Tucker Mayor Frank Auman announces re-election campaign
Frank Auman gives the 2018 State of the City speech. Image obtained via the city of Tucker.
Tucker, GA — Tucker’s first mayor, Frank Auman, is running for re-election. A resident of Smoke Rise, he has been in office since 2016.
Tucker residents in 2015 voted to incorporate as a new city.
Auman is a former chair of the DeKalb County Republican Party. He ran for Georgia State Senate District 41 in 2006, but lost to Democrat Steve Henson.
Auman, who hasn’t responded to multiple requests for an interview about his reelection bid, made the announcement in a press release.
“I’m running for re-election because while we’ve laid the foundation for an excellent city government in line with the principles of limited and efficient local control that the Tucker residents voted for when they approved incorporation by a 74 percent vote, we still have work to finish to ensure our city remains on the path we envisioned,” Auman said in the press release.
Auman said the next mayor of Tucker will lead the updates of the city’s master plans for transportation, parks, trails and the continued development of Main Street.
“I believe I am the right person to continue leading our city to the same inclusive, widely supported process that has gotten us this far,” said Auman. “We have undertaken several major projects that will be transformative, including Northlake, Fitzgerald Field and two large new greenspace projects in downtown, among others. I hope to continue as mayor as we complete those projects to achieve the potential we saw when we began them.”
During Auman’s tenure, the city has passed an Urban Camping Ordinance, approved a multi-million dollar commercial development at Hugh Howell and Mountain Industrial Boulevard, installed sidewalks and repaved streets, approved approximately 700 housing units and faced the COVID-19 pandemic.
Auman has been criticized for his lack of attention to a non-discrimination ordinance (NDO), as written by members of Tucker Open Door. The NDO is designed to protect those working, living, and doing business in Tucker from discrimination in employment, housing, and providing goods and services. Auman said he has discussed the NDO with Tucker residents on numerous occasions at social events, city events and various meetings.
Auman will face Robin Biro in the Nov. 2 election. Biro is a businessman and retired Army Ranger running on representative government, infrastructure, crime, blight and homelessness. Biro said in an interview, “People want and deserve elected officials who show up and are willing to protect the interests of the people they represent. Bottom line: Elected office should be about public service. I pledge to represent and be a good steward of the interests of the community. Period.”
On Aug. 4, Auman kicked off his campaign with a 200-person event at Smoke Rise Country Club sponsored by Councilmember Pat Soltys, among others. Candidates Virginia Rece and Roger Orlando were also in attendance.
The election is Nov. 2. Candidates in the race for mayor and City Council are:
Running for Mayor
Frank Auman, running for reelection
Running for City Council District 1, Post 1:
Karen Peters-Rivers
Running for District 1, Post 2:
Running for District 2, Post 1:
Running for District 3, Post 1
David Deaton
City Council members Michelle Penkava (District 3, Post 1) and Matt Robbins (District 2, Post 1) are term limited and can’t run again. Pat Soltys (District 1, Post 1) is not seeking reelection. District 1, Post 2 is vacant and was held by the late Bill Rosenfeld.
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