What the AJC Got Wrong About the 2025 Sandy Springs Runoff

Progress is always validation.

I believe deeply in the role of journalism in a democracy. A free press matters. Accountability matters. Precision matters.

That’s why it’s important to address what Greg Bluestein and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution got wrong in their coverage of the 2025 Sandy Springs mayoral runoff — not out of grievance, but out of respect for the public record and for voters who deserve an accurate telling of what actually happened.

Numbers Matter. Context Matters.

During runoff coverage, the AJC published a quote from Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon stating that Mayor Rusty Paul won “over 70% of the vote.” He did not. The final tally was 69%.

You can absolutely report a quote. But when a factual inaccuracy is left unchallenged, it becomes part of a misleading narrative. Journalism is not stenography. Numbers matter. Precision matters. Context matters.

When Timelines Are Ignored, Harm Follows

This was not an isolated issue.

Earlier reporting allowed Rep. Esther Panitch to frame her endorsement of Mayor Paul as a response to Gabriel Sanchez’s endorsement of my campaign — even though the timeline clearly shows her endorsement came first.

That wasn’t spin. It was factually incorrect.

Because it went unchallenged, that misrepresentation became the foundation for falsely painting me as antisemitic — a charge that Mayor Paul’s campaign later weaponized and that ultimately led to death threats directed at me and members of my team.

Unchecked timelines don’t just distort narratives. They can cause real harm.

This Was Not an Ideological Rejection

Throughout the race, half-truths, selectively framed anecdotes, and unchallenged quotes shaped the broader story more than verifiable data.

The result was a misleading impression: that this election represented a partisan repudiation of progressive ideas.

The data tells a different story.

The central dynamic of this runoff was generational, not ideological.

Democrats who supported Mayor Paul were overwhelmingly over the age of 60. Younger and middle-aged Democrats broadly supported my campaign. That matters — especially in a city undergoing rapid demographic and generational change.

Incumbency Is Not Momentum

Accuracy also requires honesty about Mayor Paul’s standing.

He is a fourth-term incumbent who has held elected office in Georgia since 1977.

A wide margin under those circumstances does not represent fresh political momentum. It reflects:

• decades of incumbency

• deep name recognition

• institutional familiarity

• comfort with the status quo

It is also impossible to separate those totals from the racist mailer that circulated during the runoff and the false insinuations that I was antisemitic — both of which undeniably influenced voter sentiment.

Voters Chose Change Before the Runoff

Sandy Springs is changing — and voters demonstrated that clearly.

Before the runoff, voters had two other establishment-aligned candidates to choose from. They did not select them. Instead, they advanced a different kind of candidate.

That alone disproves the idea that the electorate was simply seeking “more of the same.” Among Democrats, independents, and families, there was a clear appetite for something different.

Turnout Was Structurally Suppressed

Context matters most when assessing turnout.

Early voting for the runoff lasted only four days and occurred immediately before Thanksgiving — a timing that disproportionately suppresses participation among younger voters, working families, renters, and multicultural communities.

Before SB 202, Georgia’s runoff system looked very different:

• Runoffs occurred nine weeks after the general election

• Early voting lasted two to three weeks

• Campaigns had time to engage younger, working-class, and diverse voters

SB 202 compressed everything:

• a four-week runoff period

• minimum early voting days

• a pre-holiday voting window

The structural advantage shifted decisively toward older, habitual voters while dampening participation from emerging coalitions.

Low Turnout Is Not a Mandate

Fewer than 15,000 of the 66,000 registered voters in Sandy Springs participated in this runoff.

That is not a citywide referendum on ideology.

It is the predictable outcome of:

• a compressed timeline

• limited early voting

• a pre-holiday election window

• decades of incumbency advantage

With less than a quarter of registered voters participating, no one should treat this result as a sweeping endorsement of one agenda or a rejection of another.

Labels Without Balance Are Not Journalism

Finally, narrative fairness matters.

Repeatedly amplifying Georgia GOP dog whistles labeling me as “radical” — without factual balance or scrutiny — is reckless.

My campaign platform focused on:

• housing affordability

• community safety

• small business growth

• ethics and transparency

• youth opportunity

None of that is radical. Nothing in my record as a journalist, public servant, or community leader reflects extremism.

Printing a label simply because it appears inside a quote does not place it above fact-checking.

Journalism requires more than repeating rhetoric. It requires testing rhetoric against reality.

