Click here for the Tucker Election Guide.

The forums were hosted by Rahul Bali of WABE. Cathy Cobbs of Rough Draft and Delaney Tarr of SaportaReport were the questioners.

Watch the forums below or on our YouTube page.

City Council District 1 (Post 1)

• Roger Orlando | Campaign Website
• Karen Peters-Rivers | Campaign Website

City Council District 2 (Post 1)

• Patrice Cosby Campaign Website
• Cara Schroeder (story) | Campaign Website

City Council District 3 (Post 1)

• Sam Ulrich | Campaign Website.
• Alexis Weaver | Campaign Website

The post Watch: Tucker City Council candidate forums appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Several surprise candidates have thrown their hats into the ring during Tucker’s city council and mayoral contest qualifying period, including two mayoral candidates looking to upend favorite Anne Lerner.

Click here for our Tucker Election Guide

When qualifying ended Thursday, Aug. 21 at 4:30 p.m., former city council member Noelle Monferdini and Beverly Williams, a frequent speaker at council and community meetings, both qualified to run against Lerner.

Frank Auman, who has been Tucker’s only mayor in its short tenure as a city, is term-limited and cannot run again.

Monferdini, who served on council from 2016 until her term ended in 2023, filed documents indicating her intention to run for office on June 30, and her campaign disclosure report on Aug. 18. Williams filed her paperwork on Aug. 19.

Monferdini, in a statement to Rough Draft, said she believes that “local government exists to serve its people, being the first place you turn when issues arise and ensuring community engagement in every decision.”

“Over my eight years on the Tucker City Council, I’ve embodied those values by meeting in your homes, listening to your concerns, and delivering your voice on the dais where it mattered most,” she continued.

Monferdini said she will ensure Tucker’s future is shaped by you and through transparent government, active engagement, and policies that reflect our shared values.”

More about Monferdini can be found on her campaign website.

Williams, in a flyer sent to Rough Draft, said “Tucker has been a strong, vibrant community built by its residents, families, and small businesses. What makes Tucker special is not just our neighborhoods or schools, but the people who have worked together to create a place we are all proud to call home.”

Williams said she is running for maybe because she believes in serving all of Tucker—not just part of Tucker.”

Her platform espouses putting residents first, fostering open communication, protecting neighborhoods, investing in youth, honoring Tucker’s roots, and updating the comprehensive plan to reflect the needs and values of families.

Williams can be reached at votebeverlyformaylor@gmail.com.

Both Williams and Monferdini will have an uphill battle against Lerner, who declared in her June 30 campaign donation disclosure report about $34,000 in donations and $14,000 in expenses, leaving her with a war chest of more than $20,000. Monferdini listed $620 in donations, and Williams has not yet filed her disclosure form.

WiFor the District 1, Post 1 seat, Karen Peters-Rivers is running against incumbent Roger W. Orlando, who in his latest disclosure report had raised $77,000 with $49,000 in expenses. The two ran against each other in 2021, with Orlando prevailing.

For the District 2, Post 1 contest, incumbent Cara Schroeder will face Patrice Cosby, who made her declaration public on Aug. 19. In 2023, Cosby ran for the District 2, Post 2 seat that was won by Vinh Nguyen.

“I decided to run because I believe Tucker deserves leadership grounded in integrity, accountability, and meaningful action,” Cosby told Rough Draft. “The Patrice Promise is my commitment to serve with purpose, ensuring every voice in our community is heard and respected. I’m focused on clear communication, transparency in city leadership, and fostering true diversity so our elected officials truly reflect the people of Tucker.”

Cosby said she’s ready “to bring honesty, fairness, and collaboration to the city council.” Her email address is votepatrice@gmail.com

In the District 3, Post 1 race, Sam Ulrich, an outspoken supporter of the plan to build a pickleball complex at Tucker Recreation Center, will face incumbent Alexis Weaver.

“I am running for city council because I believe Tucker needs leaders committed to bringing our community together,” Ulrich said in a statement to Rough Draft. “My campaign is focused on championing a collaborative culture, where respectful dialogue leads to decisive action for the good of all.

I am committed to building an inclusive future where Tucker’s rich diversity is not just recognized, but actively protected and celebrated, ensuring everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered,” he continued. “I will use my professional background in finance to ensure responsible financial stewardship, analyzing every dollar to provide a strong return on investment for our taxpayers.

Ulrich said he is also dedicated to investing in the community with projects like the Tucker Path “to create a vibrant, connected city for our small businesses and residents.”

More information about Ulrich can be found here.

Rough Draft has reached out to Peters for information about her campaign.

Click here for our Tucker Election Guide

The post Surprise candidates qualify for Tucker city council, mayor appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Cara Schroeder, Tucker’s mayor pro tempore and current city council member, has officially announced her campaign for reelection to District 2, Post 1.

Schroeder who took office in January 2022, is seeking a second term to continue advancing her platform of transparent governance, public safety, smart growth and the preservation and improvement of the city’s parks and greenspaces, according to a release about her candidacy.

