Candidate Profile: Dilip Tunki For Johns Creek City Council

JOHNS CREEK — Nine city council candidates qualified for four seats in Johns Creek Nov. 2 municipal election, two of which are running for the Council Post 1 seat.

Lee Heard Tucker and Dilip Tunki have qualified as candidates for Johns Creek City Council Post 1. There is no incumbent for this seat as current Post 1 Council Member Lenny Zaprowski is not seeking re-election.

November 2, 2021 Municipal General/Special Election sample ballots are available for review at the Georgia My Voter Page. Enter your information in order to access a personalized sample ballot.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Dilip Tunki is running for Johns Creek City Council Post 1 against Lee Heard Tucker.

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position Sought

Johns Creek City Council Post 1

Party Affiliation

Candidate didn't respond.

Family

Padmasri Tunki - 50 - Spouse (married for 25 years ) / Sindhu Tunki - 20 - Daughter (Junior at UGA)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelors in Civil Engineering, Masters in Environmental Engineering and MBA in Finance from Georgia State University

Occupation

Small Business Owner for 23 years / Background is in Engineering, Operations and Finance spans over 30 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Member of Johns Creek Town Center Advisory Committee
Member of Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee
Executive Board Member and Treasurer for Johns Creek Arts Center
Executive Board Member and Treasurer for Autrery Mill Nature Preserve
Former Member Johns Creek Construction Board of Appeals
Former Member of School Governance Council for Chattahoochee High School
Graduate of Leadership Johns Creek
Graduate of Citizens Police Academy
Graduate of Citizens Fire Academy

Campaign website

www.tunkiforjc.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

There are a lot of projects for the City in the coming years, town center, stormwater, parks and transportation projects. The City of Johns Creek needs a council member who can start work on day one and keep the projects moving.

I have the education, experience, knowledge, leadership skills and community involvement to fulfill the role and responsibilities of City Council member.

I served, serving and will serve the residents of Johns Creek.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Town Center, City of Johns Creek needs a downtown that residents can spend their time in the evenings and weekends. I will focus on City owned land behind the city hall, build a trail around the lake, put a performing stage in the middle of the lake, and restaurants overlooking the lake. This will create momentum and interest with the private landowners in the town center area and also private investors. This way, we can build a vibrant, unique and balanced town center with public-private partnership.

What are your short- and long-term goals if you are elected?

Short term goal is the put in a good framework for the town center, based on my Civil Engineering, Finance, small business and real estate background. Long term goal will be to build on it to have a vibrant, unique, yet balanced town center.

In regards to stormwater, continue with the plan implemented by the current council. At the same time explore supplemental funding options, such as grants, the one I found through EPA which will provide $400k. These can be used to expedite the process which would normally take 10 years.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Critical difference is community involvement and length of stay. I have been a resident of Johns Creek for 21 years and my opponent is just one year. I am actively involved in the community serving on multiple committees and organizations within Johns Creek, compared to my opponent who is not at all involved in the City of Johns Creek.

I am a long term resident of Johns Creek, understands the City and Residents needs and will be able to represent their interests, compared to my opponent, who just moved into the city and not involved in the city of Johns Creek.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Quality of Life:

Will address parks staff needs from council for successful implementation of current and future projects.

As an Executive Board Member of the Johns Creek Arts center, understands the importance of arts in the City of Johns Creek and will work towards including Legacy Center as part of Town Center.

Support Small Businesses:

Work with city staff on streamlining the process of licensing, registration, and compliance.
Provide enhanced support to businesses by creating a central, online repository for resources and information. Evaluate the impact of every major decision on small businesses through surveys. Put forward proposals that would stimulate half-occupied retail centers at major intersections by making them destination centers.

Environmentally Friendly City:

Setup and act on renewable energy goals, start programs that would drive in the direction of making Johns Creek an energy efficient city.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During the term at Chattahoochee High School as a Governance member I was instrumental in bringing a $400K commercial grade greenhouse to the school, which is being used to teach high school classes and also for technical college students.

As an executive board member of Johns Creek Arts Center, streamlined the accounting and financial process to provide transparency to board members and evaluate viability of various classes.

As an RPAC member, involved in discussions to strengthen parks staff and focus on recreation sports starting from elementary school and transitions to a middle school feeder program that transitions to a successful high school program.

What do you like best about living in your city (or county)?

I have been in this city for 21 years. The Best Schools, Safest City and Diverse community makes it one of the most desirable cities to live in. Various cultures blending together and making it feel like an extended family, is what is best about this city.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Keep knocking on the doors and meeting residents until election day.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Candidate didn’t respond.