Brookhaven Mayoral Election: Park Leads Race To Fill Upcoming Vacancy

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to both correct the spelling of Lauren Kiefer's last name and to correct the fact that Park helped to transmit COVID-19 data.

BROOKHAVEN — John Park is leading Brookhaven's mayoral race as voters decided Tuesday who will succeed outgoing Mayor John Ernst in the 2023 municipal election.

In Georgia, candidates must clear a 50 percent plus one vote threshold to avoid a runoff.

Park, along with fellow candidates Lauren Kiefer, Hilerie Lind and Mark Frost all had their eyes on filling the forthcoming vacant mayoral seat.

Park was first elected to the Brookhaven City Council in 2014 and now wants to oversee the City of Brookhaven.

According to his campaign profile, Park works as a "technical consultant for surveillance of nationally notifiable diseases with the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and state health agencies and laboratories."

He lended his efforts toward helping to transmit COVID-19 data nationally, according to the profile. His concerns are Brookhaven's stormwater infrastructure and connectivity and greenspace.

"I have a track record of clearly defining goals and achieving them. I led the efforts to address our stormwater issues, acquire more greenspace, pass a new tree ordinance with a robust reforestation program, and update our zoning code to support balanced development," he told media outlet Decaturish.

"And I’ve done it all through innovative funding sources to reduce the tax burden on residential taxpayers, including public-private partnerships, creating special service districts, and securing county, state and federal funding sources and brokering land swaps."

Kiefer, an attorney both for Georgia and Illinois, has served Brookhaven in various capacities for the last 30 years, according to her campaign profile.

Her service work includes being chair of the Arts and Culture Commission, becoming interim executive director of the Peachtree Creek Greenway for a year and being board chair and president of Georgia Shakespeare.

Kiefer rolled a 90-day plan to audit both the city budget and the employee recruitment/retention and hiring protocols, focus on what she deems as a the city's spending problem, revitalize city hall and increase community engagement.

"Brookhaven’s greatest strength is our incredible people," she told Decaturish. "Our community boasts a diverse array of people, talents and passions who all come from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and life experiences –– who all chose Brookhaven for the community we have created."

Lind, an accountant who has worked as a public health advisor for the CDC, has health-care experience that extends to the White House, according to her campaign profile. She has served the Brookhaven community at least 15 years.

"I was born a servant leader. Servant leadership and community is my life’s work. I bring not only education, but experience working directly with the community, listening and providing resources," she told Decaturish.

According to her profile, she co-owns LoverGirl Productions and founded Nathaniel Jean Consulting, where she serves as its chief executive officer. She has also written three books.

She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and has been a part of Project GRAD, the Nehemiah Youth Leadership Council and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America.

Frost, who has lived in Georgia since 1987, worked in the film, video and fashion industry more than 30 years, according to his campaign profile. He is also a licensed aviation pilot.

"Faith and service to God is at the core of Mark's motivation. Being of service to others is Mark's primary source of purpose," read his biography.

Frost promised to offer Brookhaven a tax relief, urge for a rollback in the millage rate for DeKalb school taxes, reduce controversies surrounding the city and review plans for a new city hall.

He believes Brookhaven's "voice and confidence needs to be restored," according to his campaign website.

All results in the municipal race remain unofficial until certified.

As of 9:11 a.m. Wednesday, with all 191 precincts reporting, these are results as reported by DeKalb County government officials (Election Day voting, early voting and absentee by mail voting):

John Park: 42.99 percent (3,300 votes)

Lauren Kiefer: 30.26 percent (2,323 votes)

Hilerie Lind: 1.77 percent (136 votes)

Mark Frost: 24.98 percent (1,918 votes)