The Story Deserved More Rigor

Telling this story as a sweeping ideological rejection — instead of what it actually was — a compressed holiday runoff shaped by incumbency, generational divides, low turnout, racially charged messaging, and partisan framing — is incomplete and misleading.

I am not asking for favorable coverage.

I am asking for accurate journalism that:

• challenges quotes

• checks timelines

• clarifies numbers

• interrogates labels

• distinguishes fact from political spin

That is the job.

Sandy Springs is changing — demographically, generationally, and politically. A more honest and nuanced accounting of the 2025 Sandy Springs mayoral runoff election would reflect that reality.

Why This Matters for Sandy Springs Voters

This election analysis is not just about media accountability. It is about how local journalism, Georgia runoff election laws, and voter access shape outcomes in fast-changing cities like Sandy Springs. As debates continue around SB 202, municipal elections in Georgia, and low-turnout runoff races, accuracy and context are essential for voters trying to understand what actually happened — and what comes next for Sandy Springs.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2025 Sandy Springs Runoff

Was the 2025 Sandy Springs mayoral runoff a rejection of progressive politics?

No. The data shows the runoff reflected generational divides, incumbency advantage, and turnout suppression, not an ideological repudiation. Younger and middle-aged voters broadly supported Dontaye Carter’s platform on affordability, transparency, and community safety.

How did SB 202 affect the Sandy Springs runoff election?

SB 202 shortened Georgia runoff elections from nine weeks to four, reduced early voting windows, and placed the runoff immediately before Thanksgiving. These changes disproportionately suppressed turnout among younger voters, renters, and working families in Sandy Springs.

How many voters participated in the Sandy Springs runoff?

Fewer than 15,000 of approximately 66,000 registered voters participated. With less than a quarter of eligible voters casting ballots, the runoff result cannot be considered a broad mandate on ideology or policy direction.

Why does media accuracy matter in local elections?

Local journalism shapes how voters understand outcomes. Unchallenged quotes, inaccurate timelines, and imprecise numbers can distort public perception and unfairly define candidates, coalitions, and communities.

What issues defined Dontaye Carter’s campaign for mayor?

The Dontaye for Mayor campaign centered on housing affordability, ethical governance, community safety, small business growth, youth opportunity, transparency, and preparing Sandy Springs for its next generation.

This post is part of an ongoing effort by Dontaye Carter to document the structural, demographic, and media dynamics shaping local elections in Sandy Springs and across Georgia.

Ten Days Later: What This Election Taught Us — And Where We Go From Here

Ten days have passed since the runoff, and I’ve had the space to process not just the results, but the journey that brought us here. Time has a way of sharpening what matters, and this moment is no different.

On Election Night, I said I was proud of the movement we built together. Ten days later, that pride has only deepened.

We activated new voters who had never participated in a local election.
We sparked conversations about affordability, mobility, housing, transparency, and dignity that too many families felt but had never seen reflected in city leadership.
We brought young voters, renters, working families, and new residents into a political process that had long moved without them.

Those weren’t campaign talking points — they were real shifts powered by real people.

To everyone who gave their time, energy, encouragement, donations, and belief: thank you. Your commitment changed what was possible in Sandy Springs. You helped expand who sees themselves in local government. And you reminded this city that community movements don’t disappear because of a single election result.

The night of the runoff, I reached out to Mayor Rusty Paul to congratulate him on his victory. I meant what I told him then and still mean it now: I look forward to bringing the ideas and concerns lifted up during this campaign into the broader conversation about our city’s future. Elections end. The work of building a better Sandy Springs does not.

These past ten days have reinforced something else:
This campaign wasn’t about me — it was about us.
It was about what happens when everyday people decide they deserve a voice in shaping their community.

I’m still committed to that work. I’m still present in our schools, our neighborhoods, and our conversations about the future. I’m still mentoring our kids, advocating for families, and showing up where community happens — not because of politics, but because that’s who I am and who we are.

Ten days later, the story hasn’t closed. It’s evolving.

I hope you’ll stay engaged, stay hopeful, and keep raising your voice.
Sandy Springs is worth the effort, the vision, and the fight.
And I’m still here — ready for the next chapter.

We’re Releasing Our New Campaign Video

Today, I’m proud to share our new campaign video with the people of Sandy Springs. This is more than an introduction — it’s a call to action for the future of our city.

Our families deserve leadership that doesn’t just make promises but delivers real solutions. In this campaign, I’m committed to:

• Stronger Schools – building partnerships to give every child a fair shot.

