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Beverly H. Burks appears to be the city of Clarkston’s next mayor after receiving 57.01 percent of votes in the Nov. 3 special election.
The results are still unofficial and scheduled to be certified Nov. 13, but Burks claimed victory on Facebook at 12:12 a.m. Nov. 4.
The special election was held to fill the term of former mayor Edward “Ted” Terry—who vacated his seat to run for DeKalb Super 6 Commissioner—and the term concludes Dec. 31, 2021.
Burks—a former Clarkston councilmember—received 1,790 votes as of 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5, while her opponent Yterenickia “YT” Bell received 1,350 votes.
A graduate of Alabama State University, Burks is the community engagement director for Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority. After being elected to Clarkston’s council in 2015, Burks vacated her council seat in 2017 to run for mayor against Terry.
“We made history together!” Burks stated about being Clarkston’s first Black female mayor-elect in a post to Facebook.
During her time on Clarkston’s council, Burks sponsored Clarkston’s Downtown Development Authority and supported the Clean Indoor Air Act, decriminalization of marijuana, the $14 minimum wage for city employees and other initiatives, she said.
In a September interview with The Champion, Burks said if elected mayor she wants to expand housing options, create environmental ordinances and continue rent and mortgage assistance.
Burks also said she recently worked on the Clarkston COVID-19 Task Force and distributed nearly 10,000 masks to the Clarkston community.
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