Milton, GA. Local news that matters here.
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2026 · Issue No. 5
Top of Mind
The May 19 Primary Is 9 Days Away. Here's What Milton Voters Need to Know.
Happy Mother's Day, Milton. This is a big one — your primary election is nine
days away, and there's an open seat in our state house for the first time in 24
years. Here's everything on your ballot.
Important: Milton spans two state house districts (47 and 49).
Your ballot depends on your address. Check yours at mvp.sos.ga.gov before you go.
Council Watch
District 47 — Open Seat
Jan Jones (R) is retiring after 24 years — the longest-serving Speaker Pro
Tempore in U.S. history. This is the first open-seat race in District 47 since
2002. The district covers northern and western Milton into Cherokee County.
Republican Primary (3 candidates — if no one clears 50%, the top
two advance to a June 16 runoff):
-
→Brian
Cochran — Milton robotics engineer at Greenzie, King's Ridge alum,
Georgia Tech grad. Leads Pro-Life Atlanta. Running on ending abortion,
universal school choice, stopping property tax increases, and fully funding law
enforcement.
-
→Phoebe
Eckhardt — 36-year North Fulton resident, small business owner, mother
of five. Four years as a citizen advocate at the Capitol. Running on honest
elections, healthcare freedom, traditional education, and child safety.
-
→Jack
Miller — Milton native, Milton High grad, UGA alum, financial planner.
Involved with Milton First Responders Foundation, Milton Historical Society,
and Rotary Club. Running on property tax relief, fighting overdevelopment,
keeping zoning local, and strong schools.
Democratic Primary (uncontested):
-
→Lindsay
DeFranco — VP at Rogue Rocket (independent news), co-founded Not So
Fast media literacy nonprofit. Running on Medicaid expansion, healthcare price
transparency, and government accountability.
District 49
Chuck Martin (R) has represented this district since 2003. He's unopposed in the
Republican primary. The contest is on the Democratic side.
Republican Primary: Chuck Martin (incumbent) — unopposed.
Democratic Primary (2 candidates):
-
→Grace
Demit — Disability advocate who ran for this seat in 2024 (lost
40.5%–59.5%). Running on disability rights, affordable healthcare, education,
and reproductive rights.
-
→Teresa
Lynch Lin — Former teacher, community organizer, Berry College grad.
GA WIN List endorsement. Running on Medicaid expansion, repealing the heartbeat
bill, voting access, and gun safety.
Other Ballot Races
-
→GA
Senate District 21: Jason Dickerson (R, incumbent) — unopposed. No
Democratic challenger.
-
→Fulton
County Commission, District 1: Bridget Thorne (R, incumbent) —
unopposed in primary.
-
→Fulton
County School Board, District 2: Mary Kaye Pepperman — unopposed
(nonpartisan). Replacing Lillie Pozatek.
-
→U.S.
Senate: Jon Ossoff (D, incumbent) unopposed. Republican primary
contested — Doug Collins, Buddy Carter, and others.
-
→Governor:
Both primaries are crowded. Republican: Vernon Jones, Chris Carr, Brad
Raffensperger, and others. Democrat: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Jason Esteves, and
others.
How to Vote
-
→Primary
day: Tuesday, May 19
-
→Early
voting: Now through May 15
-
→Milton
early voting location: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road
-
→What
to bring: Valid photo ID — GA driver's license, U.S. passport,
military ID, or free GA voter ID card
-
→Find
your district and polling place: mvp.sos.ga.gov
The Roundabout does
not endorse candidates. If any candidate would like to reach our readers, email
ryan@readroundabout.com.
Source: Georgia Secretary of State — Candidate & Race Info
Also from City Hall
Also from the May 4 meeting: if voters approve TSPLOST III in November, Milton
expects roughly $44 million over five years starting in 2027. The council
reviewed its project wishlist — road safety improvements, intersection upgrades,
and the Birmingham Highway school-zone overhaul. Council also held a public
hearing for ATL Sim Golf LLC (dba Back Nine Alpharetta) at 691 North Main Street,
Suite 200 — technically within Milton city limits. (Yes, that address confuses
everyone.) And they considered the final plat for the Crossroads at Birmingham
development.
