost to counties, cities, schools, or families. That is not saving taxpayers money. It is changing who sends them the bill. I care about what families pay in total, not just one line on their tax bill. An income-tax cut may put money in your pocket on payday, but if it leads to higher property taxes, fees, or outof-pocket costs, you’re not really saving money. A tax cut that moves the bill from one pocket to another is a gimmick, not meaningful relief. Before major tax cuts, I support a public fiscal-impact analysis showing the revenue loss, who benefits, which services could be affected, and whether local taxpayers could absorb the cost. Georgia should eliminate ineffective spending and tax breaks, demand mea-
surable results from every dollar, and stop subsidizing corporations and special interests that do not need taxpayer assistance. Fiscal responsibility means spending wisely, cutting waste, and making sure taxpayers actually save money at the end of the day. Do you support changing the constitution to allow for the creation of new school districts? MILLER: Yes. I believe local voters should have the ability to decide what is best for their own schools and their own communities. Georgia’s Constitution currently prohibits communities from creating new independent school systems because of a restriction that dates back to 1945. I do not believe a community in 2026 should be told that the answer must permanently be no because of a restriction written eighty years ago. A constitutional amendment would not itself create a new school district. It would give Georgians a path to consider one and give local voters a voice in that decision. That process should include strong guardrails. Any proposed district should demonstrate long-term financial viability, provide for an orderly division of assets and debt, and ensure that students remaining in the existing school system are not unfairly harmed. To me, local control also means local responsibility. If a community believes it can provide a better educational system for its children and taxpayers, there should be a responsible process for putting that question before the people who live there. DeFRANCO: Not right now. Even in a strong, well-resourced district like ours, I don’t believe the answer is to split off. It’s about making sure the system works for both our community and the communities around us. I understand the appeal. Creating smaller, independent school districts sounds like local control, and communities should have a meaningful voice in their schools. But too many people are trying to fundamentally reshape public education without listening to the people who actually work in our schools. Parents deserve a voice, but so do teachers, librarians, administrators, child-development experts, and education professionals. That especially concerns me when decisions about curriculum, books, and what children should be taught are driven more by political or ideological movements than by educators and evidence. Public schools have to serve the entire public, not whichever group has the most political power at the moment. Creating new districts doesn’t fix the underlying problems; it just shifts
See HD47, Page 14
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 13
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14 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
HD47: Continued from Page 12 them. I would rather fix how we fund our schools by modernizing the QBE, ensuring resources reach classrooms, demanding board accountability and transparency, addressing class sizes, and making sure parents and teachers are heard. I’m not saying Georgia should never reconsider how school districts are structured. But I would not amend our Constitution to do it right now. We should fix the problems driving communities toward the exit before we start building new exits. Data centers are a contentious topic for many communities. Do you support the creation of more data centers in Georgia? Why or why not? What data center regulations should be in place, if any? MILLER: I believe in the free market and in bringing strong jobs and investment to Georgia, but growth has to work for the communities where it happens. That means protecting local control and making sure private costs are not passed along to taxpayers and residential customers. Decisions about zoning and land use belong with the local officials you elect, not the state, and I will always respect that authority. At the state level, I would focus on four things. First, protect Georgia’s water resources and require appropriate planning for projects with significant water demands. Second, make sure data centers pay for the additional power and infrastructure they need, rather than passing those costs along to families through higher utility bills. Third, make sure local communities have meaningful information about the power, water, and infrastructure demands of projects being proposed in their backyard. Finally, I believe it is time to end the data center tax exemption, which is projected to account for roughly $2.5 billion in foregone revenue in 2026, a cost ultimately borne by Georgia taxpayers. DeFRANCO: I can speak most directly for the community I am running to represent, and here in HD47, I do not support continued expansion of AI data centers. We are moving too fast to accommodate an industry whose long-term impacts on our power grid, water resources, infrastructure, and communities are not yet fully understood. We should not make permanent land-use decisions while we are still trying to understand the consequences. Once you develop an area, you can’t go back. You can’t replace decades-old
VOTER GUIDE
trees, restore open land, or recreate the natural spaces that made a community special. Here in North Fulton, our trees, green space, and rural areas are part of what makes this such an extraordinary place to live. I am not willing to sacrifice that simply because a development promises economic growth. I am also concerned about the public cost. Data centers require enormous amounts of electricity and infrastructure while creating relatively few permanent jobs compared with their size and investment. Georgia should not offer massive tax incentives while families absorb rising costs elsewhere. Different communities may reach different conclusions, and I respect that. But we need stronger protections and patience. Data centers should disclose their water and energy use, bear the infrastructure costs they create, and replace trees they remove with significantly more trees elsewhere. Not every development is good development. What we give up cannot always be bought back later. Georgia recently expanded access to its medical cannabis program, allowing new patients to receive medical cannabis cards and adding new products for patients. Do you support expanding the program further and allowing the sale of cannabis for recreational use? Why or why not? MILLER: I believe the responsible next step for Georgia’s medical cannabis program is implementation and evaluation rather than immediately passing another expansion. The state has broadened the medical program, and we should determine whether the current system is serving patients safely and effectively before making another major change. I do not support legalizing cannabis for recreational use. Any discussion about expanding access to intoxicating products has to take public safety seriously, including whether law enforcement has reliable tools and standards to identify impairment on our roads. DeFRANCO: Yes I do. Georgia made a responsible decision by proceeding cautiously and observing legalization in other states. We have had the opportunity to learn from their successes and mistakes. Any legalization here should be phased in slowly, tightly controlled, and continuously evaluated using public-health, safety, and enforcement data. Georgia should require product testing, accurate labeling, child-resistant packaging, age verification, advertising restrictions, and strong impaired-driving enforcement. Local communities should retain reasonable authority over retail locations, and the market should not become a monopoly controlled by politically connected companies. Changes must occur alongside honest, evidence-based drug education. Marijuana
is not harmless, particularly for young people, but equating every drug as though it presents the same danger is irresponsible. If someone uses marijuana and thinks that its risks were exaggerated, they may assume warnings about cocaine, fentanyl, or other more dangerous substances were exaggerated too. Accurate education preserves credibility and saves lives. Prohibition has not eliminated cannabis use. Regulation would give Georgia greater oversight while preventing lowlevel possession from creating life-altering criminal records. Revenue should support substance-use treatment, mental healthcare, education, and enforcement. We should proceed carefully, measure the results, and adjust the system when the evidence tells us to. Georgia continues to debate how state elections are conducted and every year there is new legislation on this topic. What changes to our current election system do you support, if any? MILLER: The first change I would push for is consistency. The right to vote is fundamental to our country, and Georgians, regardless of who they vote for, should have confidence that our elections are secure and administered under clear rules. Since 2019, Georgia has handed county election officials a new set of rules almost every year. In 2024, the legislature passed a law banning QRcoded ballots by July 1, 2026, and never appropriated a dollar to replace the system. Counties spent this spring not knowing how they would count ballots in a midterm. That is why I believe we need more consistency. When the state changes how our elections are run, counties need clear rules, enough time to implement them, and the resources to do it right. We should not pass mandates in Atlanta and leave local officials scrambling or local taxpayers footing the bill. Most importantly, election administration should not be treated as a partisan exercise. Georgians of every political perspective deserve confidence that lawful votes are counted accurately and that eligible voters can participate. Confidence and access are not opposites. A system people cannot trust and a system people cannot reasonably use both fail. DeFRANCO: Georgia needs an election system that is secure, transparent, and stable. I am open to hand-marked paper ballots combined with scanners for tallying if that is what Georgians want. But requiring every ballot to be counted by hand would create significantly more work for county election offices and more opportunities for human error. Disappointment is not evidence of fraud, and unsupported allegations should not determine public policy. Election changes should begin with a docu-
mented problem, credible evidence, and a clear explanation of how legislation would solve it. Lawmakers should not make voting more difficult for eligible citizens or unnecessarily burden county election offices. I support predictable state funding for county election offices, uniform training and procedures, meaningful access to early and absentee voting, accurate voter rolls with protections against removing eligible voters, auditable paper ballots, transparent audits and certification, and stronger protections for election workers who face threats or harassment for doing their jobs. Election security matters, and so does public confidence. Georgia should use evidence, transparency, professional election administration, and rigorous audits to protect both. Candidates, as well as elected officials, have a responsibility to respect verified election results, including when they lose. If you are elected, what will you do to help your constituents who are struggling due to inflation and other rising costs? What can the state do to make Georgia more affordable? MILLER: The fastest relief state government can provide is to address the costs government itself creates. Every regulation has a cost, whether it appears in an insurance premium, medical bill, or the price of housing. I support requiring state agencies to justify regulations already on their books and meaningful economic impact analysis before new rules take effect. Licensing requirements should protect the public, not make it unnecessarily difficult to start a business or earn a living. I will also protect and build on the tax relief Georgia Republicans have delivered. Georgia’s income tax rate is now 4.99% and is scheduled to move toward 3.99% as fiscal triggers are met. The standard deduction is now $15,000 for individuals and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly, with additional increases beginning in 2027. The retirement income exclusion for qualifying taxpayers 65 and older rises to $70,000 in 2027. That means Georgians keep more of what they earn. Property taxes are another major affordability issue, especially for seniors watching their tax bills rise. I support relief, including expanded senior homestead exemptions in Fulton and Cherokee, so rising property values do not price our neighbors out of communities they helped build. Finally, constituent service matters. If you are stuck dealing with a state agency, my office will work to help resolve the issue. I will be accessible and ready to work for my neighbors when they need help. That is servant leadership.
