2026 Georgia General Election

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

WHAT’S NEXT? As retirement from Ruby-Collins approaches, I would like to focus on motivational and inspirational teaching, coaching, and speaking. I also plan to join my wife at Sierra Real Estate Partners. Most of all, I want to focus on our community, and growth of our children and grandchildren.

Leaders of Cobb: David Westrick

David A. Westrick was nearing retirement from Ruby-Collins.

David has experience with a general contracting company.

As of October 1, 2026, David A. Westrick did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

In remarks identified in the meeting transcript as David Westrick's, he discussed city-business communication during an infrastructure-related dispute and said: “It's infrastructure is important. But so is the business.”

City of Ball Ground - May 2026 City Council Meeting — Ball Ground, GA (2026-05-15) | Red Tape Recordings

Said infrastructure and businesses are both important.

Thinks infrastructure and businesses are both important.

- Thinks infrastructure and businesses are both important.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Instagram

David A. Westrick

Background and Education:

Raised in a military family, Vicki spent much of her early life in Marietta, Georgia, and graduated from R. L. Osborne High School in 1973. She completed Eastern Airlines Reservation School in Miami in 1981, Delta Airline Academy of Accounting in Denver in 1982, and North Georgia Law Academy in Kennesaw in 1992. Vicki and her husband, Robert “Bobby” Benefield, moved to Woodstock in 1982, relocated to Ball Ground in 2003, and have been Cherokee County residents for 44 years.

Meet Vicki | Vicki Benefield for Ball Ground City Council

Family:

Vicki and Bobby have been married for 52 years and enjoy spending time with their nieces, nephews, and their dog, Lacey.

Vicki Benefield moved to Woodstock in 1982 and relocated to Ball Ground in 2003. She has been married to Robert “Bobby” Benefield for 52 years.

Career/Work Experience:

Vicki retired in 2019. She has over 20 years’ experience in the sales and marketing field. She has a proven track record with community fundraisers and writing both government and private sector grants.

While at Cherokee Travel, Vicki volunteered with the Anna Crawford Children’s Center to support fundraising efforts. In 1995, she joined the Children’s Center full-time as Development Director, where she helped prepare the annual budget, managed fundraising, maintained existing grants, secured new funding sources, and kept civic groups and community partners informed about the Children’s Center work, and was responsible for the marketing and education of the Children’s Center to the community.

In 2002, Vicki opened the first congressional office in Cherokee County and was the Field Director for Congressman John Linder, managing the Congressman’s Canton office and representing him throughout the 7th Congressional District.

In 2004, Vicki left the Congressman’s office to care for her mother and launched a home-based consulting business as a grant specialist. She retired in 2019 after building a successful practice serving nonprofit and government clients in Cherokee County through grant research, federal and private-sector applications, reporting, and compliance management.

Vicki Benefield is retired and has more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing. She previously owned a home-based consulting business as a grant specialist, served as field director for Congressman John Linder, and worked as development director for the Children’s Center.

Ball Ground City Council:

Vicki was elected in November of 2021 to fill the unexpired term of Frank Homiller. She was re-elected in November of 2022. She has served the residents and businesses of Ball Ground from January of 2022 to the present.

Sworn In: 2021

Mrs. Benefield was sworn in on November 18, 2021 to fill an unexpired Post #3 City Council seat.

Vicki and her husband, Bob first moved to Ball Ground in 2003, moving into the city in 2016.

City Council | City of Ball Ground

Vicki currently serves on the Ball Ground City Council in Post 3. She was elected in November 2021 to fill an unexpired term and was reelected in November 2022.

City Council - City of Ball Ground Georgia

City Connection

Worked on the implementation and design of the City Connection.

Created a place for businesses, citizens, and visitors to connect in our downtown area.

Accomplishments | Vicki Benefield for Ball Ground City Council

Highway 5 Business Corridor Study

Completed a study of the Highway 5 business corridor.

Creating a Highway 5 Business Corridor plan for future development between Howell Bridge Road and Gilmer Ferry Road.

Future Projects
Create more green space and pocket parks
Additional improvements and expansions of our city parks
Creating more commerce and tourism for our downtown businesses
Improving the city's economy and adding additional jobs
Purchasing additional property for convenient parking to downtown businesses
Expanding the city's sidewalks to connect our walking community
Continued expansion of the Police Department to achieve shared goal of service 24/7

Worked on the implementation and design of the City Connection, a downtown gathering place for businesses, residents, and visitors.

Supports a Highway 5 Business Corridor plan for future development between Howell Bridge Road and Gilmer Ferry Road.

Plans to promote downtown commerce and tourism and add jobs.

