Why I’m Running for Mayor of Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs has been stuck for too long. After 12 years of excuses about interest rates, market conditions, and COVID, we’re still waiting for the vibrant city we deserve. City Springs 2.0 sits underutilized. The North End has remained stagnant for seven years. Roswell Road is lined with vacant lots and empty storefronts.

I don’t accept “impossible.”

My top priority is building Sandy Springs where families thrive, businesses grow, and every neighborhood feels like home. That means three things:

First, transform our city into a destination. City Springs 2.0, Roswell Road, and the North End need restaurants, shops, and gathering spaces that give residents reasons to stay local. While neighboring cities have thriving downtowns, we’re still waiting. No more excuses, I’ll work directly with property owners and developers to make this happen.

Second, establish our own Sandy Springs school system. I’m the ONLY candidate committed to this. My opponents say it’s “impossible.” Fulton County Schools is heading toward insolvency and doesn’t listen to our community. With amendments to existing laws, we can create a municipal charter school system. I’m building coalitions with other cities and working with legislators to deliver local control for our 8,800 students.

Third, create homeownership opportunities. With 26,000 apartments and over half of our residents renting, we need homes that residents can afford and use to build wealth. I’ll encourage redevelopment of aging apartments into townhomes, condos, and single-family homes while protecting existing neighborhoods.

I’ve already delivered results: North Springs High School ($180 million, under construction), 28 pickleball courts, and I’ve stopped wasteful deals, including one that would have given a developer $55 million in bonds to profit $12.5 million while adding 187 subsidized units to a failing property.

“As a recent North Springs grad, I saw firsthand what Jody Reichel can accomplish. She fought for years to get us a new high school, despite everyone saying it was impossible. If she can do that for students, imagine what she’ll do for our entire city,” by Adam Greenstein, of North Springs High School Class of 2024, Duke University.

Transparency matters. When Mt. Vernon School requested lights, many in my own neighborhood opposed it. I voted yes because it was right for young families and our community — even though it meant I had to give up some support at home. Mayor Paul voted no. That’s the difference: I make decisions for all of Sandy Springs, not just the loudest voices.

I’ll open government to fresh voices by recruiting new citizens to serve on our committees, commissions, and foundations. Community input will happen early, when it can shape outcomes. My cell number is on my campaign card — I want to hear from you.

“I have first-hand knowledge of Jody’s ability to drive results. She’s a leader who has the best interests of our city at heart and will help make Sandy Springs an even better place to live,” said Valerie W, Sandy Springs resident.

Traffic requires both immediate repairs and a long-term strategy. We’re completing the widening of Hammond Drive and optimizing the signals. But the real solution is creating destinations worth staying for. When we build vibrant districts, residents make fewer trips. Empty storefronts guarantee people will drive elsewhere.

I’ll wear one hat: Mayor of Sandy Springs. My focus will be 100 percent on this city. You deserve a mayor who shows up, tells the truth, and gets things done.

Jody Reichel is a two-term City Council member and a 30-year Sandy Springs resident. She and her husband, Ken, are members of Temple Sinai, where Ken is the treasurer. An entrepreneur, civic leader, and marathoner, Reichel is a proud mother and stepmother. Her children graduated from The Davis Academy and North Springs High School.