Melanie Maria Elder: candidate for Austell City Council - Cobb Courier

Melanie is from Atlanta, Georgia. She lives with her three-year-old daughter, Madison, in Austell.

Melanie Elder is currently serving as the Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Austell. She was first elected to the City Council in 2021 and is currently serving her first term.

As of September 3, 2025, Melanie Maria Elder did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Public Services

Supports live-work development, but wants it done in a way that doesn’t change the friendly small-town feel of the city.

- Supports live-work development, but wants it done in a way that doesn’t change the friendly small-town feel of the city.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Facebook

Melanie Maria Elder

Melanie Maria Elder is from Atlanta, Georgia. She lives with her three-year-old daughter, Madison, in Austell.

Melanie is currently serving as the Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Austell. She was first elected to the City Council in 2021 and is currently serving her first term.

Plans to hold frequent town hall meetings.

Melanie Maria Elder is from Atlanta, Georgia. She attends a 166-year-old church in Austell that she describes as her “family church.” She lives with her three-year-old daughter, Madison, in Austell.

Walter Ley

Buket Urgen

Jonathan Foster is married to his wife, Jennifer. He is from Austell, Georgia. He has two kids. 

Jonathan works as an on-site representative for Stanley Black & Decker at Lockheed Martin.

Plans to update Austell’s City Charter to reduce mayoral power.

Supports updating Austell’s City Charter to reduce mayoral power.

Plans to establish a citizen’s review committee to examine city finances and identify areas of wasteful spending.

Supports selling off unprofitable city-owned properties, such as the Threadmill Complex.

- Supports updating Austell’s City Charter to reduce mayoral power.
- Plans to establish a citizen’s review committee to examine city finances and identify areas of wasteful spending.
- Supports selling off unprofitable city-owned properties, such as the Threadmill Complex.

Supports restoring the City Manager position.

- Supports restoring the City Manager position.

As of September 3, 2025, Jonathan David Foster did not have a website or any information online.

Jonathan David Foster

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