Politics & Government

What's The Next Step For Brookhaven?

A lot of work needs to be done before Dec. 17, 2012, when DeKalb's largest city becomes operational.


Now what?

by a margin of 55 to 45 percent. More than 10,000 of the community's registered voters participated in Tuesday's referendum. But months of often bitter debate may have left deep wounds in a community where more than 4,900 people voted to stay in DeKalb.

"This is America, and we'll make this new city work," said , president of the Ashford Park Civic Association. "We have to. We'll join hands and work together.

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"It's amazing how many good and smart people who have been on both sides of the debate," he said. "If we can bring everyone together we can build a model city."

, president of BrookhavenYES, said .

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"We don't hold grudges or negativity in our hearts," Davis said. "We want everyone to come together to build this new city."

The next step is for Gov. Nathan Deal to appoint a five-person commission to begin reviewing candidates for city manager, attorney, clerk and accountant. Davis said that commission could be announced as soon as next week.

The commission is also charged with finding the best locations for municipal offices. Davis has suggested in the past that Brookhaven Plaza, across from the Brookhaven-Oglethorpe MARTA station, .

Candidates for Brookhaven's four city council seats and mayor cannot qualify until after the July 31 election results have been certified by DeKalb County. Elections for Brookhaven's first set of elected officials will be held on Nov. 6, the same day as the general presidential election.

A new city of Brookhaven will assume operations at 12:01 a.m., on Dec. 17, 2012. All DeKalb ordinaances will remain in effect until Brookhaven's mayor and city council choose to change them.

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