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It’s official: qualifying week has passed, and the field for Peachtree City’s 2025 election is set. On November 4th, voters will choose a mayor and two councilmembers.
The ballot is as follows:
- Mayor: Incumbent Kim Learnard vs. Steve Brown
- Councilmember Post 3: Incumbent Clint Holland vs. Joseph Campbell
- Councilmember Post 4: Michael Polacek vs. James Clifton
In earlier columns, I’ve reviewed Mayor Learnard, Brown, and Clifton. This week, I focus on newcomer Michael Polacek—what he stands for, what issues he is prioritizing, and why he believes he’s the right choice for Post 4. To explore those questions, I reviewed his campaign materials like his website and sat down with him at Line Creek Brewery for a wide-ranging conversation that revealed both his potential and his blind spots.
Who Is Michael Polacek?
Michael Polacek’s biography reads like a Peachtree City success story. His parents and sister fled communist Czechoslovakia in search of freedom, eventually settling in Glenloch Village, where he attended Huddleston Elementary, Booth Middle, and McIntosh High. He worked his first job at Partners II Pizza and spent his childhood exploring the city’s fields, ponds, and cart paths—experiences he now invokes as evidence of his deep local roots.
After college, he worked as a budget writer for the Georgia House of Representatives. He later held senior roles in the Kemp administration and currently serves as Director of Health Policy at Piedmont Healthcare. Earlier this year, Kennesaw State University included him in its inaugural 40 Owls Under 40 list, and locally, Polacek serves on the Recreation Advisory Board where he has emphasized maintaining parks and facilities before launching into major new projects.
When announcing his campaign, he framed his candidacy around protecting “the small-town values that make Peachtree City one of the best places to live.” But the real question for voters is whether his resume and platform translates into practical governance solutions.
Michael Polacek’s Platform
Fiscal Responsibility and Taxes
Polacek’s signature promise is to roll back the millage rate every year. He says his own property assessment rose about 80 percent and argues residents across the city are facing similar increases. “The ultimate goal will always be a full rollback at the millage rate,” he said in the interview.
When asked how this would work financially, Polacek declined to name specific numbers or identify which services might be reduced. He said those decisions would depend on staff forecasts and city revenue projections. As alternatives, he suggested opportunities such as public-private partnerships around recreation. He also pointed to Peachtree City’s zero-based budgeting process — where each program must be re-justified from scratch every year rather than carried forward automatically — as a tool to reassess spending annually, though he did not cite particular programs for elimination.
On cash reserves, Polacek argued that the city’s balance is higher than necessary and should be used for infrastructure projects while maintaining the AAA bond rating. He cited his experience as a state budget writer during COVID, when Georgia’s rainy-day fund helped soften agency cuts, as evidence that reserves should be actively evaluated and not left untouched indefinitely.
Transparency and Citizen Input
Polacek ties his emphasis on transparency to his family’s history of fleeing communist Czechoslovakia. He has called the city’s current public-comment rules frustrating, particularly the three-minute speaking limit and overall cap on time, which can cut residents off before they finish. He said he would support removing those restrictions and trusts meetings can remain orderly without them.
Beyond council sessions, he has proposed hosting quarterly town halls and keeping open “office hours” to meet with residents. He expressed skepticism about adopting formal civility pledges, saying he prefers direct dialogue with citizens.
Quality of Life and Services
Polacek has been critical of the city’s current yard-debris policy, which now bans open burning and relies on private haulers and drop-off sites. He proposes a city-run pickup program funded within the existing budget, potentially coordinated through the city’s app so residents could request service. He acknowledged that operational details and costs would need to be developed.
On commercial revitalization, he cited the recently vacated NCR building as an example of underused property the city should seek to fill with revenue-generating businesses. He has not outlined a specific redevelopment vision but supports exploring public private partnerships, pointing to recreation and entertainment initiatives such as hosting tournaments and events as ways to diversify city revenue and make Peachtree City more of a destination.
In recreation, Polacek points to his service on the Recreation Advisory Board. He has emphasized the need to maintain existing parks and facilities before pursuing major new projects. He supported pickleball expansion but voted against locating courts near Planterra, citing traffic concerns.
Preserving Peachtree City
Polacek opposes new apartments and the rezoning of commercial or industrial property for residential use. He frames this position as protecting greenspace and preserving the city’s village identity.
Asked about housing affordability for teachers, police, and other workers, he said he is open to reviewing possible solutions but has not committed to any specific approach.
