Dunwoody mayor faces a trio of challengers in Nov. 3 election

Dunwoody’s third mayoral race Nov. 3 pits the incumbent against a founding City Councilman and two newcomers.

Denis Shortal, who has served as a City Councilman from District 1 and mayor pro tem since the city was founded, is challenging Mayor Mike Davis with plans to “restore open and positive leadership to the city,” said Shortal’s campaign manager, George Stewart.

“Many people who found out Denny was running were happy it was him because of the way he treats others,” Stewart said.

Davis said he wants a chance to continue the work he’s started with his election in 2012 as the city’s second mayor, after founding Mayor Ken Wright.

“We’ve had great success as a city,” Davis said. “As a term-limited mayor I only have one more term to continue to fix intersections, improve safety and pave streets.”

Candidate Steve Chipka said he wanted to take city government back to its basics. “We’re fixing problems that don’t exist, but in the meantime, we need to get back to police, parks, paving – the core things the city of Dunwoody people voted for when we created the city of Dunwoody,” Chipka said.

In 2013, Chipka filed an Ethics Board complaint against former Councilwoman Adrian Bonser. The complaint was dismissed.

A fourth candidate, Chris Grivakis, filed paperwork on the final day for qualifying to run for the mayor’s post. Attempts to contact him for this article were not successful

Only one of the four City Council seats up for election drew more than a single candidate. Councilwoman Lynn Deutsch and Councilman John Heneghan both filed for re-election without opposition.

Councilman Terry Nall is seeking re-election to the at-large seat representing District 1.

He is opposed by Rebecca Springer, a mother of three who is making her first race for a council seat. Springer has said she plans to focus on expanding police services, adding more sidewalks in the community and bringing more small business to Dunwoody. She said she believes she has a better chance of earning votes throughout the city rather than solely in her district.

Nall said as an incumbent he has the added benefit of “promises made and kept” from his 2011 campaign and his record over the last four years.

“We’re all friends and neighbors before and after the campaign,” Nall said. “May every candidate, including my opponent, stick to the issues of the city and their plan of specific initiatives for how to address the issues.”

In the District 1 race, Pam Tallmadge was the sole candidate to file for the seat vacated by Shortal’s resignation to run for mayor.

“I believe the city and its citizens are going to face significant growth over the next few years, and I would like to be part of the team that brings fresh ideas … for the betterment of the city,” Tallmadge said.