Source: City of Milton — City Council Meeting, May 4, 2026 Milton Fire: National Recognition
The Milton Fire Department was recognized at the May 4 Council meeting as one of
only two fire departments in the country to receive the Heart Safe Community
Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Milton's cardiac
survivability rate has exceeded the national average for two consecutive years.
Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa will officially accept the award at the IAFC conference
in Arizona later this month.
What makes Milton's program stand out: every MFD firefighter is trained as an
EMT, and the department has cardiac monitors and automatic CPR systems on every
engine. The Fire CARES mobile health program — run by firefighter and registered
nurse Derek Hoffman — offers free CPR and AED training to residents.
One thing you might not know about: Milton has an AED Library
Loaner program. Hosting a neighborhood gathering, coaching a youth tournament, or
running a community event? You can check out a defibrillator for free from the
fire department. It's the kind of quiet program that could save someone's life at
a Saturday morning soccer game.
Source: City of Milton — City Council Meeting, May 4, 2026
The Drive
Two deadlines to know. GDOT's public comment window on the two Little River
bridge replacements closes Thursday, May 15. The Hickory Flat Road bridge carries
about 6,200 cars per day; the Clarity Road bridge is a single-lane wood structure
with structural damage. GDOT is considering closing both bridges simultaneously
for up to 18 months — detours would run through Antioch Road, New Bullpen Road,
Birmingham Highway, and Hickory Flat Road. Construction isn't until 2036, but the
comment window closes next week. Visit dot.ga.gov, click "Projects," then "Public Outreach
& Community Engagement" to find the survey.
And mark it: Freemanville Road bridge closes May 26 for the rest of the year.
Landrum Road will also close to prevent cut-through traffic. Plan your detour now
— Birmingham Highway is the main alternative.
Source:
City of
Milton — GDOT bridge replacement / Freemanville update
Source: GDOT 511GA / Appen Media Milton
Crabapple Corner
The Milton Farmers Market is back at the Market District in Crabapple starting
Wednesday, May 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. It runs the third Wednesday of every month
through October. Market manager Renée Rivers is expanding produce and
agricultural offerings this year. Vendor applications still open — email
trubluepoundcakesllc@gmail.com. Follow @miltongafarmers on Instagram for
updates.
Source: City of Milton — Milton Farmers Market
Calendar
-
→Mon
5/12 Council Work Session (agenda TBD — watch miltonga.gov)
-
→Thu
5/15 GDOT bridge survey closes — last day to comment
-
→Thu
5/15 Early voting ends for May 19 primary
-
→Fri
5/15 Cambridge High graduation rehearsal + senior dinner (4–7 PM)
-
→Sat
5/16 King's Ridge Christian commencement (9 AM, Harris Court, on
campus)
-
→Tue
5/19 Georgia Primary Election Day
-
→Tue
5/19 Milton High graduation (7:30 PM, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre)
-
→Wed
5/20 Cambridge High graduation (2 PM, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre)
-
→Thu
5/21 Fellowship Christian graduation (7:30 PM)
-
→Wed
5/20 Milton Farmers Market season opener (4–7 PM, Crabapple)
-
→Mon
5/26 Freemanville Road bridge closes for the rest of the year
The Roundtable
-
→The Council
could vote as early as May 18 on a text amendment to remove outdoor festivals
as a permitted use from several zoning categories. Existing events and the
Special Events permitting process reportedly won't be affected, but worth
watching.
-
→Council
approved two "Goals on the Green" World Cup watch parties at Crabapple Green:
June 19 and July 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
-
→Birmingham
Park is getting a $200K upgrade — a Georgia DNR grant is funding a new
restroom, ADA parking, bridge replacement, trail signage, and Yellow Trail
rerouting. A conservation easement for the park's 200+ acres is also advancing.
-
→Cambridge
seniors: mandatory graduation rehearsal and senior dinner is Friday, May 15,
4:00–7:00 PM at the Cambridge Theater. Each senior gets 14 venue tickets,
distributed at rehearsal.
One More Thing
Happy Mother's Day to every Milton mom reading this. And congrats to the Class of
2026 — King's Ridge walks Saturday, Milton High on Tuesday, Cambridge on
Wednesday, Fellowship Christian on Thursday. Congrats, graduates.
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—Ryan
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