Mayor and Councilmembers

Kurt Ward is from DeKalb County. He has a bachelor's degree in history from Baylor University and a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law. He lives with his wife, Tamara, and their two sons in Braselton.

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Kurt owns his own law firm, Kurt. R Ward Attorney at Law. 

Hardy Johnson, Kurt Ward running to become Braselton's new mayor

Kurt is currently the mayor of Braselton. He was elected in 2021 and is serving his first term. Before becoming mayor, he served on the Braselton Town Council.

Promises fiscal transparency by providing monthly financial reports for public review.

As mayor, provided monthly financial reports for public review.

As mayor, prohibited additional drive-thru restaurants in the Hwy 211 Overlay.

As mayor, prohibited additional drive-thru restaurants in the Hwy 211 Overlay and helped deliver new businesses like Chicken Salad Chick, Chipotle, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and Outback Steakhouse.

Plans to maintain a no property tax policy.

Delivered the June 2025 financial report showing about $2M in reserves on a $10.9M budget, while keeping Braselton’s policy of no property tax.

Aims to create a stable business climate by ensuring predictable land use and consumer behavior.

Delivered a stable business climate with predictability in land use and consumers

As mayor, delivered a new Development Code with higher standards for aesthetics, signage, and lighting; increased scrutiny on gas stations, car washes, automotive businesses, and drive-thru restaurants; improved standards for defining user groups; and enhanced criteria for creating or amending Planned Unit Developments.

Delivered a new Development Code with higher standards for aesthetics, signage, and lighting; increased scrutiny on gas stations, car washes, automotive businesses, and drive-thru restaurants; improved standards for defining user groups; and enhanced criteria for creating or amending Planned Unit Developments.

- As mayor, provided monthly financial reports for public review.
- As mayor, prohibited additional drive-thru restaurants in the Hwy 211 Overlay and helped deliver new businesses like Chicken Salad Chick, Chipotle, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and Outback Steakhouse.
- Delivered the June 2025 financial report showing about $2M in reserves on a $10.9M budget, while keeping Braselton’s policy of no property tax.
- Delivered a stable business climate with predictability in land use and consumers
- Delivered a new Development Code with higher standards for aesthetics, signage, and lighting; increased scrutiny on gas stations, car washes, automotive businesses, and drive-thru restaurants; improved standards for defining user groups; and enhanced criteria for creating or amending Planned Unit Developments.

Economy

Approved mixed-use zoning for retail and restaurants to surround a 20,000 square foot turf recreational area, including a rooftop bar and restaurant.

As mayor, approved of mixed-use zoning for retail and restaurants to surround a 20,000 square foot turf recreational area, including a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Supports renovating Braselton Park to include a turf recreational area adjacent to retail and restaurants for families.

As a city council member, delivered the Mulberry Riverwalk, an improved nature-trail destination.

As a city council member, delivered an "improved nature-trail destination with the Mulberry Riverwalk."

Supports adopting an updated Comprehensive Plan to guide future development.

Supports developing recently purchased downtown land.

Supports creating a family-friendly retail and restaurant area in downtown.

Wants to improve Braselton Park and the Braselton Community Center.

Plans to finish and extend the Mulberry Riverwalk.

Supports using $2 million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) park funds and $8 million SPLOST transportation funds in Gwinnett County to construct a bridge over Highway 211 for golf carts and pedestrians.

- As mayor, approved of mixed-use zoning for retail and restaurants to surround a 20,000 square foot turf recreational area, including a rooftop bar and restaurant.
- Supports renovating Braselton Park to include a turf recreational area adjacent to retail and restaurants for families.
- As a city council member, delivered an "improved nature-trail destination with the Mulberry Riverwalk."
- Supports adopting an updated Comprehensive Plan to guide future development.
- Supports developing recently purchased downtown land.
- Supports creating a family-friendly retail and restaurant area in downtown.
- Wants to improve Braselton Park and the Braselton Community Center.
- Plans to finish and extend the Mulberry Riverwalk.
- Supports using $2 million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) park funds and $8 million SPLOST transportation funds in Gwinnett County to construct a bridge over Highway 211 for golf carts and pedestrians.

Public Services

As mayor, opposed Build-to-Rent communities and townhomes that did not meet "Braselton standards."

As mayor, delivered a new Development Code that restricts townhome development, mandates specific building materials and driveway lengths, limits garage door sizes, and requires 1-acre recreational areas for smaller lots.

Approved less than 1,000 residential units from zoning approvals, with each unit being closely scrutinized to match or exceed codified Braselton standards.

Opposes over-population and over-saturation of housing and amenities at Del Webb Chateau Elan.

