Linkedin

Lionel Francois Laratte has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Temple University and a master's degree in business administration from Drexel University's College of Business. 

Lionel works as a service management advisor at CDW. He previously worked as a director of consulting at Cognizant and senior engagement manager at Insight.  

Current Elected Officials | NAAHP

Avondale Estates City Commission candidate Q&A pdf

Lionel currently serves as a commissioner for the City of Avondale Estates. He is serving his second term. 

Believes small businesses in Avondale Estates need support to succeed, especially in light of projected economic downturns, and emphasizes the need for strategic thinking by the Board to navigate these challenges for the benefit of residents.

Considers  ensuring small businesses in Avondale Estates are supported as an important issue, and emphasizes the need for strategic thinking by the Board to navigate these challenge. 

- Considers  ensuring small businesses in Avondale Estates are supported as an important issue, and emphasizes the need for strategic thinking by the Board to navigate these challenge. 
- Believes the city should address taxes.

Economy

Said, "I view open government as good government, especially at the municipal level since it has a direct effect on the lives of residents."

Supports "open government", claiming officials can "do a better job of being open with our residents." 

Wants to revive resident-focused events like the Labor Day Race, 4th of July fireworks, and fishing derby to foster community.

Said, "I intend on continuing to work to increase resident participation with city government overall. The impact on residents will be a better understanding of what the city is doing, how it is doing it, and what the results are. We need to be better at communicating."

Wants more resident participation in city government to help them better understand city operations and decisions.

Wants to improve the maintenance of public services, such as benches along the lake.

- Supports "open government", claiming officials can "do a better job of being open with our residents." 
- Wants to revive resident-focused events like the Labor Day Race, 4th of July fireworks, and fishing derby to foster community.
- Wants more resident participation in city government to help them better understand city operations and decisions.
- Wants to improve the maintenance of public services, such as benches along the lake.

Public Services

Believes growth is essential for downtown business success and tax base expansion.

- Believes growth is essential for downtown business success and tax base expansion.

Housing & Urban Development

As of September 3, 2025, Lionel Francois Laratte did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

Believes infrastructure is a top challenge, saying "it is expensive and it takes time, and it is never finished."

Believes infrastructure is a major challenge, saying "it is expensive and it takes time, and it is never finished."

- Believes infrastructure is a major challenge, saying "it is expensive and it takes time, and it is never finished."

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

LinkedIn

Lionel Francois Laratte

Lionel is currently a commissioner for the City of Avondale Estates.

Buket Urgen

Dan Marcel lives in Avondale Estates with his wife, Lindsey, and their son. He hods. a bachelor's degree in English and a. master's degree in American cultural studies from The University of Georgia. 

Dan works as a research editor for Skift, a travel media company. He previously worked at Equilar as a senior editor and director of content and marketing communications, and at eMarketer as a director of public relations and analyst. 

Planning, Architecture & Zoning Board | Avondale Estates, GA

Dan currently serves as a member of the Planning, Architecture, and Zoning Board for the City of Avondale Estates. He was appointed to the board in 2023 and is serving. his first term. 

Candidate Q&A: Avondale Estates City Commission, Decaturish

Candidate website

Believes the most important issues facing Avondale Estates are balancing rising costs with investment opportunities, managing rapid change, and bridging the trust gap between citizens and government officials.

Believes the most important issues facing the city are balancing rising costs with investment opportunities, managing rapid change, and building trust between citizens and government officials. 

Plans to "actively seek investment from developers, business owners, etc. who value partnership, ownership, and engagement with the community."

Wants city investors  that value partnership, ownership, and community engagement. 

- Believes the most important issues facing the city are balancing rising costs with investment opportunities, managing rapid change, and building trust between citizens and government officials. 
- Wants city investors  that value partnership, ownership, and community engagement. 

Wants to "actively preserve the lake, parks, landscaping, open spaces, and streetscapes in all parts of Avondale, including the downtown commercial district."

Supports preserving and maintaining Avondale’s natural and public spaces, including parks, open areas, and downtown. 

Wants to "bring the community together in service of our many shared goals by approaching different viewpoints and compromises as opportunities, not as conflicts."

Aims to foster collaboration and civility by approaching differing opinions as opportunities to strengthen, not divide, the community.

- Supports preserving and maintaining Avondale’s natural and public spaces, including parks, open areas, and downtown. 
- Aims to foster collaboration and civility by approaching differing opinions as opportunities to strengthen, not divide, the community.

Supports building housing and reusing existing structures in the downtown commercial district to create vibrancy, support local businesses, and build a sustainable tax base.

Wants to develop and reuse existing structures in the downtown district to create vibrancy, support local businesses, and build a sustainable tax base.

Supports developing "life span" housing options like townhomes, condos, cottages, apartments, and senior living to allow residents to live in Avondale their entire lives.

Supports developing “life span” housing options, like townhomes, condos, cottages, apartments, and senior living so residents can live in Avondale throughout their lives.

