Mayor's Race: James Sibold Considers Entering the Field

James Sibold is waiting for a candidate who, he said, will stand by the city of Dunwoody’s original intent of maintaining low taxes and small government.

If someone doesn’t step forward, he said he’ll run.

“I haven’t made my decision yet,” he said. “I want to take a month or two and examine the sentiment of voters in Dunwoody right now and see what is important to them.”

In the meantime, he’s established an exploratory committee for a possible campaign.

Sibold said he’s troubled by the current council’s push for a fall bond referendum.  While no referendum has formally been passed, it seems clear from council discussions that some sort of bond will be on the fall ballot to pay for projects in the parks and transportation master plans.

“I think this city is moving away from its roots,” he said, adding that he feels the council is not making smart priority decisions.

Sibold said it is obvious that transportation issues need to be addressed in the city, as the Perimeter area is one of the largest employment areas in the southeastern United States.

“I don’t see how we can keep that strong employment up with bad infrastructure,” he said. Focusing on those needs should be the city’s top priority, he said.

Sibold, 55, has lived in Dunwoody for 19 years and practiced law here for 25 years. He is married with two children.

He’s been active in the Republican Party in the county, serving as the president of the county GOP group.

He also traveled with the McCain campaign in 2008, volunteering and running phone banks in Concord, New Hampshire and in West Palm Beach, Fla. He also helped with the get out to vote program in Charleston, S.C.

He’s not stranger to campaigns. He took on current State Sen. Fran Millar in a 1998 State House race and again in 2010 for a State Senate seat. He lost both campaigns.

Sibold said his main focus will be on economic development.

He said if he became mayor, his new motto for the city would be, “The City that does business.”

Sibold said the priority should be enticing even more economic growth in Dunwoody by making the city a place that business people working in the area want to live.

Still, Sibold hasn’t made any formal decisions or announcements.

“I just don’t see any rush,” he said, pointing out that qualifying for office doesn’t start until Aug. 29. “I’m going to be out talking to people and informally campaigning. But I’m not putting out any signs until qualifying.”