As investment pours in, a 'new Stone Mountain Village' could rise ...

Jelani Linder has called Stone Mountain home for nearly two decades. He holds a master’s degree in urban planning and design from the University of Georgia. He lives in the city with his wife Shani.

About Village Forward - Village Forward Inc.

Jelani is a commercial real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers. He previously co-founded Village Forward Inc., a nonprofit focused on community building and economic development. He also served as the chair of the City of Stone Mountain's Downtown Development Authority for eight years. 

Jelani's campaign for Stone Mountain Mayor is his first run for public office.

Supports responsible fiscal management and aims to attract business investment to diversify city revenue, reduce resident strain, and deliver more with less.

Supports responsible fiscal management and aims to attract business investment to diversify city revenue and reduce resident strain.

- Supports responsible fiscal management and aims to attract business investment to diversify city revenue and reduce resident strain.

Economy

Supports modernizing roads, sidewalks, and public spaces with a commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and preserving historic charm.

- Supports modernizing roads, sidewalks, and public spaces with a commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and preserving historic charm.

Public Services

As of September 3, 2025, Jelani Linder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Plans to work with public safety and community partners to establish a welcoming, walkable city for families, visitors, and businesses.

- Plans to work with public safety and community partners to establish a welcoming, walkable city for families, visitors, and businesses.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Jelani Linder

Supports modernizing infrastructure with a focus on accessibility, sustainability, and preserving historic charm.

Jelani Linder has called Stone Mountain home for nearly two decades. He holds a master’s degree in urban planning and design from the University of Georgia and has served as the chair of the City of Stone Mountain’s Downtown Development Authority for 8 years. He and his wife rehabilitated a historic building on Main Street—proof of his belief in the city’s potential and his commitment to place-based progress.

Jelani Linder holds a master’s degree in urban planning and design from the University of Georgia. He lives with his wife, Shani, in Stone Mountain.

Jelani is a commercial real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers. He previously served as the chair of the City of Stone Mountain's Downtown Development Authority for eight years. 

Jelani Linder's campaign for Stone Mountain Mayor is his first run for public office.

Supports the 2020 master plan, which recommends developing a distinct city identity, establishing a shuttle or trolley line to Stone Mountain Park, constructing new gateways, installing signage, and updating historic storefronts.

Supports the conversion of historic buildings for modern use, such as a post office converted to a lounge.

Supports the development of a shuttle or trolley line between the city and Stone Mountain Park.

As of September 3, 2025, Jelani Linder did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Beverly Jones to be sworn as first black female mayor of the City of ...

Mayor

Beverly Jones has lived in Stone Mountain for over 25 years. She holds a Ph.D. in theology, a master’s degree in Christian counseling, a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management, and an associate’s degree in marketing and advertising.

Stone Mountain employee alleges mayor's actions 'raise significant ...

Beverly Jones is a counselor at the Georgia Department of Corrections, where she worked full-time from February 2018 to November 2021. She then took a part-time teaching position with the department until October 2023. Earlier in her career, she worked in the travel industry, radio and TV, and bioinformatics at Emory Winship Cancer Institute.

Beverly is currently the mayor of Stone Mountain. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. She previously served on the Stone Mountain City Council for three years. In 2010, she ran for mayor but did not win, and she also lost an election for the Georgia Senate in 2020. In 2021, she ran for mayor again and won.

Believes city leadership should work more diligently with prospective business owners during the permit process or with rezoning applications to fill empty storefronts along Main Street.

- Believes city leadership should work more diligently with prospective business owners during the permit process or with rezoning applications to fill empty storefronts along Main Street.

Believes the city should establish its own brand separate from Stone Mountain Park and capitalize on the park's visitors.

- Believes the city should establish its own brand separate from Stone Mountain Park and capitalize on the park's visitors.

Wants to increase patrols and police visibility throughout the city.

- Wants to increase patrols and police visibility throughout the city.

As of September 3, 2025, Beverly Jones did not have a website or any information online.

Beverly Jones

Beverly Jones has lived in Stone Mountain for over 25 years. She holds a Ph.D. in theology, a master’s degree in Christian counseling, a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management, and an associate’s degree in marketing and advertising. She is the first Black female mayor of Stone Mountain.

Beverly is currently the mayor of Stone Mountain. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. She previously served on the Stone Mountain City Council for three years. In 2010, she ran for mayor but did not win. She ran for the Georgia Senate in 2020 but did not win. In 2021, she ran for mayor again and won.

Walter Ley

Supports mandating city employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine or weekly coronavirus testing.

- 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. 