Believes in following zoning codes to incorporate open spaces and natural beauty into all development.

Plans to follow the zoning code to protect open spaces and local nature. 

Supports historic preservation and zoning guidelines to maintain Avondale's unique character and identity.

- Wants to develop and reuse existing structures in the downtown district to create vibrancy, support local businesses, and build a sustainable tax base.
- Supports developing “life span” housing options, like townhomes, condos, cottages, apartments, and senior living so residents can live in Avondale throughout their lives.
- Plans to follow the zoning code to protect open spaces and local nature. 
- Supports historic preservation and zoning guidelines to maintain Avondale's unique character and identity.

As of September 3, 2025, Dan Marcec’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to invest in infrastructure to address development and climate change impacts, such as improving stormwater systems and creating safe sidewalks and bike routes.

Wants to invest in infrastructure that mitigates harmful effects of development and climate change. 

- Wants to invest in infrastructure that mitigates harmful effects of development and climate change. 

Dan Marcec

Dan Marcec is currently a member of the Planning, Architecture, and Zoning Board for the City of Avondale Estates. He was appointed to the board in 2023 and serves a four-year term. His campaign for Avondale Estates City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

As of September 3, 2025, Dan Marcec did not have a website or any information online.

Walter Ley

Luis Suarzo holds a bachelor's degree in art history and biology from Muhlenberg College and a bachelors degree in architecture from the Pratt Institute. 

Luis works as a senior architect with HDR, an international architecture and engineering firm. He previously worked as a construction administrator at Flat Architects and as a project architect at CUH2A. 

Luis serves as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning, Architecture, and Zoning Board in Avondale Estates. He was appointed to this position. 

Candidate Q&A: Avondale Estates City Commission, Decuaturish

- Plans to promote small local businesses.

Said, "Responsible growth that honors our past and builds our future. Environmental stewardship and greenspace preservation. Transparency, both for myself and for the BoMC."

Holds top 3 priorities as responsible city growth, environmental conservation, and city transparency. 

- Holds top 3 priorities as responsible city growth, environmental conservation, and city transparency. 

Wants to balance residential and commercial development to build economic resilience without sacrificing the city’s charm.

Aims to promote balanced growth that builds a stable economy without compromising the city’s character.

Believes in addressing growth by continuing successful policies and practices while remaining open to new strategies.

Plans to address growth by continuing successful policies and practices while remaining open to new strategies.

- Aims to promote balanced growth that builds a stable economy without compromising the city’s character.
- Plans to address growth by continuing successful policies and practices while remaining open to new strategies.

As of September 3, 2025, Luis Suazo did not have a website or any information online.

Luis Suazo

Luis Suazo is a member of the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning, Architecture, and Zoning Board in Avondale Estates. He was appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission, which consists of five members who are appointed by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners and each serve three-year terms. He is also a member of the Planning, Architecture, and Zoning Board, which consists of seven members who are residents of the City of Avondale Estates and are appointed by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners to serve four-year terms.

Lyda R. Steadman was raised in Avondale Estates. She holds a degree from The University of Georgia. She has grandchildren. 

Lyda's campaign for Avondale Estates City Commissioner is her first run for public office. 

Lyda is retired. She previously worked as Avondale Estates’ Finance Officer and City Clerk, Director of Accounting for the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office, and at Truist Bank. 

Dear Decaturish — Supporting Steadman for Avondale commission, Decaturish

As a city commissioner, proposed creating a Downtown Development position to focus on attracting investment for Avondale.

Proposed creating a Downtown Development position in 2009 to focus on attracting investment for Avondale.

Supports maintaining city infrastructure and community spaces, reviving local events, and making fiscally responsible choices to ensure inclusive economic growth for small businesses and residents.

Pledges to make fiscally responsible decisions that reflect the priorities and values of the entire community.

- Proposed creating a Downtown Development position in 2009 to focus on attracting investment for Avondale.
- Supports maintaining city infrastructure and community spaces, reviving local events, and making fiscally responsible choices to ensure inclusive economic growth for small businesses and residents.
- Pledges to make fiscally responsible decisions that reflect the priorities and values of the entire community.

Believes "thoughtful development, like The Dale and the Town Green, can strengthen our community and tax base while preserving our charm."

Believes "thoughtful development" can strengthen the community and tax base while preserving the city's character. 

Supports maintaining streets and sidewalks.

- Believes "thoughtful development" can strengthen the community and tax base while preserving the city's character. 
- Supports maintaining streets and sidewalks.

As of September 3, 2025, Lyda R. Steadman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "By applying sound financial management and careful planning, we can continue this progress while protecting our neighborhoods, green spaces, and small-town feel."

Aims to balance financial management and planning with preserving local areas and green spaces. 

- Aims to balance financial management and planning with preserving local areas and green spaces. 

Lyda R. Steadman

- City commissioners work together with the rest of the commission to set and implement city policy. 
- The city commission is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City commissioners work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City commissioners represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city commissioners in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 