Cobb County Courier, Q&A With Ken Hymes: Smyrna Mayoral Candidate

Wants to preserve the tree canopy and existing tree structures in the city.

- Wants to preserve the tree canopy and existing tree structures in the city.

Natural Resources & the Environment

Wants to increase the inventory of affordable housing within the city.

Plans to fund environmentally-friendly housing developments.

- Wants to increase the inventory of affordable housing within the city.
- Plans to fund environmentally-friendly housing developments.

Housing & Urban Development

As of August 30, 2023, Ken Hymes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Plans to further fund parks, recreation, and the arts.

Wants downtown to be "a welcoming, walkable area and space that’s accessibility-friendly."

Wants to ensure "that all citizens have access to and opportunities to comment on any major financial transactions BEFORE negotiations begin."

Said he is "in favor of downtown development, as long as it’s smart development and that we’re using our resources efficiently to deploy mixed-use development and designs that bring businesses, services, restaurants, and attractions that the citizens want."

- Plans to further fund parks, recreation, and the arts.
- Wants downtown to be "a welcoming, walkable area and space that’s accessibility-friendly."
- Wants to ensure "that all citizens have access to and opportunities to comment on any major financial transactions BEFORE negotiations begin."
- Said he is "in favor of downtown development, as long as it’s smart development and that we’re using our resources efficiently to deploy mixed-use development and designs that bring businesses, services, restaurants, and attractions that the citizens want."

Public Services

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Ken Hymes

Marietta Daily Journal, Smyrna mayor candidates square-off in public debate

Patch, Meet the Candidates: Alex Backry

As of August 23, 2023, Alex Backry did not have a website or any information online.

Supported previously installing additional traffic lights.

- Supported previously installing additional traffic lights.

Alex Backry

LinkedIn

Wants to execute planning and construction of new recreational amenities including a Smyrna aquatics center, gymnastics facility, tennis and pickle ball courts, and turf athletic fields.

Initiated the installation of energy efficient lighting and systems throughout the city to reduce Smyrna’s carbon footprint.

- Wants to execute planning and construction of new recreational amenities including a Smyrna aquatics center, gymnastics facility, tennis and pickle ball courts, and turf athletic fields.
- Initiated the installation of energy efficient lighting and systems throughout the city to reduce Smyrna’s carbon footprint.

As of August 23, 2023, Derek Norton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Raised previously the salaries of public safety professionals.

- Raised previously the salaries of public safety professionals.

Created “Downtown Refresh,”: an open space with two new parks, a splash pad, Stillfire Brewing, and a parking deck.

- Created “Downtown Refresh,”: an open space with two new parks, a splash pad, Stillfire Brewing, and a parking deck.

Wants to carry on with South Cobb Drive improvements vision and implementation.

Secured $17 million for South Cobb Drive improvements from Concord Road to Windy Hill.

- Wants to carry on with South Cobb Drive improvements vision and implementation.
- Secured $17 million for South Cobb Drive improvements from Concord Road to Windy Hill.

Derek Norton

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor runs the city day to day and prepares the budget each year, meaning that they propose how much funding goes to each city department, including the police department, city parks, transportation, and the fire department. 
- The mayor also hires the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and city department heads, such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. 
- Most Georgia mayors are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 
