Tucker Observer

LinkedIn

Project Q

Robin moved to Smoke Rise from midtown Atlanta in 2017. He studied real estate and business at Georgia State University, business administration and management at Newberry College and political science and government at the University of Maryland. He is a single father of two boys. After his father died in 2019, he adopted his younger half-brothers, Logan and Tucker.

Robin is a commercial real estate consultant and a retired Army Ranger. He was a field director for former President Barack Obama in 2008, a political director for the Democratic Party of Georgia and a strategist for the Democratic Party.

Robin Biro's campaign for mayor is his first entry into politics.

Supports a non-discrimination ordinance "to make sure that our residents are all treated fairly and with respect."

Adopting an LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination is one of his priorities.

Wants to address blight, particularly unused and vacant warehouse space by letting the film industry use this space.

Plans to "respect the character of the city while also laying the groundwork for smart growth."

- Supports a non-discrimination ordinance "to make sure that our residents are all treated fairly and with respect."
- Adopting an LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination is one of his priorities.
- Wants to address blight, particularly unused and vacant warehouse space by letting the film industry use this space. 
- Plans to "respect the character of the city while also laying the groundwork for smart growth."

Public Services

As of August 11, 2021, Robin Biro’s website did not contain information on this issue.

COVID

Said, "we don't have to rely just on SPLOST funds for our parks and recreation those funds run out in 2026 anyway. We better be ready to maintain these new pathways, parks and roads."

Wants to raise watershed fees and implement impact fees, paid by new resident for new construction, to offset infrastructure costs.

- Said, "we don't have to rely just on SPLOST funds for our parks and recreation - those funds run out in 2026 anyway. We better be ready to maintain these new pathways, parks and roads." 
- Wants to raise watershed fees and implement impact fees, paid by new resident for new construction, to offset infrastructure costs.

City Budget

Blight and homelessness are some of his top issues.

Concerned that homelessness will increase when the federal eviction moratorium and mortgage forbearance agreements expire.

Wants DeKalb County Police to released an approximate number of unsheltered people in Tucker so the city can be ready to offer support services.

Wants to create a commission of faith leaders, local organizations and experts in homelessness to provide substance abuse services, jobs and skills programs.

Plans to turn non-frontage road plots of land into affordable housing by offering tax incentives to developers.

Wants to require a certain percentage of new multifamily housing to be set aside for low-income and voucher residents.

- Blight and homelessness are some of his top issues. 
- Concerned that homelessness will increase when the federal eviction moratorium and mortgage forbearance agreements expire. 
- Wants DeKalb County Police to released an approximate number of unsheltered people in Tucker so the city can be ready to offer support services. 
- Wants to create a commission of faith leaders, local organizations and experts in homelessness to provide substance abuse services, jobs and skills programs. 
- Plans to turn non-frontage road plots of land into affordable housing by offering tax incentives to developers. 
- Wants to require a certain percentage of new multifamily housing to be set aside for low-income and voucher residents.

Housing & Urban Development

Says crime is driving down property values and preventing economic development of restaurants, businesses and redevelopment projects.

Wants to make sure police officers "have the resources, training, and support that they need to effectively protect and serve."

Believes "driving down crime and police reform are not in conflict with one another. We can and must do both!"

- Crime is one of this top issues. 
- Says crime is driving down property values and preventing economic development of restaurants, businesses and redevelopment projects.
- Wants to make sure police officers "have the resources, training, and support that they need to effectively protect and serve." 
- Believes "driving down crime and police reform are not in conflict with one another. We can and must do both!"

Public Safety

Wants to hold DeKalb County accountable for its use of tax dollars on the city's "crumbling infrastructure."

Plans to address sinkholes, crumbling infrastructure and collapsing storm sewers.

- Wants to hold DeKalb County accountable for its use of tax dollars on the city's "crumbling infrastructure."
- Plans to address sinkholes, crumbling infrastructure and collapsing storm sewers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports the previous administration's increase of zoning and planning restrictions on auto shops on major streets.

Wants to see more work/live redevelopment in old strip malls and for the film industry to use unused warehouse space.

- Supports the previous administration's increase of zoning and planning restrictions on auto shops on major streets. 
- Wants to see more work/live redevelopment in old strip malls and for the film industry to use unused warehouse space.

Zoning

Robin Biro

Frank was born and raised in DeKalb County. He and his wife, Gaye, have three daughters, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren. They have lived in Smoke Rise for 16 years.

Information on Frank's professional background is not available at this time.

Facebook

Frank Auman is currently the mayor of Tucker. He is Tucker's first mayor. He was elected in 2016 and has served two terms. He is a former chair of the DeKalb County Republican Party. He ran for Georgia State Senate District 41 in 2006 but was unsuccessful.

City of Tucker

During his time as mayor, the city started work on Northlake, Fitzgerald Field and two green space projects in downtown.

On October 13, 2021, Tucker's City Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an "Inclusive, Fair and Welcoming City.", which authorized to be distributed to all licensed businesses in the city. He also called for city council members to "establish the framework for a working group of residents to study a legally defensible non-discrimination ordinance for the City of Tucker."

On February 17, 2021, he proclaimed February 24-28 in the city as "Restaurant Week" promote greater business activity for local restaurants during the pandemic.

During his time as mayor, the city approved a multi-million dollar commercial development at Hugh Howell and Mountain Industrial Boulevard.

Supported the use of $3 million of the $4.1 million given to the city through the federal CARES Act to serve as grants to support small businesses during the pandemic.

As a citizen, he worked to make Tucker an independent city.

