Candidate Profile: Leslie Mullis For Sandy Springs City Council

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Seventeen city council candidates are running for seven seats in Sandy Springs' Nov. 2 municipal election.

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

Leslie Mullis is running for Sandy Springs City Council, District 3.

Age (as of Election Day)

62

Position Sought

Sandy Springs City Council District 3

Party Affiliation

Not Applicable

Family

Married for 35 years to my husband Mike. We have 3 adult children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BBA University of Georgia

Occupation

Retired

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

www.leslieforsandysprings.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I believe we have an obligation to leave our community better than we found it. After working for 37 years in IT Program Management at Bellsouth and Accenture I have the time and skills to invest in our city.

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

Housing Affordability. Only one out of every 6 people working in our city can afford to live here and 30% of our community is burdened by rent. These issues are leading to more traffic, labor shortages and a slowing of economic growth in our city. The city has studied the problem and now we need to create a plan to address the findings. Addressing this issue does not require the city to sacrifice neighborhoods and should not pit neighbor against neighbor or homeowner against renter. We need to preserve our current affordable housing and protect our vulnerable neighbors with public and social impact investing. I will explore solutions from other cities who are successfully tackling this issue and I will make sure we communicate and educate so that we are all on the same page.

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

Short-term I would like to see the city create the strategic housing action plan identified in the 2020 Housing and Economic Studies. I would also like to see the city create a communications plan that identifies all the types of communications available, the method of communication and audience targeted for each communication. Finally, I would like to see the Diversity Task Force present their findings and recommendations to the Mayor and Council so that we can begin taking action and earmark the 13.8 million in American Rescue funds to address their recommendations. Longer-term, I would like to create a scorecard so that the city can measure how we are doing in achieving our goals. I want to work with the city Manager to review issues associated with failed projects like the Brandon Mill sidewalk projects, Seville Chase storm drains, Bridgewood Valley storm drains to see why we have been unable to successfully execute these projects without budget overruns and delays and to determine if there are changes the city can make to avoid these issues in the future. I would like to review our transit technology to see what improvement opportunities exist to improve the flow of traffic and identify any additional opportunities we have to partner with the Perimeter Community Improvement District.

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

I am a native Georgian and 31 year resident of Sandy Springs. I raised 3 children in the city and all attended our public schools. I volunteer in our public schools, juvenile justice programs and other programs that serve our most vulnerable residents. I have 37 years of experience managing complex programs with extremely large budgets and globally diverse staff. Having recently retired I have the time, community perspective and the proven leadership skills needed to invest in moving our city forward.

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

Not Applicable

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

When Sandy Springs implemented its shelter in place order prior to the shut down of the State I wrote a note to Councilman Burnett stating "I was proud to live in a city where our leaders made thoughtful decisions that put the health of people living in our city first." However, after the June 2020 Council meeting I was disappointed that the city council refused to hear the public comment regarding mask mandate and instead chose not to require masks except in our city owned buildings. When Mayor Paul announced that mandate in public buildings he said “It is a minor inconvenience that has a profound impact on our individual as well as economic health.” I believe that our city leaders need to put in place covid policies that follow the CDC recommendations. It's disturbing to me that our current Mayor and City Council have set the example of meeting indoors maskless while the number of infections and deaths continue. They have also failed to reinstate the city building mask mandate. I also believe that as a city employing >500 people we should follow the President's order on vaccine mandates for our city employees. I don't believe that the COVID vaccine is any different from other required vaccines or other public safety mandates like seat belts or hands free cell phone use. I believe the science that indicates that the sooner we stop the ability of the virus to spread and mutate the sooner we can get back to normal. As Mayor Paul said in August of 2020, “It is a minor inconvenience that has a profound impact on our individual as well as economic health.”

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Integrity: Fostering transparency; preserving the neighborhood character that we all love, acknowledging where we need to improve, expanding communications and forums for public comment, prioritizing spending of tax dollars on operating the city and in smart, responsible investments

Inclusivity: Maintaining public safety and improving mental health related police interactions and relationships with police, supporting our public schools

Innovation: Driving efficiency and sustainability with public and private partnerships, investing in sustainable solutions to reduce traffic and alleviate congestion

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

Successful program management of an IT contract with a major telecommunications company that employed 600 people across 3 continents, 25 US locations and three time zones. I was personally responsible for managing multi million dollar operating budget, reporting and analyzing 36 key operating metrics, ensuring data privacy and security of 95 payroll, human resources and supply chain applications, managing client expectations and resolving client issues and negotiating contract terms.

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

I love that we have a small town feel with the amenities of a larger city.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be yourself. Be authentic in all that you do.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a wife, a mother, a retired IT executive and a neighbor who has the skills, desire, and time to represent you on the Sandy Springs City Council in district 3. If elected, I can't guarantee that we will always agree but I will always communicate with you openly, honestly and with respect.

Other Sandy Springs City Council District 3 candidates:

• Candidate Profile: Eric Newberg For Sandy Springs City Council