President Barack Obama gave the 129th commencement address speech on a wet and rainy Sunday afternoon, May 19th, at Morehouse College. Obama began his remarks to an excited yet wet crowd,most of whom had been seated as early as 6 am. at approximately 11:30 am. The sky opened just before the speech began, and the crowd was treated to a steady downpour throughout. Obama quipped that, “I would be out there with you, but the Secret Service gets nervous.” Obama was greeted with a big cheer when he emerged from a building adjacent to the stage with Morehouse College president John Silvanus Wilson, …

Angelic Moore announced her candidacy for House District 54, currently held by state Rep. Ed Lindsey, on Monday. Lindsey announced April 11 that he is running for the 11th Congressional District. District 54 includes Buckhead and Historic Brookhaven. “This election is crucial to Republicans in Fulton County," Moore said. "If we lose this seat, we will lose our delegation’s majority. If we lose the majority, we lose our opportunity for further reform. Losing is not an option."Moore, who works with former lieutenant governor nominee and staterepresentative Matt Towery as vice president of …

Michael Thurmond may be just the man to save the jobs of DeKalb's embattled school board.  Whether that's a good thing, remains to be seen. Thurmond was appointed DeKalb's interim school superintendent Friday afternoon, after the board of education narrowly approved a severance package for former superintendent Cheryl Atkinson. Rumors had been circulating since last week that Atkinson was on her way out. DeKalb's school system is currently under probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The board is set to appear before the State Department of Education on Feb. 21 …

Citing an issue he covered with the Brookhaven Rotary last year, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced on Friday that he is not seeking re-election in 2014. “This is about frustration, both at a lack of leadership from the White House and at the dearth of meaningful action from Congress, especially on issues that are the foundation of our nation’s economic health," Chambliss said in a statement. "The debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst and, sadly, I don’t see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon. "For our …

State Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta, is hoping to start a discussion on 'green' initiatives and projects in his House District 81. Entitled Green 81, Holcomb said, "I believe in sustainable practices and I want to promote them.  I’d like us to have an ongoing discussion about how we can make our community more sustainable." Holcomb is calling for tips and suggestions to be sent to  Green81@repscottholcomb.com, "There are many little things that we can do that will make a big difference," he said.

The elections are over and the new city of Brookhaven has its first mayor and city council in place, waiting to be sworn in. Here's our take on the winners and losers from Brookhaven's first political experience, with a few caveats along the way: Winners Mike Jacobs. Newly elected Brookhaven mayor J. Max Davis was supported and endorsed by Jacobs, the Republican state representative who authored Brookhaven cityhood's bill. Jacobs also endorsed Rebecca Chase Williams and Joe Gebbia, both of whom scored big victories in Districts 1 and 4, respectively. Brookhaven became a city through Jacobs' …

J. Max Davis became the new city of Brookhaven's first mayor in history on Tuesday night. Davis defeated Sandy Murray in the mayoral runoff, 66 percent to 34 percent, in a race in which Patch projected the winner at 8:09 pm.  In Brookhaven's three city council runoffs, Rebecca Chase Williams won the District 1 seat, defeating Kevin Fitzpatrick 66 percent to 34 percent. In District 3, Bates Mattison defeated Kevin Quirk by the evening's smallest margin, 53 percent to 47 percent. And in District 4, Joe Gebbia soundly defeated Karen Lord to win the seat, 81 percent to 19 percent. They join …

State Sen. Jason Carter, grandson of former president Jimmy Carter, has endorsed Brookhaven mayoral candidate Sandy Murray. Murray's campaign announced the endorsement and several others on Monday morning. Murray faces J. Max Davis to become Brookhaven's first-ever mayor in tomorrow's runoff. Carter, a Democrat, represents portions of Decatur and DeKalb County in the state Senate. Murray also announced the endorsement of former Brookhaven mayoral candidate Larry Danese. The day after the Nov. 6 election, Murray was endorsed by Brookhaven's first elected official in history, District 2 city …

District 1 city council candidate Rebecca Chase Williams has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and several other high-profile local officials and lawmakers. "I'm proud to have the support of these public servants who represent Brookhaven and our neighboring cities," Williams told Patch. Williams faces Kevin Fitzpatrick in the runoff to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Besides Isakson, the list includes: Sandy Springs mayor Eva Galambos DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis State Rep. Mike Jacobs State Rep. Tom Taylor State Sen. Fran Millar Former State Sen. Jim …

Brookhaven mayoral candidate Sandy Murray sent a letter to the DeKalb County Commission on Friday, asking the county to place a short-term moratorium on permits and rezonings until the new city is up and running. “My concern is that a small number of businesses may try to take advantage of the city’s startup and the transition process from DeKalb County to the city of Brookhaven," Murray told Patch. Murray faces J. Max Davis next Tuesday in a runoff to become Brookhaven's first mayor. Her request for a moratorium includes applications for all new permits, re-zonings, variances, SLUPs, and …

