More Than 1,000 Residents Gather for Sandy Springs’ No Kings Rally

More than 1,000 residents gathered at City Green in Sandy Springs for the No Kings Rally, demonstrating the strength of community engagement and democratic participation.

On March 28, more than 1,000 residents gathered at City Green in Sandy Springs for the No Kings Rally, demonstrating the power of civic engagement and community action.

The event brought together neighbors from every corner of our city who believe that democracy works best when people participate. Families, students, retirees, faith leaders, and community advocates stood side by side to make their voices heard and reaffirm the values of representative government.

I was humbled to see 1,032 friends and neighbors show up in support of the principles that unite us: accountability, participation, and the belief that every voice matters.

The rally was not about any one person. It was about the people.

Throughout our nation's history, progress has always depended on ordinary citizens choosing to become involved in the decisions that shape their communities. The No Kings Rally served as a reminder that democracy is strongest when people move from spectators to participants.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the day was the diversity of those in attendance. People from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives came together around a common belief that engaged citizens help create stronger communities.

As Sandy Springs continues to grow and evolve, moments like these demonstrate that residents care deeply about the future of our city, our state, and our country.

To everyone who attended, volunteered, organized, spoke, or simply showed up: thank you.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

And on this day, Sandy Springs showed up.

Juneteenth and Sandy Springs: Why Savannah's Story Matters Here

Dontaye Carter stands in front of the historic Woodall Farmhouse in Sandy Springs before its demolition, preserving a visual connection to the community's past.

When most people think about Juneteenth, they think about June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free.

But the road to freedom did not begin in Texas.

Dontaye Carter dives into the history of the Woodall House in Sandy Springs.

Five months earlier, in January 1865, General William T. Sherman met with twenty Black ministers in Savannah, then Georgia's former capital, to discuss what freedom would mean after slavery. The result was Special Field Orders No. 15, the order that became known as "40 acres and a mule."

It was one of the nation's first attempts to answer a question that still echoes today: What does freedom look like after generations of bondage?

The answer mattered in Savannah.

It also mattered here.

Long before Sandy Springs became a city, the land that now makes up our community was worked by enslaved men, women, and children. The farms, roads, churches, and families that shaped this area were all touched by the institution of slavery.

The same year Sherman met with Black ministers in Savannah, families across Georgia—including those living on the land that would become Sandy Springs—were experiencing emancipation, uncertainty, and the challenge of building a future in freedom.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom was never a single moment. It was a journey.

That journey ran through Savannah.

It ran through Texas.

And it ran through North Fulton, where generations of Black families helped build communities despite enormous obstacles.

Today, we may not see the plantations, farms, or homes that once stood here. Many of the physical reminders are gone.

But the history remains.

Understanding that history is not about dwelling on the past. It is about honoring the people who endured it, recognizing the contributions they made, and ensuring that future generations know the full story of the community they call home.

Because a city that knows its history is better equipped to build its future.

Happy Juneteenth.

Watch more on the the journey to bring Juneteenth to Sandy Springs.

The first annual Juneteenth celebration in Sandy Springs brought neighbors, families, faith leaders, and community members together to honor freedom, reflect on our shared history, and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. As our community gathered for this historic event, we recognized that freedom is not just a moment in history, but an ongoing commitment to learning, unity, and progress.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration possible and to those who joined us in commemorating this important day.

#Juneteenth #SandySprings #JuneteenthSandySprings #Community #BlackHistory #FreedomDay #GeorgiaHistory