See HD47, Page 15
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Candidate Q&A: U.S. House District 7 FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The U.S. House District 7 race features incumbent Republican Rep. Richard McCormick and Democratic challenger Tony Kozycki. Appen Media sent both candidates our Q&A. McCormick did not respond. U.S. House District 7 includes Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs. It includes parts of Forsyth County. The candidate’s responses have not been edited. What are your campaign website and social media pages? KOZYCKI: kozyckiforcongress. com, https://www. facebook.com/ KozyckiforCongress, https://www.instagram. com/kozycki_for_ KOZYCKI congress/, https:// www.tiktok.com/@kozyckiforcongress Why are you running for this office? KOZYCKI: I’m running because I believe we agree on far more than our politics would have us believe. Too many politicians have learned that keeping us angry at each other makes keeping their jobs easier. It turns neighbor against
HD47: Continued from Page 14 DeFRANCO: Georgia cannot control every national price increase, but it can stop families from paying more through higher insurance premiums, utility bills, healthcare costs, childcare expenses, and local property taxes. I will focus on household expenses state policy can directly influence. That means strengthening oversight of insurance companies and utilities, increasing healthcare price transparency, expanding our healthcare workforce, improving access to affordable childcare, and fully funding the state’s responsibilities to public schools so costs don’t shift onto local property taxpayers. I support returning excess revenue to taxpayers when appropriate, but onetime rebates do not make Georgia more affordable. We should also use existing revenue for investments that lower recurring costs. If we reduce healthcare shortages, expand childcare options, strengthen infrastructure, and fund schools, families keep more of their money every month. We should review corporate tax breaks and subsidies and ask: what are
McCormick to debate, and taking unscripted questions. I am not asking anyone to vote for me because I have a “D” next to my name. I want to earn their vote. I’m running to lower costs, make health care more affordable, protect our democracy, and restore trust in government. Most importantly, I want to help bring our community together. Democrat, Republican, or independent, I will show up, listen, fight for this district, and always remember who I work for: you.
IMAGE OBTAINED VIA CONGRESS.GOV
neighbor, divides our community, and leaves our biggest problems unsolved. I want to do politics differently. I graduated from the Naval Academy and served nearly a decade on active duty, including three combat deployments. I learned that leadership means working with people you may disagree with, listening to them, and finding a way to accomplish the mission together. That is why I am traveling throughout this district, including places where Democrats rarely win, holding public events, inviting Congressman taxpayers getting in return? Incentives should produce measurable public benefits, not simply transfer public money to companies that do not need it. Affordability should be the test we apply to the state budget. Before spending another dollar, we should ask whether it makes life less expensive, improves an essential service, or prevents a larger expense later. My goal is simple: use the money Georgia already has to make daily life more affordable. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? If you are elected, what will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? MILLER: Yes. Transparency and accountability will be central to my service, and I will hold public office to the same standard of responsibility I work under professionally. Anyone trusted with taxpayer dollars has a responsibility to explain their decisions and answer for how that money is spent. In my profession, I act as a fiduciary for my clients. That is not a slogan, but a legal duty to put my clients’ interests ahead of my own, disclose conflicts, and justify every recommendation I give. I will bring that same
What are your top priorities if you are elected? KOZYCKI: My first priority is the affordability crisis. For generations, Americans believed that if you worked hard, you could build a good life and leave your children something better. Too many people are starting to lose faith in that promise. If you work a fulltime job, you should be able to afford a home, put food on the table, save a little for the future, and still make it home for your son’s baseball practice or your daughter’s dance recital. Too many families are working harder than ever and still barely keeping their heads above water. We need to fight to get that American Dream back. Second is health care. Getting sick standard to the State House, putting taxpayers first and treating every dollar entrusted to government with the care it deserves. Taxpayer dollars are not the government’s money. They belong to the Georgians who worked hard to earn them, and every decision about how those dollars are spent should reflect that. In practice, that means publishing my voting record with explanations of major votes and providing a clear breakdown of the state budget after each legislative session so taxpayers can see where their money is going. It also means being available. I live and work in House District 47, and you should not have to drive into Atlanta or know the right person to meet your state representative. I will meet with constituents here in Milton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Mountain Park, and Cherokee. Accountability starts with being visible, available, and willing to explain the decisions I make. DeFRANCO: Yes. Ethics means more than meeting minimum legal requirements. Public officials work for the public. Transparency means communicating with constituents, explaining decisions plainly, and making government accessible. I have been transparent and accessible to hundreds of thousands
should not be something a family is afraid they cannot afford. People are paying thousands just to insure their families, then facing huge bills when they actually need care. I want to fight back against the insurance giants, restore real competition, and bring costs down. Finally, we have to change the way Washington works. Division may help politicians keep their jobs, but it does nothing for our community. I want to bring people together and actually solve problems, from affordability and the national debt to term limits and banning congressional stock trading. We don’t need politicians who are better at telling us who to hate. We need leaders who can bring us together and get something done. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? KOZYCKI: What makes me different is that I am willing to fight against a political system that is tearing this country apart. Washington has become two sides screaming at each other while the same problems get worse. I don’t want to represent half this district. I want to represent all of it. Rich McCormick has embraced that
See HD7, Page 16 of people my entire adult life, and that won’t change now. I do not accept corporate money or dark money, and I will work to ensure officials clearly disclose who financially supports them and which outside interests seek to influence their decisions. The public should not have to investigate its government to learn whom its representatives may be serving. Ethical standards must apply equally. Officials should not demand transparency and accountability from others while excusing the same behavior from themselves or their allies. How you run is how you will serve. While my opponent limits himself to rooms filled with people who already agree with him, I hold open houses and meet people for coffee even when we vote differently. Representation requires listening beyond your supporters. If elected, I will hold public office hours, explain consequential votes, disclose potential conflicts, and remain directly available to constituents. You don’t have to wait until after the election. Check my website for open-house dates, or email me and we can grab coffee. We don’t have to agree, but if I hope to represent you, I need to hear from you.