Running under the campaign theme “Staying on Track: Leading Tucker Forward,” Schroeder is emphasizing her record of “thoughtful leadership and collaborative progress across the city.”

“Tucker is a dynamic city built on strong neighborhoods, shared values and civic pride,” Schroeder said. “With experience, community trust and a clear vision, I’m ready to keep working for the people of District 2 and help our city move confidently into the future.”

“Good leadership means listening, collaborating and planning with purpose,” she continued. “I believe Tucker deserves leaders who not only act, but also engage the community every step of the way.”

Schroeder, who said she is a committed advocate for safety and community well-being, will continue to champion robust public safety measures.

She said she strongly supports DeKalb County’s recent investments and leadership changes in police and fire and rescue services, and she maintains a close working relationship with the Tucker Police precinct.

Schroeder co-led the city’s public works referendum and has supported significant infrastructure enhancements, including sidewalk expansions and traffic-calming projects, according to the release.

She played a key role in updating Tucker’s Comprehensive Master Plan and is currently working on the 2024 update to its Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Schroeder has also:

• helped shape the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP), a project marked by inclusive participation from residents, business owners and civic organizations;

• prioritized improvements to Tucker’s parks and recreation offerings and supported trail upgrades, new playgrounds, boardwalk installations and enhancements to the Tucker Recreation Center;

• supported initiatives to expand accessibility and improve infrastructure such as sidewalks and parking at park sites;

•  led efforts to develop and pass Tucker’s Non-discrimination Ordinance, a policy aimed at ensuring inclusivity and fairness for all residents;

A Kansas native and Tucker resident since 1997, Schroeder has a long history of civic engagement, the release said.

She is a founding member of Friends of Tucker Parks and has served on multiple advisory boards, including the Tucker Planning Commission and Community Council.

In 2008, she founded Schroeder Resources, providing fundraising services to nonprofits including Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC), Scottdale Early Learning and the Wylde Center.

The Georgia General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4. Tucker voters will elect a new mayor, as the city’s first and only mayor, Frank Auman, is term-limited. Also on the ballot will be three city council representatives.

Qualifying for these offices will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 18 and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 21.

Former Tucker City Council Member Anne Lerner recently revealed in an exclusive interview with Rough Draft her intention to run for mayor.

For more information about Schroeder, visit her campaign website.

The post Cara Schroeder announces bid for reelection to Tucker City Council appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

The Tucker City Council at its June 10 meeting voted 5-2 on second reading to approve a special land use permit that would allow a new restaurant to install double drive-through lanes.

Councilman Vinh Nguyen and councilwoman Alexis Weaver were the dissenting votes, while Mayor Frank Auman, Roger Orlando, Virginia Rece, Cara Schroeder and Amy Trocchi supported the SLUP application for Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, which is under construction. The restaurant is located in an Northlake Mall outparcel at 4800 Briarcliff Road NE.

Jim ‘N Nicks, which began in Birmingham, AL. in 1985, has 48 locations throughout the southeast. Its menu features slow-cooked pork, turkey and beef, along with traditional homestyle side dishes.

The council had discussed the proposal at its May 13 meeting. City Planner Matthew Couper-Gardner again made a brief presentation to the council regarding the permit application.

Couper-Gardner said the restaurant is one of several new or relocated businesses around Northlake Mall. The double-drive through lane must adhere to several stipulations, including screening selected areas with either a hedge or wall.

Weaver mentioned during discussion that the proposal didn’t fit into the criteria defined in the city’s Town Center Character Area and the city’s comprehensive plan.

“I have really significant concerns around the precedents this sets around drive-throughs and around orienting to automobiles,” Weaver said.

“My sense is that it doesn’t meet with all the criteria, but it meets some of it,” Rece said. “Not every project fits exactly in the box.”

Nguyen concurred with Weaver, saying he has “wrestled with this back and forth.”

“We can all appreciate Jim ‘N Nicks going above and beyond, accommodating the pedestrian access and lighting to make the area safer,” Nguyen said. “But I want us to be cautious about future SLUPs of this type, especially in the Northlake area.”

One speaker, during public comment, said he opposed the application, saying it went against the original strategy of developing walkability in the area.

The council also passed on second read 7-0 the 2024-25 budget that had some minor adjustments after its first reading on May 28. Auman and several others thanked the city’s finance department for its hard work in developing and refining this year’s budget.

“This was a Herculean effort,” Orlando said. “For some reason this has been an especially difficult budget.”

In other action:

• the council heard that economic development department has awarded Incisive LLC a $25,000 contract to produce a written and digital pitch deck to promote the city and its activities.
• Auman recognized the city’s municipal court clerks for their service.
• the panel voted on first read a rollback of the millage rate by 2.096 to reflect a revenue-neutral tax digest.

The post Tucker City Council approves double-drive through lanes at new restaurant appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.