Council Members and Council Districts

Sandy Springs is divided into six council districts, with Mayor and City Council members elected every four years. The online council district map has a search function you can use to look up the district you reside in. The City also publishes a PDF Council District map.

Other Resources: District 1 Street Map, District 2 Street Map, District 3 Street Map, District 4 Street Map, District 5 Street Map, and District 6 Street Map.

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month, taking place at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, located at 1 Galambos Way. You can find more information about City Council meetings including when they occur and how to participate on the Public Meetings page.

John Paulson - District 1

John N. Paulson serves as Mayor Pro Tempore and Councilmember for District 1 in the City of Sandy Springs, where he has represented residents for nearly 16 years. A longtime community leader, Paulson has lived in Sandy Springs for almost 40 years. His commitment to the city began well before incorporation, when he worked with founding Mayor Eva Galambos in the 1990s on the Committee for Sandy Springs to support the community’s efforts to become a city.

During his time on the City Council, Paulson has helped lead several major projects that improved quality of life and delivered financial savings for residents. In 2019, he worked closely with the Georgia Department of Transportation to realign the GA 400 managed lanes project so that the lanes would pass under the Northridge Road bridge. That design change is estimated to save the state nearly $25 million. He also played a key role in bringing the first new fire station to District 1, Station 5, a project that had been in planning for more than a decade, which has significantly reduced emergency response times. More recently, he strongly supported the creation of Veterans Park across from City Hall, which opened in 2023 as a permanent tribute to military service members.

Professionally, Councilman Paulson is a retired Professional Engineer with nearly 50 years of global consulting and design experience. He specialized in geosynthetic materials and soil-reinforced structures, with particular expertise in retaining wall design over the last 20 years.

Paulson is also deeply involved in volunteer service. He is active with American Legion Post 140 at Chastain Park and is a past president of the Northridge Community Association. A native of Chicago, he earned his engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

A proud Vietnam combat veteran, Paulson served in the United States Marine Corps. He and his wife, Mary, have two children and four grandchildren.

EMAIL: jpaulson@sandyspringsga.gov

Melody Kelley - District 2

Dr. Melody Kelley is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. She also holds a position in Georgia State University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Online Education as a STEM Faculty Associate.

Dr. Kelley has served on the Sandy Springs Charter Middle School and North Springs High School PTO boards and is currently a board member for the Sandy Springs Education Force, a local non-profit that provides a variety of co-curricular programming for public schools in Sandy Springs.

Prior to being elected to office in 2021, Dr. Kelley was a member of the Leadership Council for Sandy Springs Together, a local organization that promotes education around affordable housing access. In 2020, Dr . Kelley was appointed to the Sandy Springs Charter Review Commission by GA State Representative, Josh McLaurin. Additionally, Dr. Kelley is a graduate of both the Sandy Springs Police Department's Citizens Police Academy and the Leadership Sandy Springs program.

A native of Detroit, MI, Dr. Kelley holds degrees in chemistry from Wayne State University and The University of Alabama.

EMAIL: mkelley @sandyspringsga.gov

Melissa Mular - District 3

Melissa Mular is a retired Technology Executive who spent the majority of her career with IBM where she led the service delivery of large, global infrastructure services contracts. She has lived in Sandy Springs for over 25 years, relocating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An experienced businesswoman and accomplished Technology Leader, she is known for her strong work ethic, data-driven approach, and attention to detail.

First elected to the Sandy Springs City Council in 2021 and re-elected in 2025, Melissa has made Public Safety a top priority — ensuring first responders have the facilities, training, and tools they need to keep our neighborhoods safe. She is committed to a “Neighborhoods First” approach that preserves the character and quality of life in Sandy Springs. During her first term, she supported major public safety facility investments, pedestrian-safety enhancements, expanded parks and trail initiatives, and efforts to modernize the City’s data and analytics capabilities.

Before joining the Council, Melissa served for ten years on the Autumn Chace Homeowners Association in multiple Board and Committee positions, including President. Through this work, she gained deep experience in zoning, infrastructure, and community stewardship, and learned the importance of bringing individual interests together for the long-term sustainability of the community.

Melissa holds a Master’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Duquesne University and maintains an active Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute.

EMAIL: mmular@sandyspringsga.gov

Frank Roberts - District 4

A Vietnam veteran, retired police sergeant, and Sandy Springs resident since 2007, Frank Roberts brings decades of service and steady, real-world leadership to the City Council representing District 4. He was elected to the Sandy Springs City Council in 2025 and sworn into office in January 2026, continuing a lifelong commitment to public safety, integrity, and community.

Roberts built his life around the values of honesty, hard work, and responsibility, and he emphasizes that he is not a career politician but a neighbor, veteran, and public servant offering common-sense leadership. His approach to governing is grounded in balance, between economic growth and neighborhood preservation, safety and freedom, and development and livability.

On Council, Roberts focuses on protecting neighborhood integrity by standing against overdevelopment that threatens the character and quality of life in residential communities. Drawing on more than 30 years in law enforcement with both the Atlanta Police Department and the Sandy Springs Police Department and service in the United States Navy, he advocates for strong public safety, well-supported police and emergency services, and improved civic infrastructure that keeps families safe.

EMAIL: froberts@sandyspringsga.gov

Mary Ford - District 5

Mary Ford serves on the Sandy Springs City Council, representing District 5. She was elected in 2025 and sworn into office in January 2026. A longtime Sandy Springs resident and committed community advocate, Mary is focused on public safety, strong neighborhoods, economic development, and ensuring the city’s growth remains thoughtful and sustainable to protect the quality of life residents value.

Mary brings years of hands-on civic involvement to her role on Council, including board-level service with local non-profits, professional associations, and community organizations. As former President of the High Point Civic Association, she is known for her accessible and responsive leadership style, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, listening to residents, and communicating clearly about city decisions. She has completed the Sandy Springs Citizens Academy, Sandy Springs Citizens Police Academy, Leadership Perimeter and Leadership Atlanta.

Professionally, Mary brings a background that combines private-sector experience in diverse, cross-functional roles with fast-growing technology companies, equipping her with a strong understanding of budgets, strategic planning, and collaboration across diverse stakeholders. Ford currently serves as chief marketing officer at CENTEGIX, a leading safety technology company that protects schools, hospitals and government facilities nationwide. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a master’s in telecommunications from George Washington University.

Mary views her role on City Council as a partnership with the people of District 5 and the broader Sandy Springs community. She encourages residents to stay engaged, share their perspectives, and work together to preserve what makes Sandy Springs special while preparing the city for a strong and successful future.

EMAIL: mford@sandyspringsga.gov

Andrew Chinsky - District 6

Andrew Chinsky represents District 6 on the Sandy Springs City Council. A resident of the Riverside neighborhood, Chinsky lives with his wife and two children. He serves as Associate General Counsel for a national business headquartered in Atlanta, following nearly a decade of private practice at two global law firms.

Chinsky holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, with a focus on economic and community development. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Active in the Sandy Springs community, Chinsky has participated in Leadership Perimeter and the Sandy Springs Citizens’ Leadership Academy. He serves on the Board of Trustees for University of Michigan Hillel, belongs to Temple Sinai and Congregation B'nai Torah, and is active in his children’s schools. An avid runner, Chinsky has completed all six World Marathon Majors and enjoys the City’s sidewalks and trail network.

As one of four generations of his family living within 15 minutes of his home, ranging in age from preschool to their 90’s, Chinsky is committed to supporting young families, seniors, and people of all life stages throughout Sandy Springs.

EMAIL: achinsky@sandyspringsga.gov