16 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
HD7: Continued from Page 15 politics of division. I haven’t. I will stand in a room with Republicans, Democrats and independents, take the hard questions, listen when people disagree with me, and tell them what I actually believe. We invited Rich McCormick to six debates, one in every county in this district. He has refused to stand on that stage with me. I’ll say it plainly: Rich is a coward. If you want the privilege of representing this community, you should have the courage to stand in front of it and answer unscripted questions. No handlers. No talking points. Tell us what you believe. I don’t care whether there’s an R or a D beside your name. Congress isn’t supposed to be a rubber stamp for any president or any party. Its job is to represent the community and provide a check on power. So don’t vote for a letter. Look at the two people asking for this job. Make us stand in front of you. Ask us the hard questions. Then decide who has the courage to listen, lead and fight for this entire district. President Trump recently imposed new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. What is your opinion of this policy? KOZYCKI: Tariffs can be an important tool of American economic and foreign policy, but they are a dangerous one and should be used with precision. As a small-business owner, I know how hard it is to plan, hire, and grow when government creates uncertainty or suddenly raises costs. My business may not be directly affected, but businesses and families across our community are. In the middle of an affordability crisis, we should be extremely careful about policies that make everyday life more expensive. Instead of approaching trade with a scalpel, President Trump picked up Elon Musk’s DOGE chainsaw and started swinging it at allies and adversaries alike. We should use American economic power to protect our workers, confront unfair trade, and strengthen critical industries. But we cannot pick fights with everyone at once, especially our closest allies. Teddy Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Strength comes from knowing when to use it. Canada and Mexico should be partners as China works to expand its global influence. Congress must also be willing to check the President. Our focus should be strengthening America, lowering costs, and building alliances, not starting unnecessary fights that leave American families paying the bill.
VOTER GUIDE
If you are elected, what investigations would you support into the conduct of current or former elected officials? KOZYCKI: I will fight for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein who have been failed again and again by the very government that was supposed to protect them. They were failed when powerful people escaped accountability, failed when their privacy was violated, and failed when politicians refused to act until public pressure became impossible to ignore. I want every remaining question answered, every responsible person held accountable, and every survivor treated with the dignity our government has denied them for far too long. I would also aggressively investigate waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption throughout government. That means investigating questions surrounding federal contracts awarded under Republican administrations, including DHS no-bid contracts under Kristi Noem. It also means investigating how hundreds of millions of dollars intended to feed children were stolen through Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud scheme and whether government officials failed in their responsibility to protect that money. I don’t care which party is embarrassed. Follow the money. Find out who failed, who profited, and who broke the law. Recover every taxpayer dollar we legally can. Then let’s put that money back where it belongs: rebuilding the middle class, lowering our debt, and investing in the American people who actually earned it. What committees do you hope to serve on if you are elected? KOZYCKI: I would hope to serve on the House Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee, or Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I spent nearly a decade on active duty in the Navy and deployed three times in combat. I know what it means when Congress makes decisions about sending Americans into harm’s way because I was one of the people carrying out those decisions. I would bring that experience to Armed Services, particularly as we confront a more dangerous world and make sure America remains strong without unnecessarily putting our service members at risk. Veterans’ Affairs is also deeply personal to me. We make a promise to the men and women who serve this country, and that promise cannot end when they take off the uniform. I want to fight for better health care, mental health services, benefits, and support for veterans and their families. Judiciary would also allow me to bring my experience as an attorney to
some of the most consequential legal and constitutional issues facing our country. These are areas where I wouldn’t just bring opinions. I would bring firsthand experience. What is your opinion about the current conflict with Iran? Do you support continuing this conflict and, if so, what should the ultimate objectives be? KOZYCKI: Iran has been a menace in the Middle East for decades. But America entered this war without clear objectives, a strategy, or an exit plan. We also entered without the allies who have always multiplied American strength. I know what war looks like. I flew 56 combat missions in the Middle East. Before we ask another American family to send a son or daughter into harm’s way, we owe them an answer to a basic question: What is the mission, and how does it end? This is where Rich McCormick and I vehemently disagree. Rich cheers on putting boots on the ground in Iran. I believe sending American troops into Iran without a plan would recklessly risk American lives, could cost taxpayers trillions, and drag another generation into another forever war. We have been down this road before. I refuse to blindly walk down it again. Our objective now must be to end this war decisively. As a military leader, I learned that you accomplish the mission by using every advantage you have, and one of America’s greatest advantages is our allies. I know firsthand what they bring to the fight. We need them back at the table, building a coordinated strategy that brings overwhelming diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to end this war. And yes, America may need to swallow some pride and acknowledge that we need them. We do. That’s not weakness. That’s leadership. The goal isn’t to prove America can fight alone. It’s to accomplish the mission, protect American lives, and bring our people home. Healthcare costs continue to rise for millions of Americans. What are your plans for making healthcare more accessible and affordable? KOZYCKI: Healthcare is the number one concern I hear across this district. I met a father who couldn’t afford to insure his entire family anymore. He had to choose who would go without, so he chose himself, going without healthcare so his wife and children could keep theirs. I met a single mom who wants to change careers and build a better life, but one of her children has serious medical needs. She can’t risk losing the insurance her job provides, so she stays.
That’s not freedom. Healthcare should provide security, not trap someone in a job. I met a woman in her early 60s working two jobs while needing hip surgery she couldn’t afford. Her plan was to endure the pain until she qualified for Medicare. That should not happen in the wealthiest country in the world. We need to take on the enormous power of the insurance industry and bring real competition back into healthcare. We need to lower prescription drug costs, give families more affordable choices, protect rural and community healthcare, and stop allowing middlemen and massive corporations to drive up what patients pay. This cannot be a left-versusright issue. Nobody asks whether the ambulance is Republican or Democratic when their child is sick. We need both parties at the table focused on one goal: making quality healthcare something every working American can actually afford. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? What will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? KOZYCKI: Yes, because our political system is broken. Gerrymandering lets politicians choose their voters. Outside money lets corporations and special interests flood our elections with cash. Add incumbency and no term limits, and you create politicians who no longer have to listen to the people they represent. Look at Rich McCormick. He lost his first race for Congress, then ran two years later in a newly drawn Republican district, gift-wrapped for him by his own party. Now Rich plays the game. He gallivants around Washington, spews whatever divisive national talking point is popular that day, demonizes the other side, and keeps the culture war burning. But when it comes time to come home, listen to people who need his help, and answer hard questions, he’s nowhere to be found. Rich’s last open town hall was packed with 500 constituents, many frustrated about how his decisions were affecting their families and our community. Instead of continuing to face those questions, he ran away. When he finally returned, it was behind the doors of a private ballroom, invitation-only, with questions screened in advance. I’ve invited Rich to six debates so voters can put us side by side, ask the hard questions, and hear what each of us actually believes. That’s the system I want to change. I support term limits, ending partisan gerrymandering, campaign finance reform, and banning congressional stock trading. I will put my investments in a blind trust and hold regular, open town halls.
VOTER GUIDE
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 17
Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 21 The State Senate District 21 race features incumbent Republican Sen. Jason Dickerson and his Democratic challenger Kori Simmons. Senate District 21 includes the city of Milton. To see a district map, click here. Appen Media sent our Q&A to both candidates and both responded. These responses have not been edited. Campaign website and social media pages: DICKERSON: dickersonforgeorgia.com @ dickersonforgeorgia SIMMONS: korisimmons.com @kori.for.the. people DICKERSON
What is your occupation? DICKERSON: Investment Manager SIMMONS: Stay at home parent What neighborhood do you call home? DICKERSON: Canton SIMMONS: Foxhollow
SIMMONS
Why are you running for this office? DICKERSON: I am currently the Senator for District 21. I want to continue my work from the past year delivering for our families! SIMMONS: It needs doing. Too many Georgians are struggling with problems that shouldn’t be this difficult, and too many problems are being allowed to grow because we keep reacting instead of planning. We take short-term gains at the cost of long-term prosperity, and then ask ordinary people to deal with the consequences. I’m running because I believe government should make people’s lives easier, not harder. That means listening to the people affected, understanding how our systems actually work, looking at the evidence, and then doing what works. And when something doesn’t work, we need to be willing to change it. I’m less interested in having the perfect answer than I am in making sure we ask the right questions and follow through. Georgia has no shortage of good ideas. Too often, the failure comes in implementation: we don’t plan far enough ahead, we don’t measure what actually matters, or we lose sight of the people those policies are supposed to serve. Government is, ultimately, about people. By the people, for the people, and of the people. I’m running because I believe we can do better, and because I’m willing to do the work.
