Lauren Locke, who was running for the Sandy Springs City Council District 2 seat against incumbent Dr. Melody Kelley, has withdrawn from the race. She campaigned on a message of crime and safety that echoed strategies used by some north Fulton candidates four years ago.
The former candidate said she left the race under “extreme duress,” alleging that she has been the target of criminal acts by members of the public. However, no related police reports were found.
Her withdrawal appears to be tied to scrutiny by the city of Sandy Springs over her eligibility to qualify as a candidate due to an unresolved tax lien. An October hearing had been set to address the issue.
In her qualification paperwork, Locke signed a sworn statement declaring she was not in default.
Locke did not return an email or phone call to SaportaReport. She notified the city clerk last Friday that she intended to leave the race.
Rough Draft Atlanta and WSB-TV held a virtual forum for all city council candidates on Monday. Kelley appeared as the only candidate for the District 2 race.
Locke’s crime-focused message
Before withdrawing, Locke emphasized a theme of crime and safety similar to that used by candidates across north Fulton in 2021 during a time of nationwide police-reform protests and rising crime during the pandemic. Black candidates and some residents believed opponents were using crime as a tactic to stoke fear. I wrote about this at the time for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as did my colleagues.
Kelley was elected in 2021 as the first Black council member in Sandy Springs’ 20-year history.
During this campaign season, she and Locke participated in forums and debates on issues concerning District 2 residents. The district is located in the North End, a melting pot of residents living in million-dollar homes, aging townhomes and apartments, and includes a Community Assistance Center that supports families in need.
District 2 residents’ hopes for redevelopment that would bring restaurants and retail to the district are an issue that all council and mayoral candidates have had to address.
Along with these concerns, Locke also raised issues of crime and public safety. That message stands apart from most local campaigns this year.
Compared to 2021, when some candidates campaigned heavily on fears about rising crime, most candidates this election cycle are emphasizing that Sandy Springs is a safe city — and they want to keep it that way.
Locke continued to focus on crime in a social-media post on Monday, explaining why she left the race. She accused Kelley of “smear tactics,” though it was unclear what she was referring to.
Locke stated on her campaign Facebook page that she had received public death threats and was the victim of sexual harassment.
“Safety. One person’s definition of safety can be very different than someone else’s. Gun battles and drug crime is not okay. The apex of this campaign ultimately ended because of the safety problem right here in District Two.”
In her letter to the city clerk about withdrawing from the race, Locke also alleged she was threatened and harassed at a nearby gas station for wearing a red hat.
Those alleged incidents do not appear to have been reported to Sandy Springs police. An open-records request by SaportaReport produced only one police report: a Sept. 4 incident in which Locke believed her campaign signs had been stolen from outside an office building on Roswell Road “under the direction of Mayor [Rusty] Paul.”
The report stated that the signs were removed by the city because they were in the right-of-way, in violation of a city ordinance.
After this story published on Oct. 8, SaportaReport learned that Locke filed a second police report on the same date. The police report references a September incident but no details were provided in the narrative.
The question of Locke’s candidate eligibility due to the tax lien was not mentioned in her social-media post on leaving the election race.
Kelley’s response
In response to Locke’s statements, Kelley addressed District 2 residents on her own campaign page, writing: “You’re an informed and intelligent community, so here are the facts — no commentary, no spin — about recent events impacting the District 2 City Council race.”
Her post continued with a list of circumstances that question Locke’s eligibility for elected office, including links to the Georgia Constitution, Sandy Springs city code, and other documents and news stories.
“… That’s it. No rocket science. No conspiracy. No drama. Just the law — being upheld,” Kelley wrote. “I wish Mrs. Locke the best and will continue serving Sandy Springs through honest leadership, transparency, and hard work.”
Note to Readers: In the interest of full transparency, Adrianne Murchison is a friend of the candidate Melody Kelley.
free my girl lauren locke bless up
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Free my momma! She didn’t do anything! SHE IS INNOCENT!