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Elections & Running for Office
General Municipal Election Information
The City of Avondale Estates is governed by a board consisting of a mayor and four commissioners. The members are elected by the residents of Avondale Estates and serve four-year terms. The city holds nonpartisan municipal general elections biennially in odd years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
Video Recording of 2025 Commissioners Candidate Forum
On September 30, 2025, Avondale Estates City Hall hosted the 2025 Commissioner Candidates Forum, featuring the four candidates vying to join the Board of Mayor and Commissioners in the November 4 municipal election.
Click on the image above to watch the video.
Two commissioner seats are on the ballot. Editor Dan Whisenhunt served as the host and moderator of the forum.
The following candidates qualified for the November 4 municipal election and participated in the forum:
- Lionel Laratte (Incumbent)
- Dan Marcec
- Luis Suazo
- Lyda Steadman
Elected candidates will serve a four-year term beginning in January 2026.
Public Notice
PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF AVONDALE ESTATES
CALL FOR MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION AND QUALIFYING FEE & DATES NOTICE
In accordance with O.C.G.A. 21-2-131, the City of Avondale Estates shall hold a Municipal General Election to elect two Commissioners on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 per O.C.G.A. 21-2-9.
Qualifying for the Municipal General Election will be Monday, August 18, 2025 through Thursday, August 21, 2025, between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM per the Georgia Election Code O.C.G.A. 21-2-132. Qualifying will be held at City Hall located at 21 N. Avondale Plaza Avondale Estates, GA 30002.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(a)(1) the qualifying fee was set by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners at the January 8, 2025 meeting at $144 for Commissioners which is three percent of the total gross salary for the preceding year.
All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to register to vote may register to vote through the close of business on October 6, 2025. Early voting will be held October 14, 2025 through October 31, 2025. The last day to submit an absentee ballot application is October 24, 2025. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Should a runoff election be required, such runoff will be held on December 2, 2025.
Qualifying to Run for City Office
On behalf of the citizens of Avondale Estates, thanks for considering public office. Per Section 2.11 of the city's charter and State Law O.C.G.A. §45-2-1, candidates must meet the qualifications outlined below.
- City Qualifications
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Per Section 2.11 of the city's charter, candidates must meet the following qualifications:
- Must have been a resident of the city for a continuous 12 months prior to the date of qualification for election of mayor or commissioner,
- Must continue to reside in the city during the period of service,
- Must be registered and qualified to vote in municipal elections of the city, and
- Shall not have been convicted of a felony at the time of qualification or during their period of service.
- State Qualifications
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Per State Law O.C.G.A. §45-2-1, candidates must meet the following qualifications:
- Must be a citizen of this state and at least 21 years of age,
- Must not be the holder of any public money due the state of Georgia or any county that has refused to account for and pay over the same to the proper officer,
- Must not have been convicted of a felony offense involving moral turpitude under the laws of this or any other state unless restored to his/her rights of citizenship by a pardon from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles,
- Must not hold any office of profit or trust under the government of the United States other than that of postmaster and officers and enlisted men of Armed Forces Reserve;
- Must not be of unsound mind or unfit to discharge the duties of the office from advanced age or bodily infirmity, and
- Must be an inhabitant of the state, county, district or circuit for the period required by the Constitution and laws of this state.
Steps to Qualify as a Candidate
- Review and complete all the required forms under the Candidate Qualifying Forms section.
- Print all required forms and submit them to the City Clerk at City Hall Monday, August 18, 2025 through Thursday, August 21, 2025, between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Please note: Only the City Clerk can qualify candidates.
- Forms requiring a notary can be notarized at City Hall (Forms must be signed in front of a notary, not before).
- Submit the qualifying fee ($144 for commissioner candidates or $216 for mayor). The city can accept checks made out to the City of Avondale Estates or payment by credit card (a 3% fee will be charged on credit card transactions).
The City Clerk will review applications upon submittal. Candidates will be notified they have qualified pending completion of the background check.
- Notice of Candidacy and Affidavit
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- Submit the Notice of Candidacy and Affidavit when qualifying.
- The signing of this form must be witnessed by a notary which can be done at City Hall.
- Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (Form DOI)
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- The Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (Form DOI) must be submitted when qualifying unless the qualifying candidate is an incumbent.
- A DOI must be turned in before accepting campaign contributions.
- Except for the qualifying fee, personal funds used by a candidate are considered a campaign contribution.
- Background Check Forms
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- A background check form (Criminal History Record Information Consent/Inquiry Form) is submitted when qualifying.
- A photocopy of the candidate's driver’s license will be submitted along with the form. A copy can be made of the license at City Hall.
- The signing of this form must be witnessed by a notary which can be done at City Hall.
- Registration Form for a Candidate’s Campaign Committee (Form RC)
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PLEASE NOTE: Forming a campaign committee is optional. Therefore, the Registration Form for a Candidate's Campaign Committee (Form RC) is submitted when qualifying only if applicable.
- A candidate can designate someone to file reports and/or collect contributions and spend contributions.
- One person may serve in both roles and that person can be the candidate. The name and address of the committee, its chairperson, treasurer and the candidate must be registered before receiving any contributions.
- No candidate may have more than one committee.
- No contributions may be accepted any time there is a vacancy in either the position of chairperson or treasurer.
- Affidavit of a Candidate’s Intent Not to Exceed $2,500 in Contributions and/or Expenditures
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- The Affidavit of a Candidate’s Intent Not to Exceed $2,500 in Contributions and/or Expenditures is also known as an Affidavit of Exemption.
- Candidates may fill out a new form pledging not to exceed $5,000 if they foresee exceeding $2,500.
- A candidate can fill out a Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report (CCDR) after the fact if they unintentionally go over limits.
- Candidates cannot collect more than $2,800 in contributions from any one person, including in-kind donations such as food.
- The signature on this form needs to be witnessed by a notary and is filed when qualifying, if applicable.
Campaign Recordkeeping
Detailed records must be kept of all contributions received and expenditures made. Records must be maintained by the candidate or treasurer of a campaign committee and may be inspected by the Commission at any time. Financial records of the accounts kept by a candidate or candidate's committee are required to be preserved for three years from the termination date of the candidate's campaign. However, since public disclosures are maintained for not less than five years, candidates are advised to keep records for at least five years. Anonymous donations are not allowed.
- Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report (CCDR)
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- The Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report (CCDR) is filled out only if the contributions and/or expenditures exceed $2,500.
- Itemize all contributions and expenditures more than $100 and aggregate totals of all contributions and expenditures $100 or less.
- This form is due by December 31.
- The signature on this form must be witnessed by a notary.
- Choosing Option of Separate Accounting (COOSA)
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- The Choosing Option of Separate Accounting (COOSA) form should be submitted only when applicable.
- A candidate who wishes to accept contributions for more than one election at a time shall separately account for such campaign contributions and shall file an "Option to Choose Separate Accounting" form prior to accepting contributions for any election other than the candidate's next upcoming election.
- A candidate is only required to file one Form COOSA which shall be utilized for all subsequent elections to the same office, regardless of whether an election occurs in a new election cycle.
- Ask the City Clerk via email for a COOSA form if you determine you need one.
- Two Business Days Report of Contributions Received (TBD)
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- The Two Business Days Report of Contributions Received (TBD) (PDF) form should be submitted only when applicable.
- A TBD is used to report contributions, including loans, of $1,000 or more, during the period of time between October 25 and the date of the election.
- The contribution(s) must be reported within two business days of receipt to the location where the original disclosure report was filed and must be reported on the next regularly scheduled Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports (CCDR).
- Campaign Contribution Disclosure Final Report & Termination Statement
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- All campaigns must file a Campaign Contribution Disclosure Final Report and Termination Statement (PDF) within ten days of the dissolution of a campaign or campaign committee which shall, among other things, identify the person responsible for maintaining campaign records as required by the Campaign Finance Act.
- The termination statement shall be submitted with a final Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report which identifies a zero balance and zero debt
Helpful Links
- Most of the items listed above are required by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission. Find a directory of the forms.
- Rules of the State Ethics Commission and the Campaign Finance Act
- Georgia Secretary of State website
- DeKalb County election information
- City of Avondale Estates Code of Ordinances
- Avondale Estates' City Charter
- Georgia Municipal Association Newly Elected Officials training and information