What are your top priorities if you are elected? DICKERSON: I’ll be laser focused in the next legislative session on bills that will reduce costs for families, enhance school security, and support our Veterans. SIMMONS: My top priority is the well-being of the people of Georgia, and improving that baseline. A successful government isn’t one where everyone is wealthy; it is one where everyone has a fair chance to live a stable, healthy, productive life. I don’t want to come into office with a fixed agenda. I want to come in ready to listen, identify what needs doing, and do it. My priorities will necessarily adapt to the circumstances and composition of the General Assembly. Affordability, education, healthcare, infrastructure, accountability, the environment, technology, and public safety are all interconnected, and there is common ground to be found in all of them. Cooperation is the only way forward. We also need to become much more future-minded. Government should anticipate problems before they become expensive, entrenched, or difficult to reverse. We are rapidly building an ecosystem of surveillance and emerging technology without fully understanding its long-term consequences. If we aren’t careful, we could create a kind of digital asbestos: something that seemed useful when installed, but becomes extraordinarily difficult and expensive to remove later. I want the state to take a top-down view while preserving meaningful local control. Communities know their needs best, but the state has a responsibility to ensure basic standards are met. What makes you a better candidate than your opponent? DICKERSON: It would be easy to say that I'm the best candidate to keep fighting to make District 21 affordable because I'm our current Senator and have delivered real results in my first session in office. But, I'm also a local business owner who successfully built a company from the ground up to employ over 400 people. I've managed a budget, led people, and made payroll. I've worked hand-inhand with our community through the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation to see the needs of our residents firsthand - I know the issues our communities face and I'll never waver from fighting for our families. And I'm asking for your continued trust to finish the work we started together on the campaign trail last year to return power back to our families and
make District 21 the greatest place in Georgia to live, work, and raise a family. SIMMONS: I believe I offer a different kind of leadership: one grounded in evidence, logic, and a willingness to change my position when new facts come to light. My opponent has more business experience than I do, and I respect that experience. What I bring is a different perspective and a willingness to ask difficult questions rather than accept a position because it is politically convenient. For example, I heard him speak about “Securing Georgia Elections,” one of the major priorities listed on his campaign website. Some of the problems he described appeared to misunderstand how Georgia’s current voting process actually works. Election security is too important to build policy around assumptions. We should identify the actual problem, understand the evidence, and then determine what solution addresses it. I take the same approach to taxes. Before changing how Georgians are taxed, I want to know who actually benefits, who bears the cost, and what happens to the services those taxes fund. A policy that sounds like tax relief isn’t
necessarily relief if it simply shifts the burden elsewhere. I’m not running to defend a party line or a predetermined answer. I’m running to ask difficult questions, follow the evidence, and change course when the evidence demands it. That is the kind of representative I intend to be. Gov. Brian Kemp has told government agencies to submit level budgets as they prepare for next year’s budget cycle. Kemp has also cut income taxes. Do you support continuing to reduce government spending while also cutting taxes? If so, what is your plan to provide services with less revenue? DICKERSON: Government is most effective when it is small in size, scope, and budget! Key services like public safety, public health, and education should remain fully and robustly funded. But the government was never intended to be a cure-all to every ill or a nanny for our businesses and families. We should continue keeping tax dollars in the pockets of the hardworking Georgians who earned them in the first place!
See SD21, Page 24
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OT H E R B R O N T Ë
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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 19
The new Melanoma ‘vaccine’ Brought to you by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta There is a real reason to be very excited about a recent advance in the treatment of melanoma, but when it comes to the word “vaccine,” it seems the marketing departments at the pharmaceutical companies have been exercising poetic license. In August, headlines exploded with the news that Moderna and Merck announced landmark interim data from their Phase 3 clinical trial for a new melanoma "vaccine." If you are picturing a quick poke in the arm at your pharmacy that prevents you from ever getting skin cancer, you are not alone. Many of my patients have asked about it. But the truth is, this is not a vaccine in the traditional sense. To a doctor or a historian (or almost any patient), a true vaccine prevents disease. Think of Edward Jenner in 1796, who brilliantly used the mild cowpox virus to immunize a boy against smallpox, effectively saving millions of lives from an infectious disease. But modern pharmaceutical lingo plays by different rules. Today, drug companies label any therapy a "vaccine" if it stimulates your immune system to mount a highly targeted counter-attack or if it offers a personalized immunologic attack against a cancer. Under this definition, existing immunotherapies like Keytruda are not vaccines. Keytruda acts like an immune system booster, globally taking the "brakes" off your body’s T-cells so they fight harder. The new Moderna shot is completely different. It is a highly customized, built-to-order means of training one’s immune system to fight one’s own individual melanoma. How Moderna’s vaccine works shares a lot with its even more famous COVID vaccine. When a patient is diagnosed with high-risk melanoma, surgeons first remove the tumor. Moderna then analyzes the unique proteins of that specific patient's tumor, identifying how they differ from normal cells. They engineer custom messenger RNA (mRNA) to match those exact cancer targets. When injected, the mRNA forces your own cells to temporarily replicate these targets— essentially handing your immune system a hyper-specific "wanted poster" of the enemy. This technology has evolved rapidly. As Moderna's CEO famously noted, the company has transformed from an infectious disease company into a true oncology pioneer. The clinical results back it up. In their landmark trials, adding this personalized mRNA vaccine to standard Keytruda therapy reduced
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the risk of cancer recurrence or death by a staggering 49%, and cut the risk of the cancer spreading to other organs by 59%, compared to using Keytruda alone. Exact details are expected upon full publication of their results with more data expected soon. However, because this is an adjuvant therapy, it is strictly for patients who have already been diagnosed with advanced melanoma and undergone surgery. It cannot prevent you from getting skin cancer in the first place. I value clarity in language and communication, and I would still call this a treatment – not a vaccine. For the general public, a vaccine does not exist, and the most effective prevention against melanoma remains the same: broad-spectrum sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, and professional skin exams. For patients at a high risk of developing skin cancers, dermatologists can recommend highly effective, truly preventative interventions for some types of skin cancer. At our practice, we frequently utilize topical field treatments like imiquimod cream, 5-fluorouracil, and photodynamic therapy to target and destroy precancerous cells before they ever turn into a threat. Furthermore, when localized skin cancers do arise, timely, expert surgical removal remains the definitive gold standard to eliminate cancer before it has a chance to move to other parts of the body. If you or a loved one has a spot worrisome for skin cancer or any other skin concern, please consider Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for your skin care needs. It is our pleasure to take care of you and your family.
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care. He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables. Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 24 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care. Kathryn Filipek, PA-C WINNER
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The clothes feel tighter. Dinner leaves you uncomfortable. By midafternoon, you’re reaching for another coffee—and telling yourself you’ll get serious about your health after the holidays. But why spend the next three months waiting to feel better? October offers something January cannot: time to understand what is getting in your way before holiday schedules take over. Weight management involves more than willpower. Sleep, eating patterns, medications, activity, and certain medical conditions can influence weight. If the approach that once worked no longer does, repeating it more aggressively may miss something important. Digestive symptoms deserve attention, too. Bloating is not the same as body fat. Constipation, food intolerances, and other digestive conditions can leave your abdomen feeling full or visibly swollen. Persistent discomfort deserves an evaluation rather than another round of guessing which foods to eliminate. That distinction matters. Treating every tight waistband as a weight problem can overlook digestive issues. Assuming every weight struggle starts in the gut can overlook other contributors. A useful plan begins by understanding your
symptoms, history, and goals. Before the holiday rush, consider three questions: Are you comfortable after meals? Do you wake feeling rested? Is your current approach to weight management something you can realistically maintain through a busy season? Those answers can help guide a more productive conversation with your care team. Depending on your needs, that conversation may lead to nutrition guidance, digestive evaluation, a review of sleep and medications, or medically supervised weight management. Prescription treatment can be appropriate for eligible patients, alongside sustainable eating and activity habits and ongoing monitoring. Starting now does not require giving up Thanksgiving dinner or turning every gathering into a test of discipline. It gives you time to build a routine that makes room for the life you actually live. At OlympusMD Wellness in Milton, individualized consultations bring gut health, nutrition, and weight-management goals into the same conversation. If bloating, low energy, or weight changes have become your normal, schedule a consultation to discuss what deserves a closer look. You do not need a New Year’s resolution to take yourself seriously. You can start with a conversation this October.
HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section
Roswell Dental Care now offers genetic testing! Brought to you by – Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care So, you may be asking why having genetic information is so important for your dentist. With this information, the clinician will be able to create a more personalized risk assessment for cavities and periodontal disease. For example, how is the patient’s genetics contributing to the severity of disease? How will the patient respond to treatment? And how susceptible is the patient to relapse? As healthcare is going towards “precision medicine,” which looks at the genetics, environment, and lifestyle of a person to select treatment that could work best for them, we can now provide even further personalized dental health care. Understanding saliva testing Saliva is a vital fluid produced by the salivary glands, playing a key role in digestion, oral hygiene, and overall health. It contains a complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and microorganisms. This composition makes saliva a valuable diagnostic tool. Saliva testing involves analyzing these components to gain insights into a patient’s health status. In our office, we utilize OralDNA® Labs. These saliva tests can identify the specific type and concentration of 11 disease-causing bacteria as well as identify your interleukin-6 (IL6) genotype, which is a crucial factor in
promoting the inflammation pathway in the body. Information from these tests detect risk for disease, guide strategies for maintaining health, offer more accurate diagnosis, and guide treatment choices for a wide variety of conditions.” Systemic effects of oral bacteria These bacteria, especially at high levels, and in combination with an individual's genetic inflammatory response, result in bad breath, painful bleeding gums, loss of bone, and eventually tooth loss. The consequences of these same bacteria, present for years and decades, add significantly to the risk of a wide range of life-threatening diseases beyond the mouth. Below are some of those diseases and the measurable risk of those diseases becoming serious if these oral pathogens are not treated.
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 21
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Cardiovascular disease Periodontal bacteria contribute to the initiation, progression, and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. There is also over a 2-fold increase in the risk of stroke and peripheral vascular disease. The plaque in your mouth is the same as plaque in your heart! Metabolic health and diabetes Elevated levels of periodontal bacteria can directly cause hyperglycemia. Early detection of periodontal infection and
See DENTAL, Page 22
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Dental:
treatment protocols will be developed in the future.
Continued from Page 21 proactive management to reduce bacterial loads can improve blood sugar control and lessen complications of diabetes and the consequence of periodontitis. Health during pregnancy The oral microbiota changes when women become pregnant, and levels of periodontal pathogens increase. During pregnancy, there is a marked risk of infection of the maternal blood and the placenta, which leads to an increase in preterm labor, lower birth weight and even the chance of fetal loss due specifically to the bacteria Development of cancer & risk of progression Advanced periodontal disease is associated with a 2.5-fold increase in smoking-related cancers. People with elevated levels of certain periodontal pathogens have a greater chance of breast cancer recurrence or failed response to treatment. Several recent studies show that these pathogens can be identified within the primary cancer cells from colonic tumors and are carried to metastatic sites involving regional lymph nodes. This is a newly observed phenomenon that will affect how cancer
Joint & Musculoskeletal health Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition. There was a significantly increased risk of periodontitis in people with RA compared to healthy controls. Importantly, the bacteria are typically found before the onset of symptoms, so the reduction of bacterial load may reduce symptoms and improve prognosis of arthritis. Dementia and brain health There is now evidence that certain periodontal pathogens present in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid may be involved in producing the abnormal proteins characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the direct effects of those oral bacteria to cause atherosclerosis in the vessels within the brain impart significant risk for stroke and vascular types of dementia. The plaque in your mouth is the same as plaque in your brain! Dr. Destinee Hood is excited to provide this service to her patients. Our entire team at Roswell Dental Care creates a caring, judgement-free environment to help educate and empower you to become your best self! We take the time to listen to you, hear you, and guide you! Knowledge is power! Call and make your appointment today at 770-998-6736 or visit www.Roswelldentalcare.com.
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AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 23
CITY OF MILTON NOTICE The City of Milton does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at City Hall Council Chambers, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia on October 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A § 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
Current 2026 Tax Digest and Five Year History of Levy Incorporated City of Milton
2021
2022
2023
2024
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2026
3,420,476,662
3,958,728,869
4,775,282,577
5,176,737,727
5,713,308,833
6,072,970,194
10,894,780 0 0 0
9,346,640 27,600 0 499,030
8,740,350 0 0 100,240
7,647,490 0 0 0
6,432,140 0 0 0
5,179,390 0 0 205,800
3,431,371,442
3,968,602,139
4,784,123,167
5,184,385,217
5,719,740,973
6,078,355,384
522,098,486
750,437,726
1,195,142,931
1,339,559,929
1,354,465,286
1,625,363,967
2,909,272,956
3,218,164,413
3,588,980,236
3,844,825,288
4,365,275,687
4,452,991,417
Gross M&O Millage Rate
7.727
7.531
7.902
7.753
7.231
7.254
Less Millage Rate Rollbacks (LOST)
2.996
3.062
3.513
3.364
3.038
3.061
Net M&O Millage Rate Bond Millage Rate
4.731 0.487
4.469 0.452
4.389 0.364
4.389 0.356
4.193 0.310
4.193 0.309
Total City Millage Rate
5.218
4.921
4.753
4.745
4.503
4.502
M&O Taxes Levied Bond Taxes Levied Total City Taxes Levied
13,763,770 1,620,007 15,383,777
14,381,977 1,738,537 16,120,514
15,752,034 1,677,571 17,429,605
16,874,938 1,773,490 18,648,428
18,303,601 1,699,964 20,003,565
18,671,393 1,801,546 20,472,939
838,121 6.5%
618,206 4.5%
1,370,057 9.5%
1,122,904 7.1%
1,428,663 8.5%
367,792 2.0%
Real & Personal Motor Vehicle Mobile Homes Timber – 100% Heavy Duty Equipment Gross Digest Less M&O Exemptions Net M&O Digest
Net M&O Taxes $ Increase Net M&O Taxes % Increase
Calculations do not account for appeals and are based upon a 100% collection rate. Figures for 2021-2025 have been updated to reflect the most recent consolidation and evaluation of digest provided by Fulton County for each year, and 2026 figures are based on current values provided by Fulton County.
