3 qualify for Milton seat, but 2 withdraw

People around Georgia will head to the polls in November to vote on the state’s next governor, congressional seats and other state and federal representatives.

But residents in Milton will also be electing a new City Council member.

Three people qualified last week to fill the seat left open by the resignation of Burt Hewitt, the former Dis- trict 1/Post 2 councilman. Hewitt resigned in May and moved away from north Ful- ton County. He had been on the council since 2007.

Qualifying to fill his seat were Thomas J. Upton, Marty Littlejohn and Carol Cook- erly. But shortly after qualifying closed, two candidates withdrew from the race. Lit- tlejohn withdrew Wednesday and Upton withdrew Friday, a city spokesperson said.

This is the only council seat up for election this year in Milton. Options for voters on the ballot will be Cook- erly or a write-in candidate.

Cookerly is a graduate of Duke University and president and founder of Buck- head-based Cookerly Public Relations and Marketing Services. She has previously served on Milton’s Eques- trian Committee. She and her husband have lived in Milton since 1998, according to Fulton County property records.

To qualify, candidates must have resided in District 1, which mostly encompasses the southwest portion of the city. Candidates also had to fill out necessary paperwork and pay a qualifying fee of $390. Qualifying was open from Aug. 2 to 22.

Whoever wins the election will serve the remainder of Hewitt’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2019. The election will come at no cost to the city since it coincides with state and county elections.

Election Day is set for Nov. 6.