Mayor, Council Races Have Opposition in Suwanee

Two of the three political races at Suwanee City Hall in November will have opposition, including mayor.

Dan Pittman, a local businessman, qualified Wednesday to run against Jimmy Burnette for mayor.

And Jimmy Spiro qualified Wednesday to run against Doug Ireland for City Council.

Dick Goodman, a current City Council member, is assured of a full term since no one qualified to run against him. He was elected to the council in 2009.

Pittman, 49, is a 14-year Suwanee resident and DeKalb County native. He will be facing an incumbent council member and a member of one of Suwanee's oldest families.

Pittman is opposed to the current direction of City Hall, which he feels has a big-goverment, big-spending approach.

"When I first moved to Suwanee, we had $200,000 in public debt. Now we have $22 million," Pittman said Wednesday.

He is an occasional speaker at City Council meetings. "Every time I ask a question, I get big government answers. ... We need a conservative voice at City Hall."

He feels he has a chance to beat Burnette, whose family has been involved in Suwanee city government since 1963.

"It takes a lot of energy to question City Hall," Pittman said. "It's conceivable I could get elected."

Pittman is married and has three children. He is a DeKalb Tech graduate.

Spiro could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He and Ireland will be running to fill Burnette's council spot.

In Suwanee, all council posts are "at large," meaning they are not tied to a specific area of the city.

All voting will be done at City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 8.