- As mayor, opposed Build-to-Rent communities and townhomes that did not meet "Braselton standards."
- As mayor, delivered a new Development Code that restricts townhome development, mandates specific building materials and driveway lengths, limits garage door sizes, and requires 1-acre recreational areas for smaller lots.
- Approved less than 1,000 residential units from zoning approvals, with each unit being closely scrutinized to match or exceed codified Braselton standards.
- Opposes over-population and over-saturation of housing and amenities at Del Webb Chateau Elan.
- Approved mixed-use zoning for retail and restaurants to surround a 20,000 square foot turf recreational area, including a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Housing & Urban Development

As mayor, delivered a plan for implementing license plate readers to deter crime and enhance criminal investigations.

Increased the number of police officers to provide more on-duty patrol.

- As mayor, delivered a plan for implementing license plate readers to deter crime and enhance criminal investigations.
- Increased the number of police officers to provide more on-duty patrol.

Public Safety

Improved driving conditions at Hwy 53 & Chardonnay Trace.

Maintained a stable relationship with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to ensure timely improvements to Highway 211.

- Improved driving conditions at Hwy 53 & Chardonnay Trace.
- Maintained a stable relationship with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to ensure timely improvements to Highway 211.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports aggressively preserving open spaces and creating new parks, trails, and greenways.

- Supports aggressively preserving open spaces and creating new parks, trails, and greenways.

Energy & the Environment

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Kurt Ward

As mayor, helped deliver new businesses like Chicken Salad Chick, Chipotle, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and Outback Steakhouse.

Evaluating a renovation to Braselton Park as a downtown destination to include a turf recreational area adjacent to retail and restaurants for families.

Opposes townhomes that do not meet Braselton standards.

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- As mayor, opposed Build-to-Rent communities and townhomes that did not meet "Braselton standards."
- Opposes over-population and over-saturation of housing and amenities at Del Webb Chateau Elan.
- Approved mixed-use zoning for retail and restaurants to surround a 20,000 square foot turf recreational area, including a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Kurt Ward is from DeKalb County. He has a bachelor of arts in history from Baylor University and a juris doctor degree from Georgia State University College of Law. He lives with his wife, Tamara, and their two sons in Braselton.

Plans to expand BraseltonTech, an economic development organization.

Walter Ley

Buket Urgen

Brandon Reed holds an associates degree in motorsports vehicle technology from Lanier Technical College. 

Brandon is the founder and president of ReeDesign, Mfg, LLC. He previously worked at Mars, where he was maintenance team lead, and as a hardware design engineer at Guardian Manufacturing. 

November races set for Braselton and Hoschton as qualifying ends ...

Brandon's campaign for Braselton Mayor is his first entry into politics.

Holds top priority as preventing any future city property taxes, stating that if more funding is needed, he will push the counties to share a portion of the property taxes they already collect from our residents.

- Holds top priority as preventing any future city property taxes, stating that if more funding is needed, he will push the counties to share a portion of the property taxes they already collect from our residents.

Plans to increase transparency and community engagement by using public polls on social media, meeting residents at local events, and providing clear communication on tax dollar usage.

Plans to increase transparency and community engagement by using public polls on social media, attending local festivals to speak with residents, and providing clear communication on tax dollar usage. 

- Plans to increase transparency and community engagement by using public polls on social media, attending local festivals to speak with residents, and providing clear communication on tax dollar usage. 

Plans to address housing growth by preventing overdevelopment and protecting "small-town charm."

Plans to address city growth by preventing overdevelopment and protecting "small-town charm."., improving roads and traffic flow to keep pace with growth.”, and ensuring police and fire have the resources they need.

- Plans to address city growth by preventing overdevelopment and protecting "small-town charm."., improving roads and traffic flow to keep pace with growth.”, and ensuring police and fire have the resources they need.

As of September 4, 2025, Brandon Reed did not have a website or any information online.

Brandon Reed

Brandon Reed's campaign for Braselton Mayor is his first entry into politics.

Michael Cronin is a lifelong resident of Jackson County. He is married to his wife, Shane, with whom he has a son. He served as a volunteer chief of the West Jackson Fire Department, and on the Jackson County SPLOST Appropriations Committee and the Jackson County Water Authority. 

Michael is a growout manager at Columbia Farms of Georgia. He works with family farmers to help them manage their poultry operations, focusing on profitability, budgeting, and cash flow.

Michael previously served for 13 years on the Jackson County Board of Education, including as vice chairman and chairman.

As of September 4, 2025, Michael Cronic did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to balance preserving Braselton's character with preparing for future opportunities.

- Wants to balance preserving Braselton's character with preparing for future opportunities.

Michael Cronic

Michael Cronin is a lifelong resident of Jackson County. He is married to his wife, Shane, with whom he has a son. He served as a volunteer chief of the West Jackson Fire Departmen, and on the Jackson County SPLOST Appropriations Committee and the Jackson County Water Authority. 

I am a lifelong resident of Jackson County and a graduate of the Jackson County School system. I have been married for nine years to my wife, Shane, and we have a 3 year old son, Jesse.

Michael Cronic's campaign for Braselton Mayor is his first entry into politics.

- 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. 