Mayors ot two South DeKalb towns will face opposition in their quests for a second term.

In Stone Mountain, two councilmen and a political newcomer are lining up to unseat Mayor Gary Peet, who is seeking his second term, and in Clarkston, Mayor Lee Swaney will face opposition from former two-term councilman Abdul Akbar in the Nov. 8 city elections.

Mayor Pro Tem Ken Williams, 51, who is completing his first term, and Councilman Robert Smith, 72, also on his first term, are seeking the top spot in Stone Mountain. Williams, a painting contractor, has lived in the city for 28 years. Smith, 72, a retired businessman and 44-year city resident, resigned his seat mid-term to run for mayor. The council will decide how to fill his council seat.

William Patterson, a 29-year-old real estate developer and political newcomer, has also thrown his hat in the ring. He is also a newcomer to the city and has only lived there for one year, even though he grew up close by.

Peet, 55, served one term on the council before he defeated former Mayor Chuck Burris in 2001 to become mayor.



Clarkston mayor challenged

It will be a horse race in Clarkston between incumbent Mayor Lee Swaney, who is seeking a second term, and former two-term City Councilman Abdul Akbar, who left the council in 2004 to run for the Senate District 55 seat against Gloria Butler. Swaney, 66, is a retired businessman, has lived in the city for 30 year and prior to becoming mayor was a councilman for 10 years and before that served three years on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Akbar, 48, is an engineer with Fulton County. He has lived in the city for eight years.

Stone Mountain City Council In Stone Mountain, six candidates also qualified for two at-large seats on the five-member City Council. Paul Hollis, 59, a claims adjuster, is the only incumbent. He is seeking a second term.

The five other candidates include four women -- Susan Coletti, a 58-year-old dental assistant; Sharon Frierson, 31, an intelligence analyst/administrative assistant; Judy Asher, a 51-year-old interior designer; and Ann Thomas, a 62-year-old retired educator — and a lone male, Stephen Higgins, a 57-year-old salesman.

Clarkston City Council

In Clarkston, six people will vie for three seats on the five-member city council. Incumbents Pat Davis-Morris and Wayne Foster are seeking re-election to a third term and a second term. Emanuel Ransom, a 67-year-old retired businessman, is facing his first election. He was appointed in November to fill the unexpired term of Bill Kemp who relocated out of town.

Ibitsam Akbar, a 49-year-old teacher, Karen Feltz, a 54-year-old urban planner, and W.D. Harrell, a 49-year-old retiree, also qualified.

Pine Lake City Council

In Pine Lake, two city council incumbents and two challengers will compete for three seats.

Incumbents Johnathan Brent Walker, 34, an administrator with the Gwinnett County Heritage Program, and Kathy deNobriga, 54, an organizational consultant, are seeking re-election to the five-member council. Walker was appointed to the council in October 2004 to fill the unexpired term of Mimi Woods, who relocated to Florida. DeNobriga is seeking her second term.

Dallas Denny, 56, a behavior specialist, and Malanie Hammet, 47, a folk singer, will challenge them.