About Brian

My name is Brian Bates and I am running for re-election to the Doraville City Council. I look forward to meeting many of you over the next few months and working together to move the City of Doraville to the next level. Trust is an important part of any campaign. To trust someone, you need to know about them, so I'd like to share my background with you.

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and educated in the Denver Public School System. After graduating from high school in 1989, I attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where I received my Bachelors Degree in Biology, graduating in 1993. While in college, I joined Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity, and was hired to work for the organization following graduation. I moved to Chamblee in 1997, then to Doraville in 2001, where I purchased a home here in our wonderful City.

Presently, I am the co-owner and Principal of The Laurus Group, a professional consulting group that specializes in fundraising and annual communication plans for non-profit organizations, with an emphasis on fraternal organizations.

I have a soft spot in my heart for non-profit organizations. Over the years, I have been privileged to work with many groups as a volunteer and, once again, encourage each of you to take time out of your schedule to help a non-profit organization in our area. We each have talents and skills that can be put to good use. Some of the groups that I have worked with include: Make-A-Wish Foundation; American Cancer Society; Party With A Purpose (served as Volunteer Chairman); Alzheimer's Association; AID Atlanta; Team-In-Training (completed a 116-mile bicycle ride); Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (raised over $5,000); Special Olympics; Habitat For Humanity; and Rails-to-Trails.

Since being elected in November 2007, I have made it a priority for the city to focus on our community building efforts and ensure that the city is current with technology and development trends. Over the last 18-months, the following have taken place:

  • Hired our first full-time city planner
  • Launched a new and enhanced city website
  • Hired full-time accountant
  • Held our first community event, Doraville Days
  • Saw the return of the Doraville 5k
  • Held our first 'Movies Under the Stars' at Honeysuckle Park
  • Begun curb-side recycling program
  • Welcomed our first bicycle patrol program from our Police Department
  • Saw the inaugural Doraville Business Association start-up
  • Completed a complete renovation of English Oak Park
  • Re-wrote our commercial and industrial zoning ordinances
  • Approved the very first community gardens in the city

These are just a few of the highlights that I am proud to have been a part of. Thank you for your interest in me ... and my campaign. I look forward to working with each of you as we ... make Doraville not just a good place to live, work, and play, but a GREAT one!