• Safer Streets – commonsense safety strategies that protect our families.

• Affordable Housing – ensuring teachers, first responders, and working families can afford to live in the city they serve.

• Smarter Growth – revitalizing neighborhoods, holding property owners accountable, and protecting the character of Sandy Springs.

This video reflects why I’m running: to make Sandy Springs a city that works for all of us. It’s about people, not politics — about listening to our neighbors, lifting up every voice, and making sure no one is left behind.

📺 Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/qBGAfkf-mZE

📅 Election Day: November 4, 2025

Podcast Feature: Candidate Profile – Dontaye Carter for Mayor of Sandy Springs

I’m honored to have been featured in The Georgia Politics Podcast’s Candidate Profile series. In this episode, we dive into my journey, vision, and why I believe Sandy Springs deserves bold, inclusive leadership.

👤 What we cover:

• My personal story — growing up in a military family, being raised by a single mother, and discovering early on what perseverance, service, and storytelling truly mean.

• My work as a journalist and communicator, from leading public affairs in Fulton County to amplifying voices in nationally-important cases like Ahmaud Arbery and R. Kelly.

• Who I am beyond politics — husband, father, small business owner, and volunteer: Vice Chair of my child’s school council, First Vice President of the Atlanta NAACP, Chair of North Fulton Democrats.

• The challenges I see in Sandy Springs, and the solutions I’m advocating — affordability (especially for teachers and first responders), equity, transparency, smarter traffic and infrastructure planning, and boosting opportunity for minority-owned businesses.

🎯 Why this matters:
Sandy Springs is at a pivotal moment. Decisions we make now will shape our quality of life for years to come — for all residents, not just the privileged. I believe that through responsive leadership, shared resources, and inclusive policy, we can build a city that lifts every voice.

🎧 Listen here: [Georgia Politics Podcast — Candidate Profile: Dontaye Carter]

🏡 Making Sandy Springs More Affordable for Everyone

🔍 What’s Driving the Cost?

One factor affecting both homeowners and renters is the city’s millage rate—the amount the city charges in property taxes per $1,000 of taxable home value.

• Current Millage Rate: $4.73 per $1,000

• Proposal: Lower it to $4.00

Because home values have risen dramatically, the city can lower the millage rate and still collect enough to fund essential services—without cutting police, fire, parks, or infrastructure.

💸 What This Means for You

For Homeowners

Lowering the city’s millage rate from $4.73 to $4.00 means real money back in your pocket, no matter the value of your home—and without sacrificing essential city services like police, fire, parks, and infrastructure.

Here’s what those savings would look like:

• If your home is valued at $300,000, you would save about $87 a year on your city property taxes.

• If your home is valued at $500,000, your savings would be around $146 a year.

• For a $750,000 home, you’d save about $219 each year.

• A homeowner with a $1 million property would see an annual savings of $292.

• And if you live in a $2 million home, that savings doubles to about $584 each year.

• For those in $3 million homes, the savings could reach around $876 annually.

These savings might seem small on the surface—but for many families, every dollar counts. In a time where everything from insurance to groceries is going up, this kind of tax relief can help you keep pace with the cost of living while continuing to enjoy the city services that make Sandy Springs a great place to live.

Whether you’re a long-time resident or a new homeowner, these changes can help ease the financial pressure of rising home values and growing expenses—without sacrificing public safety, parks, or the quality of life we all value.

For Renters

Renters often pay indirectly for rising property taxes through higher monthly rent. When landlords face higher taxes, they pass those costs along. By lowering the millage rate:

✅ We help slow the rise in rent
✅ Keep more affordable units on the market
✅ Support working families and young professionals trying to stay in Sandy Springs

If your landlord owns a property valued at $1 million, for example, they could save nearly $300/year—and over time, that stability means fewer dramatic rent hikes.

🧩 A Smarter Approach to City Spending

We can invest in our future without pushing people out of the city they love.

As your next leader, I will:

✅ Advocate for a millage rate reduction that aligns with rising home values
✅ Demand transparent budgeting so we know exactly where your tax dollars are going
✅ Fight for policies that balance growth with affordability
✅ Ensure renters and working families are part of the city’s long-term plan

The Bottom Line:

Everyone wins when we manage growth responsibly.

• Families can breathe easier knowing every dollar goes a little further

• Renters have a fighting chance to stay in the communities they love

• Homeowners, whether you're in a modest condo or a multimillion-dollar estate, get meaningful relief

• And the city still has what it needs to operate safely and successfully