City of LaVista Hills map with six council districts. Source: www.lavistahills.com

A group that describes itself as a “grassroots” organization has formally launched its campaign to incorporate a city of LaVista Hills in DeKalb County.

LaVista Hills Alliance sent out a news release on July 14 saying it will push people to vote yes in the Nov. 3 referendum. If successful, it would incorporate a city of over 60,000 people, bordered by I-85 on the north and I-285 on the east. A proposed city of Tucker will also be on the ballot this November.

“LaVista Hills Alliance will organize and coordinate volunteers to support passage of the incorporation referendum on Nov. 3,” the news release says. “The new organization is separate from LaVista Hills YES! – a group formed to urge the Georgia Legislature to place a cityhood referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot.”

The group does include former LaVista Hills Yes! co-chair Mary Kay Woodworth. She will head up the fundraising effort for the group.

According to the news release, other members are:

– Liz Hanfelt, chair

– Brad Bryant, former State School Superintendent and former DeKalb School Board chair

– Kim Taylor-Cloud, a 30-year DeKalb resident who now lives in Oak Grove

– Tim Oliver, a resident of Mason Mill Woods

– Wanda Walton, a behavioral scientist with the CDC and member of the North Briarcliff Civic Association

“This new city will belong to the people,” Hanfelt said in the press release. “It is up to them to shape and create what this new city will be.  That’s why our focus is on getting every resident engaged now, not just to ensure a successful vote in November, but also to get citizens actively involved in making this city the best that it can be for our community and for the rest of DeKalb County, too.”

While the LaVista Hills movement is kicking into gear, opposition to it and to the city of Tucker has been rolling along since before the end of the 2015 legislative session. DeKalb Strong is the most visible of the groups opposing cityhood in DeKalb County.