The Juneteenth Federation Mission Statement: Our Mission is to optimize synergies among the economic, cultural, and community resources of people of color, to absolve and highlight disparities that offend our birthright as legal citizens of the United States of America, and to facilitate tangible safe havens for economically disadvantaged children of color otherwise ostracized. History of Juneteenth: Juneteenth marks the end of the civil war and the end of chattel slavery in the United States of America. It is also known as Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name "Juneteenth" references the date of the holiday, combining the words "June" and "nineteenth." On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free. The order was written two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s historic Emancipation Proclamation. This order also informed the Country of the end of the U.S. Civil War. Nearly 200 years later, on June 19, 2021, five members of the Sandy Springs community joined to create the first Juneteenth celebration in Sandy Springs at City Springs. In less than ten days, Corey Waller, Megan Harris, Le’Dor Milteer, Councilwoman Dr. Melody Kelley, and Dontaye Carter attracted more than 700 people to the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration in Sandy Springs, which included historical and biblical lessons from local pastors, words of truth and inspiration from the Georgia NAACP President, acknowledgments of Black leaders in Sandy Springs, music, dancing, bouncy houses, booths for Black-owned business owners, and food trucks. After creating the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration, Mr. Carter, Ms. Milteer, Mr. Waller, and Ms. Harris formed the Juneteenth Federation to continue the commemoration of Juneteenth in Sandy Springs. The Georgia NAACP became the first fiscal sponsor of the Juneteenth Federation by agreeing to support the celebration for the next ten years. #SandySprings #Juneteenth #Juneteenth2023

The Juneteenth Federation hosted its community event in Sandy Springs this year at Sandy Springs Middle School. #Juneteenth #sandyspringsga #SandySprings #JuneteenthCelebration #TheJuneteenthFederation

Closing Out Black History Month Strong in Sandy Springs

Some events take months to organize. Others come together in a matter of days.

This was one of those moments.

When the call went out to gather, learn, and reflect, the community responded. Residents from across Sandy Springs came together at Rivercliff Lutheran Church to close out Black History Month with an evening focused on history, truth, and connection.

I’m grateful to everyone who attended, participated, and helped make the event possible. I’m especially thankful to the leadership of Rivercliff Lutheran Church for opening their doors and partnering with us to create a space where meaningful conversations could take place.

Black History Month is about more than looking back. It is an opportunity to understand the sacrifices, struggles, and achievements that helped shape our community and our country. It is also a reminder that each generation has a responsibility to continue moving forward.

As I shared during the event, the best way to honor our ancestors is to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.

Thank you to everyone who helped us close out Black History Month strong in Sandy Springs.

Photo Credit: TraShawn Wade

Graduating Citizens Police Academy: Why Showing Up Matters

Last April, I graduated from the Sandy Springs Citizens Police Academy.

This wasn’t my first Citizens Police Academy, and it wasn’t about earning a certificate or proving a point. It was about continuing to show up.

Over the years, I’ve participated in Citizens Police Academies in nearly every city I’ve called home. I believe that informed residents make stronger communities, and that meaningful change happens when people engage directly with the institutions that serve them.

As I worked through the Sandy Springs program, I noticed something encouraging: some of the public safety improvements I’ve advocated for in Sandy Springs over the years have become reality.

Stronger background checks.

Greater scrutiny of officer history and prior conduct.

Higher compensation to attract and retain the best talent.

Today, Sandy Springs Police Department is one of the highest-paid departments in Georgia. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because residents, elected officials, and law enforcement leaders stayed engaged and worked toward solutions.

Public safety is not something we can take for granted. It requires partnership, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

I’m grateful for the officers, staff, and volunteers who make this program possible and for the opportunity to learn more about the work being done every day to keep our community safe.

The lesson remains the same:

Change doesn’t come from the sidelines.

It comes from showing up.

Learning History by Walking Through It: Boys Club Visits Savannah

Dunwoody Springs 4th and 5th Graders Take Historical Trip to Savannah

At Dunwoody Springs Elementary, we believe leadership starts long before adulthood.

Throughout the year, our Boys Club has focused on the fundamentals—teaching young men how to tie a tie, make eye contact, shake hands with confidence, and learn from professionals about different career paths. These lessons are about more than manners. They are about building character, confidence, and a vision for the future.

On Saturday, we took that learning beyond the classroom.

A group of our young boys traveled to Savannah, one of Georgia’s most historic cities, to experience history firsthand. We visited sites that helped shape our state and our nation, giving our students the opportunity to connect what they learn in books to the places where history actually happened.

