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Politics & Government

Avondale Mayor Rieker Seeks Re-Election

He has finished his first term and is being challenged by David Milliron, a city commission member.

Ed Rieker, who ousted first-term Mayor Jerry McCumber in 2007, is himself facing a challenge in the Nov. 8 election. His opponent is first-term commissioner David Milliron, the Mayor Pro Tem.

Rieker is a 56-year-old Ohio native who moved to Georgia nearly 30 years ago in search of better job opportunities. He and his wife, Ruth, have lived for 17 years in Avondale Estates, and he is the father of three children. His two grown sons live out of state, while at home he and Ruth have a daughter attending the Atlanta International School.

The Emory University MBA is an entrepreneur, having founded or acquired and sold four software companies, one of which was accepted to Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center. He works out of a house at  151 Locust St., near the Avondale Estates Post Office, which he has created into a co-working space to assist others.

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He has been a volunteer board member of the Decatur-DeKalb and East Lake Family YMCAs, served on the Avondale Estates Planning and Zoning Board, Comprehensive Planning Committee and volunteered with the Museum School of Avondale Estates and Avondale Estates Habitat for Humanity House.

To aid voters in their selection, Patch has asked questions to both candidates. We have tried not to duplicate the questions the candidates answered for the League of Women Voters’ profile on the mayoral candidates.

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Milliron's answers to these questions have been posted on Patch.

To meet the candidates in person and find out more about their positions, as well as the four candidates for two of the commission seats, attend the the forum the city government will hold at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at City Hall.

What kinds of quality of life issues would you work on for the city of Avondale Estates?

Keep the safety and protection of the residents as a highest priority.  Revitalize Willis Park and add a new dog park.  Successfully solve infrastructure issues like storm-water upgrades and improvements. Continue to maintain our fiscally conservative polices.

Public school options have changed with the opening of the chartered Museum School of Avondale Estates, closure of Avondale High School and redistricting into the Druid Hills High School district. What is your vision for the schools of Avondale Estates, and how would you work toward that?

The City of Avondale Estates is fortunate to have quality, public educational opportunities for all of its school-age children. At the center of this is the new Museum School serving our primary school students.  The next big step for the Museum School is moving into the old Forrest Hills Elementary and renovating the building.  Continuing to support and help this school achieve its goals is in the best interests of the City of Avondale Estates and its residents.

Avondale Estates’ retail and light industrial areas have not been substantially revitalized, despite repeated attempts. Is there more the city can do breathe life into the commercial districts?

During the last four years the city has invoked a new “business friendly” policy and has attracted new businesses to the city by being proactive and responsive to the needs of these new businesses. In addition, over the last four years the city has encouraged and sponsored a number of new events and festivals in the downtown area to promote the city and local businesses.   

Annexation of the property between Avondale Estates and Decatur has been tried several times. It seems to have community support but not the support of the property owners. Do you believe the city should continue this effort and, if so, how?

Absolutely.  City growth via commercial annexation is a real opportunity. There have been three attempts by the city to have this area annexed into Avondale Estates by asking the Georgia General Assembly to pass annexation legislation. All three have failed. Last year the City of Avondale Estates successfully annexed one of the largest commercial properties into the city’s downtown area in recent memory. $1.2 million in new taxable commercial property was brought into the city. This was done with the full cooperation of the property owner, city government and residents. In the future, growing our downtown commercial area will be important to the vitality and financial stability of our city. Using a model of cooperative, volunteer annexation seems to have a higher success rate and a more productive outcome.   

Does Avondale Estates have a good or bad relationship with DeKalb County government? What changes would you like to see in that relationship?

Our relationship with DeKalb County is a complex intergovernmental relationship. This relationship has improved over the last four years.  I have participated with the mayors of the eight other DeKalb County municipal governments in working with the government of DeKalb County on a variety of issues. Improving the frequency and depth of communications between these two groups is always welcome and often leads to the positive resolution of countywide issues for all.     

Now that the Fenner/Dunlop mill has been annexed entirely into the city, how do you believe it should be redeveloped, and how would that fit into your vision for overall commercial real estate development in Avondale Estates?

The process of bringing the Fenner/Dunlop property into the City of Avondale Estates involved multiple public meetings, planning sessions and input from all the stakeholders.  The outcome was new zoning for the property that allows for quality mixed/use development. This directly links with the desire for the same quality redevelopment in the entire downtown area. The city will continue to reach out in a positive manner to developers and businesses which will attract new development.

Other than the things listed above, what kinds of improvements do you think could be made to help the city and county provide a more effective government for the citizens of Avondale Estates?

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