Budget, GM plant priorities for new Doraville mayor

Written By: Andrew Cauthen
7/29/11
Categorized in: DeKalb News

With Doraville facing across-the-board budget cuts, the city’s new mayor said she has a big responsibility to fulfill.

Former Doraville City Councilwoman Donna Pittman, who won a runoff election on July 19 to become the city’s new mayor, said she is elated about the opportunity granted by Doraville voters.

“I’m very excited,” said Pittman, who served as acting mayor for a few months until resigning to run for the mayor’s position. “I’m excited about moving the city forward.”

Pittman said her priorities as mayor will be the redevelopment of the GM facility and addressing the shortfall of the city’s budget, including possible employee layoffs.

“It would be wonderful if we didn’t have to go down that road,” Pittman said.

Approximately 550 Doraville voters went to the polls to give Pittman 52.8 percent of their votes while political rookie Carol Gilman received 47.2 percent. Gilman spent 30 years in the business world in accounting, auditing, banking, internal consulting and business consulting before retiring a few years ago.

“I am very humbled by the confidence that the Doraville voters put in me,” said Gilman, who lost by just 31 votes. “I was committed to running a positive and issue-based compaign.”

“It was a close one,” said Gilman, who was running against a candidate who was a longtime resident and had greater name recognition in Doraville. “We knew it was an uphill battle.”

“This was not the outcome we had all worked so hard for,” said Gilman, who plans to run again in November. “The city of Doraville deserves better.”

Although Gilman forced the run-off election after being endorsed by three of the five Doraville City Council members, Pittman said she looks forward to working with the council.

“We’ve worked together for several years,” Pittman said. “We’re all professionals. We’re working for the same common goal.”

Doraville held the election to fill the remaining term of former mayor Ray Jenkins, who died in February.

Because Pittman’s term expires at the end of the year, she will be up for re-election in November.

When asked if she would run again in November, Pittman replied with one word: “Absolutely.”

Comments (8)

Josh

Said this on 8/13/11 At 10:31 pm

In reply to #4

Yes, she cares for them right out the door, the same as the revolving employees at the police department who may get in her way.

Said this on 8/10/11 At 04:01 pm

The only thing that DR is going to do is doing the cops, getting free meals, and getting fatter.

She will die in office a disgrace just like her nemesis.

Cindy

Said this on 8/9/11 At 01:09 pm

In reply to #4

That's great that Donna "REALLY" cares about the employees. I'm sure most people do, but just where are we going to magically get the money after years of incompetence and mismanagement have drained us to dry to continue paying all of those salaries? Hall County just laid off 56 public works employees, I doubt very seriously if it was because no one "really cared", it was a matter of expense vs revenue. When are people going to wake up and realize that we are almost to the point of losing our city charter? Do you people actually want Burrell Ellis and Dekalb County to take over? WHEN that happens, no one will have a job with the city because there will be no city. And I am so very tired of all of the attention that is continually focused on the GM development which could be 10 years at a minimum but more likely 20 years down the road. We have issues in the here and now that need to be addressed.

JerryMyer Jackson Jr

Said this on 8/1/11 At 07:23 pm

When Private Industry has the Cash Available and Sees The Need and can Make a Profit then developement of this GM Doraville Site will be done. Until then tell whoever ownes it to clean it up and make it green = Wasn't That The Law We Forgot About ?

And Keep Emperor Burrell Ellis away from it !!!

Old Friend

Said this on 8/1/11 At 08:42 am

Ted,
I agree 100 percent with you. At least Donna REALLY cares about the employees! She will do whats right and not what Marlene's gang or a department head wants!! If the council was so against her and was outspoken by backing Gillman what does that say for them?? I might worry about their seats when they come up for re election. And some of you bashing Donna might want to rethink it because you are some of the idiots that sat on the council and caused this mess!

Ted

Said this on 7/31/11 At 01:23 pm

I went to Mayor Pittman's swearing in and I noticed as a citizen that the council was very cold to her. Many in my community have discussed will they (the council) try to sabatoge Donna's tenure with political bickering like what we see in D.C. By the way, Donna did not win based on name ID...if that were the case, she would have lead and/or won the first night. She won because many of us got sick of the BULLY TACTICS employed by the Gilman campaign and the obvious bias towards her and her background. Donna has lived in our community for 30 years - her opponet 4 years. Donna worked as a police officer for many years, which is good when public safety is a top issue. Donna is raising her family in Doraville, which is good because she is vested in our community and won't move at a drop of a dime. Donna we support you!! YOU are the one who ran a positive and issue-based campaign....we're not fooled.

SLD

Said this on 7/31/11 At 09:29 am

Mayor Pittman's campaign focused on long term goals for developing Doraville's most precious asset, the shuttered GM plant. Her vision for Doraville's eventual entry in to economic prosperity is clear and attainable. I find it curious that her opponent in the run off, Ms.Gilman, makes claims of an issues based campaign while her most ardent supporters berated neighbors in our community for displaying her opponents' campaign signage. I fear Mayor Pittman will have a harder time accomplishing her goals if the political brinksmanship continues with the sitting council.

Stephe

Said this on 7/30/11 At 11:39 am

Doraville has a history of being VERY political and most votes seems to be based more on politics and who is presenting the issue rather than the issue itself. My fear is these council members who strongly supported Carole will now try to do what they can to make Donna look bad for the November election. I actually will be shocked if they act professional and don't do this. As a long term resident, I am sick of what is good for the city taking a back seat to politics and personal conflicts.

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