Editor’s note: Shortly after this article’s publication on Nov. 4, Bucky Allen told Rough Draft Atlanta that he congratulated Jeff Allen and plans to support him as a council member.
Former council member Jeff Allen is headed back to the Norcross City Hall after defeating former longtime Mayor Bucky Johnson in the Nov. 3 special election, according to unofficial results.
Pending certification, Allen’s swearing-in for his second, nonconsecutive term is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16, he said.
The seat opened this summer after the death of Council Member Marshall Cheek, with one year remaining in the four-year term. Allen secured a comfortable 69% of the ballots, according to unofficial tallies.
This year’s competitive council race had a higher turnout than most municipal election cycles, with 1,090 ballots unofficially tallied. The 2019 mayoral race between Craig Newton and Chuck Paul saw 1,138 votes cast, on a ballot that also included the “Brunch Bill.”
Returning council member
After Election Day, Allen told Rough Draft Atlanta that he and Johnson spoke the night before and that morning. He said Johnson gave him his full support for the remainder of his term.
“Bucky helped me get elected in my first term and we’re friends,” Allen said. “He congratulated me and was quick to say that he and I agree on more than we disagree on (which is very true), and I believe that will resonate with his voters.”
Allen said he left office after his first term in 2008, following the birth of his last child.
“At the end of the day, all of us are what make Norcross a great city, and we all moved here for specific reasons that I aim to protect and enhance,” Allen said. “I’m primarily a dad, grandad, and husband. I’m an IT consultant by trade. When it comes to council, I have a to-do list that seems to keep growing.”
Critic of council
Allen’s campaign site lays out his background and campaign priorities, many of which are at odds with recent council actions. He frequently attends and speaks at public meetings, opposing things like density increases in the comprehensive plan and increased rental units.
“I have been very vocal about the comprehensive plan changes related to density and zoning that were made in the spring,” Allen said. “It’s the number one issue neighbors talked about during my campaign. I don’t believe the citizens feel they were properly represented at that time, and based on conversations I had campaigning, they believe the council failed them on this matter.”
Allen joins council members Josh Bare, Bruce Gaynor, Andrew Hixson, and Matt Myers, with Mayor Craig Newton presiding.
Allen said he wants to reduce red tape for businesses looking to make Norcross their home base or wanting to expand in the city.
“Another top issue for me is to offer the citizens more transparency in how their government operates,” Allen said. “I am going to push for a modern voting system where we no longer raise hands up and down … there are great digital systems out there (being used in Georgia today) that show citizens live who is voting for what, and they can reference it easily after the fact as well.”
Other local races
Norcross is split into two State House districts along Buford Highway that extend beyond the city’s borders. District 96 incumbent Arlene Beckles, a Democrat and former member of the Norcross City Council, ran unopposed.
In District 97, Democratic candidate Jyot Singh beat Republican Yassin Moghazy to fill a vacated seat, pending certification and official results.
Across the three State Senate districts within Norcross, all Democratic candidates appear to have kept their seats. State Sen. Sheikh Rahman ran unopposed in District 5, representing areas southeast of Buford Highway (SR 13).
Former state Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-District 97) defeated Republican candidate Aizaz Shaikh, a Gwinnett County native, by a nearly 2-1 margin.
State Rep. Sally Harrell (D-District 40), covering a small section of northwest Norcross and north DeKalb County, beat Republican challenger Melina R. Mast.
Two Gwinnett County Commission seats were also on the ballot, but neither district includes Norcross. District 4 incumbent Republican Matthew Holtkamp lost to Democratic candidate Benjamin L. Culberson, and District 2 Commissioner Ben Ku handily defeated Republican challenger Rodolfo Ochoa.