There is something powerful about standing where history was made. It transforms lessons into experiences and encourages young people to see themselves as part of a much larger story.

Our goal has always been to expose our students to new opportunities, broaden their perspectives, and help them understand that their future is not limited by their zip code or circumstances. Whether learning professional skills, exploring career opportunities, or walking through historic landmarks, every experience is designed to help them grow into the next generation of leaders.

I am grateful to the volunteers, educators, parents, and community partners who continue to invest in these young men. When we pour into our children, we strengthen our entire community.

The future of Sandy Springs is bright because of the young people we are helping prepare today.

Featured in Rough Draft: Advancing the Conversation in Sandy Springs

Featured in Rough Draft Atlanta

Ideas That Continue to Shape Sandy Springs

In February 2026, Rough Draft Atlanta highlighted how key issues from my mayoral campaign — recreation access, family-centered infrastructure, and housing affordability — are now central to city leadership discussions at the Sandy Springs City Council Retreat.

While I did not attend the retreat, I shared my perspective with the publication.

“I’m encouraged to see the city advancing a conversation that’s been decades in the making. Over the last two election cycles, I’ve urged the city to be more intentional about investing in recreation and family-centered infrastructure.”

For years, I’ve advocated for smart investment in parks, accessible public spaces, and long-term infrastructure that serves families in every zip code — not just those closest to City Hall.

As discussions move forward around Hammond Park and other recreation planning, I emphasized what must remain front and center:

“Hammond Park makes sense given its proximity to City Hall, but as we move forward, the city still has to grapple with geography, traffic, and access — especially for families on the north and south ends of Sandy Springs.”

Housing: Leadership Requires Hard Conversations

Housing affordability — one of the defining issues of the 2025 mayoral race — was also addressed during the retreat.

Following the December runoff, I had a productive and candid meeting with Mayor Rusty Paul where housing policy was a central topic.

“We spoke at length about housing and the importance of follow-through on ideas raised during the campaign, including the concept of a focused task force. We discussed the need for leadership that can responsibly manage expectations on both sides — developers who want to do business with the city and the hardworking, tax-paying residents who want to remain in the communities they call home.”

The city’s housing assessment confirmed what many families already feel:

• Sandy Springs lacks entry-level homeownership opportunities

• Housing stock for residents earning under $50,000 continues to decline

• Redevelopment is often replacing existing homes rather than expanding attainable ownership

There is no “magic wand” solution. Real leadership means navigating political realities while protecting long-term community stability.

These are complex policy choices — but avoiding them is not an option.

Influence Beyond the Ballot

The 2025 election may be over.
The work is not.

The ideas we elevated — equitable access, thoughtful growth, responsible housing policy, and family-first planning — are now shaping the city’s direction.

Leadership is not measured solely by election results.
It’s measured by whether your ideas move the city forward.

And they are.

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 68%.

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. Before I ran the first time in 2021, Republican’s won over 80-percent of the vote. That hasn’t happened in the last two election cycles.

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.

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

This is how we keep sandy springs children safe

Yesterday’s shooting shattered me — not just as a father worried for my own daughter, but for every child in Sandy Springs.

My greatest fear is leaving a world worse for my daughter than the one I inherited. And those fears grow with every shooting that targets our children. We cannot afford to let this keep happening in our schools. Georgia has already seen it hit home at Appalachee High School — and every parent felt that pain.

Thoughts and prayers won’t protect our kids. Policy will. That’s why in my first 100 days as mayor, I’ll lead Georgia with the Sandy Springs Safe Storage and Accountability Act:

Require every gun in our city to be secured with a trigger lock or stored in a safe.

Require GPS tracking on firearms, holding owners accountable unless their gun is reported stolen.

Ensure stolen guns used in crimes are traced back — and gun owners who don’t report theft are held responsible.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting children, supporting teachers, and making Sandy Springs the state leader in school safety and common-sense accountability.

We owe it to our kids to do more than send thoughts and prayers. We owe them safety, and we owe them leadership.