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SD21:
VOTER GUIDE
Continued from Page 17 SIMMONS: The question isn’t simply how much government spends. It’s what we get back for that spending. Public services can put money back into people’s pockets and into the local economy. When families spend less on healthcare, transportation, housing, or other necessities, they have more money available for everything else. That spending supports local businesses and generates economic activity. The same is true of public investments that prevent larger costs later. Too often, spending less today means spending more tomorrow. Preventive healthcare can reduce expensive treatment later. Reliable public transportation can reduce household transportation costs while also reducing congestion. Education may require investment today, but it builds a stronger workforce and tax base for tomorrow. Assistance that helps families stay housed or fed can help prevent the much larger costs associated with instability. So my plan isn’t simply to spend more or spend less. It is to make sure we are spending responsibly: measuring what works, eliminating waste, and investing where the return to taxpayers is greater than the cost. We should absolutely ask whether government is getting value for every dollar it spends. But we also need to ask what happens when we don’t spend that dollar. A cheaper government isn’t necessarily a more affordable government. Do you support changing the constitution to allow for the creation of new school districts? DICKERSON: I believe that, rather than creating even more school districts, we should institute universal school choice so that parents can take their tax dollars with them to choose the education that works best for them and their children. SIMMONS: The constitutional question shouldn’t be answered in isolation from the practical question of what students and communities actually need. This is a complicated logistical and administrative issue, and I don’t yet have enough information to make an informed decision on changing the Constitution. I don’t think pretending otherwise serves voters or students. What I do know is how I would approach the question. We need to listen to families, educators, administrators, and the communities already doing this work. We need to understand the tradeoffs between funding, school size, administrative capacity, and the attention individual schools can receive. Most importantly, we need to keep the long-term well-being of
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our children at the center of the decision. We also need to be careful about how we measure success. Graduation rates matter, but they don’t tell us everything about the quality of an education or whether students are prepared for what comes next. Any metric can become a meaningless goal if we lose sight of the real-world result it is supposed to measure. If creating new districts would genuinely improve educational outcomes and better serve students, I am open to it. If it would simply create additional administrative structures without improving education, I would not support it. I want to make that decision based on the needs of the students and communities involved, not on a predetermined position. Data centers are a contentious topic for many communities. Do you support the creation of more data centers in Georgia? Why or why not? What data center regulations should be in
place, if any? DICKERSON: Data centers are critical to ensure America remains the dominant technological and military force in the world. But the cost and impact of data centers should never rest on our families – ever. I proudly voted this year to end taxpayer subsidies for data centers and I will continue to fight to ensure that local governments are in complete control of when, where, and how they are brought into their communities. SIMMONS: In general, no—not without strong standards and a clear demonstration that a proposed data center is worth the costs to its community. Data centers consume enormous amounts of water and electricity, and their impacts on noise and the environment deserve equal consideration. Before approving one, we should ask: What resources will it use? What are the long-term environmental and noise impacts? What does the community actually receive in return
Regulations should address those concerns, including meaningful wateruse standards, energy requirements, and local noise ordinances using dBA & dBC measurements. We should also require developers to consider more efficient technologies and site design. Higher upfront costs can be justified if they reduce resource use, increase efficiency, and extend the useful life of equipment. The same principle applies to energy. If these facilities are as economically valuable as their proponents claim, reasonable requirements for things like on-site solar generation or solar canopies over large impervious areas should not be unreasonable. Most importantly, communities need a meaningful voice in whether these projects come to them. Economic development should not mean accepting every project simply because it promises jobs or investment. We need to consider the full cost, the long-term consequences, and whether the people who live there believe the tradeoff is worthwhile. Georgia should welcome innovation, but innovation is not a blank check. Georgia recently expanded access to its medical cannabis program, allowing new patients to receive medical cannabis cards and adding new products for patients. Do you support expanding the program further and allowing the sale of cannabis for recreational use? Why or why not? DICKERSON: I am 100% opposed to any recreational cannabis use. Legitimate medical uses should be limited, targeted, and abuse should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. SIMMONS: I support expanding access to medical cannabis, and I support legalizing and regulating cannabis for recreational use. People should not face criminal penalties for using a substance that is already legal for medical purposes and widely used across the country. Prohibition has not stopped cannabis use. It has, however, created opportunities for unnecessary criminalization and an unregulated market. A regulated system can do more to protect people: enforce age restrictions, require testing and labeling, establish responsible standards for sales, and direct tax revenue toward public needs. We should also look at expunging records for people who were convicted of conduct that would no longer be a crime. In my conversations with constituents, I have encountered very little opposition to expanding cannabis access. That’s my experience, not a scientific measure of public opinion, but I think government should listen when people consistently tell us they are ready for change.
See SD21, Page 25
SD21: Continued from Page 24 We should stop treating cannabis primarily as a criminal justice issue and start treating it as a matter of public policy: regulate it responsibly, protect public safety, and let adults make their own decisions. Georgia continues to debate how state elections are conducted and every year there is new legislation on this topic. What changes to our current election system do you support, if any? DICKERSON: Our elections must be fair, free, and secure. Any roadblock to casting a vote should be removed, any security vulnerability that might allow fraud should be fixed, and any cheating should be prosecuted. SIMMONS: I would like to see Georgia move toward ranked-choice voting. I believe voters should have more meaningful choices at the ballot box, and rankedchoice voting is worth serious consideration as a way to achieve that. Beyond that, I want election policy to be informed by the people who actually administer our elections. County election officials are the boots on the ground. They understand the practical challenges of running an election in a way that legislators sitting in Atlanta simply cannot, and their expertise should carry significant weight. That includes questions about ballot technology and election security. Georgia’s current system uses paper ballots that include both human-readable selections and QR codes, and the state
Fulton: Continued from Page 1 “But if caring this much about fair property taxes, fixing our jail, improving our water system, addressing homelessness and making Fulton County government work for the people makes me a little different, I can live with that,” Goldman said. Mo Ivory, a former Fulton County District 4 commissioner, backed Goldman in her own Instagram video. “[Bridget Thorne] is a thorn in our side, and she has got to go,” Ivory said. “And I have some good news for you. There’s a better option waiting for you at the polls, and her name is Maggie Goldman.” Ivory, who resigned her commission seat to run for chair, defeated Pitts in the Democratic primary runoff election. She earned 65% of the vote compared to the incumbent’s 35%.
VOTER GUIDE has conducted audits comparing those systems. If there are legitimate concerns about how ballots are tabulated or audited, we should address them with evidence rather than speculation. I would also be open to alternatives that make ballots easy for voters to verify and machines to process while preserving a reliable paper record for independent audits and recounts. My guiding principle is simple: make elections secure, accessible, transparent, and practical. We should listen to the people doing the work, examine the evidence, and improve the system when there is a better way to do it. If you are elected, what will you do to help your constituents who are struggling due to inflation and other rising costs? What can the state do to make Georgia more affordable? DICKERSON: Tackling our affordability crisis was my top priority during the 2026 legislative session, and I'm proud to say I worked alongside Governor Brian Kemp to take meaningful steps to address. This year, I passed a local bill to cap property tax assessment in Cherokee County at 4% - my chief campaign promise during last year's special election. My bill allows for no opt-outs by county government and applies to the school taxes - meaning we will put an end to endless runaway tax hikes once and for all. You'll actually see this tax cap on your ballots on November 4 to be effective in 2027. I also proudly voted for historic funding for school security and literacy programs in every K-12 school to ensure our children are safe in the classroom and equipped with the tools they need to thrive in life. Ivory faces Republican Eric Tatum in the November general election. Thorne and Goldman are locked in a heated battle for the District 1 seat. The race is a rematch from 2022, when Thorne edged out Goldman by fewer than 400 votes. According to The New York Times, Democratic turnout is surging in states like Georgia while “Republicans have not kept up.” Cook Political Report, along with other news outlets conducting election analyses, is predicting a “blue wave” in November. Thorne, in remarks emailed to Appen Media Sept. 30, said she appreciated “Chairman Pitts’ personal endorsement, and I’m proud to accept it.” Her full remarks are posted below: “Over the past four years, we’ve built a respectful working bipartisan relationship. We don’t agree on every issue, but we do agree on doing the work: studying the issues, working across the aisle, and making decisions that benefit all the people of Fulton
AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 25
SIMMONS: Affordability isn’t just about putting more money in people’s pockets. It’s also about making the things people need to live a normal life cost less. That means improving the baseline of our public services. Better public transportation can give people an alternative to owning and maintaining a car, while also reducing congestion. Healthcare works the same way: when people can access care before a problem becomes a crisis, they have a better chance of avoiding much larger costs later. Education doesn’t necessarily make life cheaper, but it creates better opportunities, a stronger workforce, and a stronger tax base. And housing is fundamental. When there isn’t enough housing that working families can actually afford, too much of their income goes toward simply keeping a roof over their heads. These aren’t separate issues. Transportation, healthcare, education, and housing all affect what it costs to build a stable life in Georgia. We should look at them as investments in that baseline, and then measure whether those investments are actually delivering results. I want to make Georgia more affordable by making the things people rely on work better. Sometimes that means spending less. Sometimes it means spending more wisely. The goal should be the same either way: making life easier for the people who live here. If elected, do you promise to be ethical and transparent? If you are elected, what will you do to promote ethics and transparency in government? DICKERSON: From day 1 of my campaign, I’ve pledged to be ethical and
transparent. I have continued my pledge to not receive any public, private, or lobbyist donations. I am 100% self-funded, which means I’m 100% accountable to YOU. SIMMONS: I strive to be ethical and transparent, and I have signed pledges to that effect. But ethics in government cannot stop with the individual. We also need systems that make accountability and transparency possible. Government information should be easy for ordinary people to find and understand. Today, even basic information can take more effort than it should. Finding an accurate district map, understanding who represents you, following legislation, or seeing where campaign money comes from should not require knowing how to navigate several government websites. Georgia already provides tools such as My Voter Page and public campaign-finance reporting, but accessibility matters as much as availability. As a senator, I would push for clearer, more accessible public information and stronger accountability for government employees at every level. Transparency should be built into how government communicates, not treated as an afterthought. I also believe money should not determine who gets to participate in government. I don’t want to get rich from politics. I want to help people. There are talented people working warehouses, driving deliveries, and serving coffee who may have just as much ability to improve our state as anyone sitting in the Capitol. We should not lose those people from public life simply because they cannot afford to enter it. Ethics is personal. Transparency is structural. We need both.