Brookhaven mayoral candidate J. Max Davis has been endorsed by former Brookhaven city council district 1 candidate Alan Cole. Cole, who finished third behind Kevin Fitzpatrick in the District 1 contest, has also endorsed Rebecca Chase Williams in the runoff next Tuesday, Dec. 4. Davis has also been endorsed by another former city council candidate, Kerry Witt, who finished last in the District 4 race. Joe Gebbia and Karen Lord are in the District 4 runoff. Davis has also received the endorsements of three influential GOP lawmakers: state Reps. Mike Jacobs and Ed Lindsey, and state Sen. Fran …

  Patch has received numerous inquiries from readers about where to vote in next Tuesday's Brookhaven runoff elections. According to the DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections Division, the regular voting locations that were used in the Nov. 6 general election will be open on Dec. 4 from 7 am to 7 pm. Schools such as Ashford Park Elementary that serve as voting precincts will use its gyms and/or cafeterias for voters. A sample ballot of next week's elections is attached to this article. Brookhaven Precinct Locations Ashford-Dunwoody Road Precinct St. Martin's In The Fields3110 Ashford …

District 4 candidate Joe Gebbia has picked up the endorsements of a key leader in the Brookhaven cityhood movement, as well as two former mayoral candidates. Gebbia faces Karen Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in a runoff for the seat. “Joe Gebbia has displayed the ability to reach out to all individuals in his district," said state Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Atlanta, who was the author of the Brookhaven cityhood bill. "Whether you were for or against cityhood, Joe has proven that he’s committed to bringing our city together." Also, Larry Danese and Thom Shepard, who finished third and fourth, respectively…

Former District 3 city council candidate Hope Bawcom has endorsed J. Max Davis for mayor. Patch learned of Bawcom's endorsement early Tuesday afternoon. Davis is facing Sandy Murray in next Tuesday's Brookhaven runoff to become the new city's first mayor. "I've gotten to know both candidates during the campaign process for the city council election and based on my experience J. Max has been the best team player that I've worked with," Bawcom told Patch. "He has always been willing to listen to ideas that I've had even if they conflicted with some of his own. "I feel very confident that as …

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, Brookhaven residents head to the polls once again to choose the new city’s first mayor, and also complete the election of its first city council. On Monday, Patch analyzed the mayoral runoff. Here is our look at the three city council races that will be decided one week from today: DISTRICT 1 On Nov. 6, Rebecca Chase Williams finished the race with a commanding 45 percent of the vote in a five-candidate race. Her closest competitor, Kevin Fitzpatrick, tallied 19 percent of the vote. Williams won all four of District 1’s precincts. Her closest margin of victory came in the …

Former District 2 city council candidate Russell Mitchell endorsed J. Max Davis for mayor on Monday. "I have had the pleasure of getting to know J.Max over the last two years and he has the leadership skills needed to guide our new city in the right direction, knowledge to be informed on day one, and most importantly, the passion about our new city’s bright future," Mitchell told Patch early Monday afternoon. Davis is in a runoff with Sandy Murray to become the new city's first mayor in history. Mitchell, a member of BrookhavenYES, was defeated by Jim Eyre in the District 2 city council …

  Zoning, code enforcement, a new police department, parks, and how to reach out to Brookhaven's Hispanic community were among the topics covered Monday night during a public forum featuring most of the candidates in next week's runoff elections. Mayoral candidates J. Max Davis and Sandy Murray; District 1 candidates Rebecca Chase Williams and Kevin Fitzpatrick; District 3 candidate Kevin Quirk; and District 4 candidate Joe Gebbia were in attendance. Not present were District 4 candidate Karen Lord and District 3 candidate Bates Mattison, who had a representative present at the discussion. …

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, Brookhaven residents head to the polls once again to choose the new city’s first mayor, and also complete the election of its first city council. Here is a Patch analysis of the mayoral runoff election. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, Patch will analyze the three city council races that will be decided. Election Night And Its Aftermath For a while during the evening of Nov. 6, it looked as if J. Max Davis would win enough votes to win the four-candidate race with a runoff. At one point during the evening, Davis was leading the race with more than 50 percent of the vote, enough to win…

The candidates in the District 3 city council runoff have both agreed to refrain from negative campaigning. “I was disappointed in the negative tone of many of our local races," said Bates Mattison, who is in the runoff with Kevin Quirk. "I called my opponent and asked him if he would join me in running a clean race and not engage in negative campaigning. He agreed.” “My opponent and I spoke shortly after the Nov. 6 election and agreed on a clean campaign," Quirk said. "Raising the tone by focusing on neighborhoods instead of politics has been important to me since the start of my candidacy, …

Early voting for Brookhaven's runoff elections will run from Monday, Nov. 26, through Friday, Nov. 30 at the Voter Registration & Elections Office. The office is located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300. Hours are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, each day. Voters who wish to vote absentee by mail can submit their requests now through an application on the office's website, www.dekalbvotes.com. Ballots must be returned to the office no later that 7 pm on election day, Tuesday, Dec. 4, to be counted. Runoffs are being held for Brookhaven mayor, as well as city council seats in districts 1, 3 and 4. …