- Worked on the implementation and design of the City Connection, a downtown gathering place for businesses, residents, and visitors.
- Supports a Highway 5 Business Corridor plan for future development between Howell Bridge Road and Gilmer Ferry Road.
- Plans to promote downtown commerce and tourism and add jobs.

Impact Fees (2022–2024)

Spearheaded impact fees of $3,000 and were initiated for all residential building: $2,000 for Parks and Recreation and $1,000 for new roads and improvements.

Program to Give Back to the Parks

The city water bill has a donation option of $2, $3, or $5 to donate and earmark money for Parks improvements or expansions.

Working to save taxpayers money!

Spearheaded $3,000 impact fees on residential construction, allocating $2,000 to parks and recreation and $1,000 to roads and improvements.

Supports expanding parks through new green space and pocket parks.

Supports allowing water-bill customers to donate $2, $3, or $5 for park improvements and expansions.

- Spearheaded $3,000 impact fees on residential construction, allocating $2,000 to parks and recreation and $1,000 to roads and improvements.
- Supports expanding parks through new green space and pocket parks.
- Supports allowing water-bill customers to donate $2, $3, or $5 for park improvements and expansions.

Moratorium on Building Permits (2022)

A moratorium was initiated by Vicki in February of 2022 to revise and reorganize all building permits in the city.

Created More Oversight on Future Developments

Developers will never again have the option to flip a property after approval from the city council from a for-sale to a rental development.

Developers are now required to declare their intention before the council votes to approve or deny the development, whether or not their development will be for-sale or rental properties.

Increased Oversight with Ordinances for Developers

Developers now have regulated city protocols such as setbacks, driveways, etc.

Oversight of developments to ensure that the future growth map and ordinances are followed.

If re-elected, I will continue focusing on responsible growth, more green space and pocket parks, stronger downtown commerce and tourism, additional parking, economic development, job growth, and expanded sidewalks.

Vicki Benefield for Ball Ground City Council, Post 3

As a city council member, initiated a 2022 moratorium to revise and reorganize Ball Ground's building-permit system.

Supports requiring developers to identify projects as for-sale or rental before the city council considers approval.

Supports development protocols, including setbacks and driveways, and oversight to ensure growth follows the city's map and ordinances.

Plans to prioritize responsible growth if reelected.

- As a city council member, initiated a 2022 moratorium to revise and reorganize Ball Ground's building-permit system.
- Supports requiring developers to identify projects as for-sale or rental before the city council considers approval.
- Supports development protocols, including setbacks and driveways, and oversight to ensure growth follows the city's map and ordinances.
- Plans to prioritize responsible growth if reelected.

Public Safety - Police Department

Expanded Police Department to better serve the residents and business owners of Ball Ground.

Raised the officers’ pay to make them more competitive with other nearby departments, which leads to the recruitment and retention of new hires.

Public Safety - Police Department

Expanded Police Department to better serve the residents and business owners of Ball Ground.

Raised the officers’ pay to make them more competitive with other nearby departments, which leads to the recruitment and retention of new hires.

College tuition assistance for courses that are relevant to their field.

Expanded the Police Department and plans continued expansion to provide 24-hour service.

Raised police officer pay and supports tuition assistance for field-related courses.

- Expanded the Police Department and plans continued expansion to provide 24-hour service.
- Raised police officer pay and supports tuition assistance for field-related courses.

Sidewalk Connection Agreement with the County

Initiated an agreement with the county to connect Highway 5 south of Howell Bridge Road with sidewalks.

Sidewalks from Sharp Mountain Creek to Howell Bridge / Highway 5 will help connect residents with the downtown area.

Working to make Ball Ground a walkable community.

Streetlights Agreement with the County

Initiated an agreement with the county to install streetlights on Old Dawsonville Road from Mountain Brook subdivision to the downtown area.

Working to make Ball Ground a walkable community.

Initiated a county agreement to build sidewalks along Highway 5 south of Howell Bridge Road, connecting residents with downtown.

Initiated a county agreement to install streetlights on Old Dawsonville Road between Mountain Brook subdivision and downtown.

Plans to buy property for parking for downtown businesses and expand city sidewalks.

- Initiated a county agreement to build sidewalks along Highway 5 south of Howell Bridge Road, connecting residents with downtown.
- Initiated a county agreement to install streetlights on Old Dawsonville Road between Mountain Brook subdivision and downtown.
- Plans to buy property for parking for downtown businesses and expand city sidewalks.

As of October 1, 2026, Vicki Benefield’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Vicki Benefield

- 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. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Ball Ground City Council Member, Post 3

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