County. I’m grateful that he recognizes that work. I don’t campaign through personal insults, and Chairman Pitts can speak for himself about his choice of words. I’m asking voters to judge my record: holding the line on the county millage rate, opposing tax breaks for new data centers, protecting North Fulton tax-
payers from long-term giveaways, and bringing health and senior services closer to home. Chairman Pitts has worked alongside me for four years and chosen to support my re-election. Voters will make their own choice based on the work we’ve done and what we’ll do next.”
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NOTICE OF MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THE CITY OF MILTON RZ26-05 – Text Amendments to the Unified Development Code regarding AG-1 lots and Lot Development Standards to the following: Article 2 General Provisions; Article 3 Agricultural Districts; Article 6 Special Purpose Districts; Article 8 Use Provisions (as it relates to setbacks for private swimming pools); Article 9 Site Development; Article 10 Streets and Improvements; Article 11 Environment; Article 12 Administration; and Article 13 Definitions. These amendments include deferred portions of RZ26-03. The above item will be considered at the following meeting public hearing: Mayor and City Council Public Hearing Monday, November 16, 2026, at 6:00 pm Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2540 City of Milton Notice of Meetings and Public Hearings for a Use Permit Case #U26-01 Location: 631 N. Main Street, Suite 207 Current Zoning : T5 – Deerfield Form Based Code Applicant: Ragin & Associates, Juan Ragin Request: A Use Permit to allow an Event Facility (Sec. 8.5.6.B of the UDC) within a 1,625 square feet tenant space, in an existing two-story 38,000 square foot commercial building, to accommodate a maximum of 90 attendees. The above item will be considered at the following public hearing: Mayor and City Council Public Hearing Monday, November 16, 2026, at 6:00 pm Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2540
AIKENOMICS
Maybe the Fed hike was exactly what the doctor ordered… On Sept. 16, the Federal Reserve did something that, on the surface, sounds like terrible news for anyone thinking about buying a home: it raised interest rates by another quarter-point. With mortgage D.C. AIKEN rates already above Guest Columnist dcaiken.com 7% and gasoline around Metro Atlanta pushing above $4 per gallon, another rate increase hardly sounds like something worth celebrating. But when it comes to mortgage rates, things are rarely that simple. The Fed raised its benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points, bringing the target range to 3.75%–4%. More importantly, the Fed made its reasoning clear: inflation remains too high, and policymakers intend to bring it under control and ironically, that may ultimately be good news for mortgage rates. Here’s why: The Federal Reserve does not directly set 30-year mortgage rates. The Fed controls a very short-term interest rate, the federal funds rate. Mortgage rates, on the other hand, are much more closely tied to the bond market and longer-term interest-rate expectations. That means the bigger issue for mortgage rates isn’t simply whether the Fed raises or lowers rates. It’s whether investors believe the Fed is serious about controlling inflation and right now, inflation has an additional problem: energy prices.
Higher oil and gasoline prices can work their way through virtually every corner of the economy. It costs more to drive to work, deliver groceries, operate construction equipment, ship products and run businesses. Those additional costs eventually find their way into the prices consumers pay. For the bond market, persistent inflation is kryptonite. So while the Fed’s recent hike may feel like bitter medicine, it could ultimately help if investors become convinced that inflation will be brought under control. Mortgage News Daily has also pointed out that a Fed hike does not automatically translate into higher mortgage rates because the two operate at different points on the interest-rate spectrum. The average top-tier 30-year fixed mortgage finished Wednesday around 7.24%, according to Mortgage News Daily. Nobody wants 7% mortgage rates. Nobody wants $4 gasoline. And certainly, nobody gets excited about a Fed rate hike. But sometimes the medicine that tastes the worst is the medicine you need. If the Fed’s move convinces Wall Street that the Fed is truly committed to defeating inflation, this rate hike might just be what the doctor ordered for mortgage rates. DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com. The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.
City of Milton Notice of Special Called Planning Commission Meeting Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: City of Milton 2006 Heritage Walk, Council Chambers Milton, Georgia 30004 On the date and time and at the location listed above, the City of Milton Planning Commission will conduct a Special Called Meeting, the purpose of which is to conduct a public hearing with respect to: 1) U26-01- For a Use Permit to allow an Event Facility (Sec. 8.5.6.B of the UDC) within a 1,625 square feet tenant space, in an existing two-story 38,000 square foot commercial building, to accommodate a maximum of 90 attendees. 2) RZ26-05 - Text Amendments to the Unified Development Code regarding AG-1 lots, development standards, and related development regulations, including previously deferred provisions from RZ26-03, affecting the following: Article 2 General Provisions; Article 3 Agricultural Districts; Article 6 Special Purpose Districts; Article 8 Use Provisions (as it relates to setbacks for private swimming pools); Article 9 Site Development; Article 10 Streets and Improvements; Article 11 Environment; Article 12 Administration; and Article 13 Definitions.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The City of Milton City Council will hold a public hearing for the applications for alcohol licenses listed below on Monday, October 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the First Floor of City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia 30004. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing. PH-26-AB-10 – The Local Pour LLC dba The Stone House Tap has submitted an application for a license to sell Wine, Malt Beverages and Distilled Spirits for Consumption On-Premises, for Sunday Sales of same, and for Resident Caterer at its place of business located at 12595 Crabapple Road, Milton, Georgia 30004.