- During his time as mayor, the city started work on Northlake, Fitzgerald Field and two green space projects in downtown. 
- On October 13, 2021, Tucker's City Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an "Inclusive, Fair and Welcoming City.", which authorized to be distributed to all licensed businesses in the city. He also called for city council members to "establish the framework for a working group of residents to study a legally defensible non-discrimination ordinance for the City of Tucker."
- On February 17, 2021, he proclaimed February 24-28 in the city as "Restaurant Week" promote greater business activity for local restaurants during the pandemic.
- During his time as mayor, the city approved a multi-million dollar commercial development at Hugh Howell and Mountain Industrial Boulevard.
- Supported the use of $3 million of the $4.1 million given to the city through the federal CARES Act to serve as grants to support small businesses during the pandemic.
- As a citizen, he worked to make Tucker an independent city.

On July 28, 2021, he released a message via the city's YouTube channel, calling for citizens to wear masks when indoors, announcing the requirement of masks in City Hall and offering to supply masks to local businesses if needed.

In his 2021 State of the City Address, he supported the previous efforts of the city's parks and recreation department to sanitize and reopen parks and public meeting spaces and host city events with new health and safety measures in place.

- On July 28, 2021, he released a message via the city's YouTube channel, calling for citizens to wear masks when indoors, announcing the requirement of masks in City Hall and offering to supply masks to local businesses if needed.
- In his 2021 State of the City Address, he supported the previous efforts of the city's parks and recreation department to sanitize and reopen parks and public meeting spaces and host city events with new health and safety measures in place.

In his 2021 State of the City Address, he announced the passage of the budget for the 2022 fiscal year with about $27 million in revenue and approximately $29 million in spending. He promised the $2 million will be paid for through the city's reserves from previous budget surpluses.

Said $1.7 million of the 2022 budget will be devoted to capital improvements in the city's parks, including a major renovation of Fitzgerald Fields and the surrounding parking, lights installed at pools and tennis courts and improvements to the Tucker Recreation Center.

Promised money from the 2022 budget will go into the Convention and Visitors Bureau, funding to protect the city's tree canopy and additional studies into fiscal responsibility.

- In his 2021 State of the City Address, he announced the passage of the budget for the 2022 fiscal year with about $27 million in revenue and approximately $29 million in spending. He promised the $2 million will be paid for through the city's reserves from previous budget surpluses.
- Said $1.7 million of the 2022 budget will be devoted to capital improvements in the city's parks, including a major renovation of Fitzgerald Fields and the surrounding parking, lights installed at pools and tennis courts and improvements to the Tucker Recreation Center.
- Promised money from the 2022 budget will go into the Convention and Visitors Bureau, funding to protect the city's tree canopy and additional studies into fiscal responsibility.

During his time as mayor, the city passed an Urban Camping Ordinance to allow the police to arrest homeless people for sitting, sleeping or lying down after giving them a warning.

During his time as mayor, the city approved about 700 housing units.

In his 2021 State of the City Address, he announced there are currently development projects in place for 315 townhomes, 235 multifamily units and 239 single family homes. He also said each of these developments are rental and owner-occupied and will be available "at a very wide range of price points."

Supported the use of about $780,000 from federal CARES Act funding to support citizens who needed help with mortgage, rent and utility payments during the pandemic.

- During his time as mayor, the city passed an Urban Camping Ordinance to allow the police to arrest homeless people for sitting, sleeping or lying down after giving them a warning. 
- During his time as mayor, the city approved about 700 housing units.
- In his 2021 State of the City Address, he announced there are currently development projects in place for 315 townhomes, 235 multifamily units and 239 single family homes. He also said each of these developments are rental and owner-occupied and will be available "at a very wide range of price points."
- Supported the use of about $780,000 from federal CARES Act funding to support citizens who needed help with mortgage, rent and utility payments during the pandemic.

As of August 19, 2021, Frank Auman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

During his time as mayor, the city installed sidewalks and repaved streets.

In his 2021 State of the City Address, he announced that Tucker's penny tax that was approved by voter's four years ago helped pay for the rebuilding and repaving of 16 more miles of the worst conditioned roads in 2020. He also promised the creation of a new intersection at Smoke Rise Elementary School.

Said approximately $8.3 million of the city budget for the 2022 fiscal year is devoted to rebuilding and repaving another 15 miles of roads. He also promised an additional $1.8 million will be spent on adding and improving trails and sidewalks in the city.

- During his time as mayor, the city installed sidewalks and repaved streets.
- In his 2021 State of the City Address, he announced that Tucker's penny tax that was approved by voter's four years ago helped pay for the rebuilding and repaving of 16 more miles of the worst conditioned roads in 2020. He also promised the creation of a new intersection at Smoke Rise Elementary School.
- Said approximately $8.3 million of the city budget for the 2022 fiscal year is devoted to rebuilding and repaving another 15 miles of roads. He also promised an additional $1.8 million will be spent on adding and improving trails and sidewalks in the city.

In his 2021 State of the City Address, he supported the previous zoning and code enforcement efforts to "get rid of abandoned and run-down signage city-wide" and remove run-down properties, including "the junk car lot next to the railroad in downtown."

He also supported the city's decision to allow for more public input in land use decisions.

- In his 2021 State of the City Address, he supported the previous zoning and code enforcement efforts to "get rid of abandoned and run-down signage city-wide" and remove run-down properties, including "the junk car lot next to the railroad in downtown."
- He also supported the city's decision to allow for more public input in land use decisions.

Frank Auman

- 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. 