Puzzles
ier 10/8/26 Connect-It
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Connect-It
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Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 4 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
Milton Herald ......................................October 8, 2026 | 27
1
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Dunwoody Crier 10/8/26 Crossword
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How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
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67 Tolkien creatures 68 African antelope 69 Trick 70 Baby blues 71 Store events 72 Expires Down 1 Computer memory, for short 2 Collar type 3 Dwarf buffalo 4 Phrase that could mean, “Who cares?” 5 Fmr. Chinese leader 6 Go wrong
7 Miso starter 8 Quantity 9 Steam bath 10 Pi follower 11 Phrase of excitement 12 Lamb alias 13 Energy source 18 Play disaster 22 Nervous twitches 25 Director Preminger 26 State of mind 28 Auction offering 29 Tender spots 30 “No way!” phrase 31 Utopian 33 Happening 34 Lambs
35 Sunscreen ingredient 40 Norse capital 41 The Turtle poet 44 Foot part 45 Baseball’s Musial 47 Dropout’s phrase 49 Number one Hun 50 Enumerate 52 Storms 54 Bassoon relative 55 Exceedingly 57 Elliptical 59 Ornamental purse 60 Gaelic 61 Bar selections 63 Double curve 65 Compass pt. 66 Psyches
See puzzle solutions on Page 28
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Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club
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MEMBER (CONT.) Susan Huss Paul Huth Jeffrey Hyde J. Craig Inman Sandra Jacobs Susan Jacques Lynn Johnson Tyler Jones Zach Jones Patricia Kachur Amy Kanderis Arthur Kebanli Laura Keck Mark Kelly Nancy Kennell Randall Kent Carol Kerr Sally Klaskala Allison Kloster Dyna Kohler Brett Koutnik Larry Krueger Jess & Chris Kysar Malinda Lackey Sarah Lamm Daniel Lashinsky Richard Lapin Christine Law Brandon Leach Dennis Lee Ken Leffingwell Carol Lehan
Melissa Libby Bonnie Lind Francia Lindon Karen Lippert Harlan Little Jarrett Long Ross Long Kyser Lough Rita Loventhal Jerry Lucas Brenda Lundy Harry Lutz Rita Loventhal Karen Magill Freda Manning-Rumph Hilbert Margol Julie Martin Linda & Todd Martinez Carla Masecar Valerie Matthews Theresea Mattioli William Maxwell Nicole Mayer Rachel McCord Austin McCully Diane McDonald Evan McElroy Karen McEnerny Jack McGinnis Lynn McIntyre Mike McLoughlin Margaret McManus
Jay O’ Meara Celia Mendez Jennifer Mendoza Dan Merkel Al Merrill Chris Miller Christine Miller Patricia Miller Milton Animal Hospital George Mobley Joe Modica Fred Moeller Sarah Moen Catherine Moore Ralph Moore Carol Morgan Kathy Morgan Stu Moring Karen Mowery Leslie Mullis Donna Murphy Jack Murphy Aileen Nakamura George Nathan Caroline Naughton Richard Nichols Cindy Nolan North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. Carol & Carl Obenland Tricia Novarro Bob O’Brien Martha O’Brien
THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS
Jay O’Meara Diana O’Sullivan Anne Pappas Lynn Pennington Jonathan Peters Kurt & Leslie Phillips Mary & Jan Phillips James Potts Debra Powell Seth Price Joyce Provissiero Chuck Pugh Douglas Quat Patricia Rackliffe Robert Radloff Raj Rajagopalan Pankaj Rajankar Ashwin Ramaswami Cheryl Rand Manu Rao James Rasmussen Paula Rattray Lori Rausch Jean Rearick Joseph Reed Scarlett Reynolds Righteous PR Angie Rigney Sean Riley Neil Robertson Rory Robichaux Kimberly Robinson
Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.
Matt Rohs Kim Romaner Rita Rosenthal Claudia Ross Courtney Rozear Fran Russell Janet Sandberg Carolina Santos Kelly Sarmiento Fran Schefer Derek Scheidt Dorothy Scherr Stephanie Schniederjan The Schoenblum Family Robert Scholz Robert Schreiner Stephanie Schuette Susan Searles Frances Segars Tracy Shealy Tina Shelton Lisa Shippel Steve Short Tom Simon Cindy Simpson Robert Singleton Faye Sklar Mitchel Skyer Judith Slaughter Andy Smith Lee Smith Tia Solh
Morris Soriano Heidi Sowder Gena Spears Donald Spencer Melissa Spencer Jordan Spivack Jan Stephens Judith Stewart Wesley Stewart Cathryn Stovall Celeste Strohl Diana Sullivan Andy Sumlin Kathy Swahn Carol Tall Mike Tasos Candice Teichert The Small Business Advisor Suzanne & Bob Thomas William Tietjen Lisa Tilt Michael Townes Trunnion LLC Matthew Tyser Edward Votta Linda Wabler Ollie Wagner Lewis Walker Elizabeth Waller Valerie Walters-Gold Ann Marie Warning Terry Warnke
Jonathan Washburn Michael Watson Deborah Weiss Michael Weiss Herbert Wells Benjamin Wemberly Beverly Whisenant Sally White Thom White Umpika White Mae Whiteside Ashley Whitt Jennifer Wieland Christine Williams Jamie Wimberly Jonathan Winkie Nancy & Dave Wistrand Kalle Wood Theresa Woolridge Laura Wysong Jonathan Young
THE APPEN PRESS CLUB
One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.
To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278. Scan QR codeto join the Appen Press Club
30 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
Full-time Georgia Green Power Inc. d/b/a Blueflux Power has opngs: Systems Software Design Engineer. Job loc in Cumming, GA. Dsg & impl comp net & DC infra including LAN, WAN, hybrid cloud, & virt env. Dply & mng virt platforms (VMware vSphere/ESXi, Hyper-V, KVM) & containerized workloads via Kubernetes (EKS, AKS, GKE). Arch hybrid cloud sols on AWS, Azure, and GCP using Infra-as-Code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation). Mod & sim AC/DC pwr dist architectures for mission-critical data ctrs envr. Des data int pipelines w/ pwr metering protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU, BACnet, SNMP, OPC-UA) & cloud telemetry plats. Dvlp digital twins of converged pwr/net infra. Dsgn net sec arch incl Zero Trust & cloud-native security controls. Perf net modeling, capacity planning, & analysis of net infra reqmnts. Ensr compliance w/ DC & elec stds. Eval & pilot emerging net/cloud tech. Req exp with AWS, Azure, SQL, & Python. 15% Domestic Travel req to mfg facilities, cloud briefing ctrs & data ctr sites across US. Req: BS or frgn equi in Electrical/Electronics Eng & 5 yrs exp in job or as a Comp S/W Prof. Email res w/ cvr ltr to careers@bluefluxpower.com; EOE
Hospitalist Physician (multiple positions in Alpharetta, GA). Render medical services at the hospital in the medical specialty of hospital medicine. Reqs.: M.D., D.O., or foreign equivalent degree. Must be board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine. Must possess an Illinois Medical license or be able to obtain. Subject to periodic transfers to various unanticipated locations in the U.S. Must have legal authority to work in U.S. EEOE. Send resume to: Crystal Fann, Director of Human Resources, 24 ON Physicians, PC, 13000 Deerfield Pkwy, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or cfann@incompasshealth. com. Reference: HospitalistNB52 Lead Java Developer, GIS, HQ: Cumming, GA Design, develop & maintain enterprise level apps; work from hm ofc anywhere in US; BS or foreign equiv in CS or clsly rel.; 5 yrs rel. exp; $152,131; resume & cvr ltr to: CJ@global-it-solutions.net.
Part-time Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/Custodial/ Maintenance) (part-time position) to perform facility maintenance and grounds keeping duties. Requires some heavy lifting, high school diploma or equivalency and a valid GA driver’s license. Related experience with outdoor maintenance equipment and a valid CDL are preferred. Hours: Availability for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, October 16, 2026. Apply online: www. sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568. Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
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BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR (Part-Time) Alpharetta Presbyterian Church Seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional to support church operations and staff. Position is 2025 hours per week, M-F, on-site. Responsibilities include: • Human resources administration and staff support • Church operational and administrative functions • Technology systems coordination and support • Insurance, compliance, and records management • Vendor and contractor administration To apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com
Qualifications: • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree required • Strong computer and organizational skills • Experience in office administration, operations management, HR, or related field preferred • Excellent communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality • Successful criminal records/child abuse background check required
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AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | October 8, 2026 | 31
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32 | October 8, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton
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HAPPY CLIENTS
"Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with Pam on several real estate transactions… Both buying and selling. Pam is the consummate professional, we would not use anyone else. Consider yourself fortunate to have Pam on your side!"
—The Schueth Family
Pam Gillig REALTOR® | TOP PRODUCER & CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE MEMBER
c. 770.862.4408 | o. 770.284.9900 | PamGillig@AnsleyRE.com 31 CHURCH STREET, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009 | ANSLEYRE.COM All data believed to be accurate but not warranted. Ansley upholds Equal Housing Opportunity & Federal Fair Housing policies. If you have an existing relationship with another brokerage, this is not intended as a solicitation.