On public safety, he has pledged strong support for law enforcement and described public safety as one of the reasons Peachtree City is “one of the safest communities in Georgia.” He has also raised concerns about cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors. While acknowledging that this is primarily a state issue, he said the city can use its platform and his state connections to help pursue solutions.
Infrastructure and Traffic
On the Highway 54/74 corridor, Polacek said the project is under state control and that campaign promises to solve it with city dollars are “empty.” He said his advantage would be his relationships with state leaders, which he believes could help secure funding for improvements.
For local traffic issues, he expressed support for roundabouts as cost-effective solutions and identified Robinson Road at Peachtree Parkway near Braelinn Elementary and Walt Banks near McIntosh High School as priority intersections for improvements.
On the cart path system, he said ADA accessibility is the most pressing need, citing smoother transitions at speed humps, resurfacing, and tunnel upgrades as examples. He also suggested streamlining golf cart registration through better coordination with local dealers.
Growth, Annexation, and Planning
Polacek supports updating the city’s growth boundary study, which has not been revised since 2014, calling it “common sense.” He said annexation decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis and limited to revenue-generating projects that do not overextend city services.
He backs the city’s ongoing Unified Development Ordinance process, calling it an overdue modernization, and said he would like to see additional measures related to golf cart safety.
Looking ahead, he noted that his term would overlap with the 2027 comprehensive plan update, where he would prioritize revenue-generating development while continuing to oppose apartments and residential rezonings.
Council Dynamics and Governance
Polacek describes collaboration as one of his strengths, developed during his time at the State Capitol. He said he would bring more civility to council and establish additional channels for residents to engage through town halls and office hours. He remains skeptical of civility pledges, saying he prefers candid conversation.
Regarding his commitment to the role and his availability, he said his employer gives him the flexibility to balance his career with council duties. He has pledged to “fulfill all duties and go the extra mile.”
What Should We Make Of Polacek’s Platform?
Michael Polacek brings substantial credentials to the race. His background spans local experience and state-level policy work, giving him familiarity with how different levels of government operate. His platform addresses real local challenges with some original thinking, but some ideas still need further development.
Polacek’s pledge to roll back the millage rate demonstrates both his political instincts and his policy gaps. It resonates with property owners facing higher assessments, but without identifying service reductions or new revenue sources, it remains more aspirational than operational. His yard debris pickup proposal follows the same pattern—focused on a genuine frustration, but without the logistical details that would make it workable.
Several of his stated priorities also overlap with projects already included in the current SPLOST package, such as path resurfacing, ADA upgrades, and traffic improvements at Robinson Road. What remains unclear is whether Polacek would simply champion these ongoing initiatives or propose expanding them with additional city resources—a distinction that matters in light of his simultaneous calls for annual tax rollbacks and using reserves for capital projects.
Where Polacek is strongest is in process and relationships. He understands state-local dynamics and could use his connections to secure infrastructure resources. His emphasis on transparency and open participation reflects personal conviction rather than campaign positioning. And his collaborative style, shaped by his time at the State Capitol, may offer a constructive contrast to the divisions that have marked recent council sessions.
The Choice For Post 4 Voters
Since there is no incumbent in the Post 4 race, the fundamental question for voters is what type of newcomer they prefer to serve on city council. Michael Polacek offers original analysis of real municipal challenges, though some solutions need further development. His opponent, James Clifton, has built a campaign around claims that do not align with documented city operations—from concerns about public participation policies that were recently updated, to criticism of fiscal management despite the city’s AAA bond rating and the millage rate reduction adopted last year.
Polacek represents a candidate with relevant experience who is addressing genuine city issues. His state-level background, local roots, and interest in municipal challenges suggest someone with the capacity to develop more detailed policy positions. His platform’s gaps—unclear implementation plans and contradictory fiscal promises—remain concerns, but they are issues that could be addressed through further research and refinement.
Clifton presents a different challenge. His platform repeatedly mischaracterizes city policies and operations, and much of it appears lifted directly from his running mate Steve Brown. That combination raises doubts not only about accuracy but also about whether Clifton offers an independent vision for the council race.
Polacek has the remaining weeks of the campaign to clarify his positions and reconcile tensions in his fiscal approach. For voters, the decision comes down to choosing between a candidate who is wrestling with real municipal challenges but still working through the details, and one whose platform relies on mischaracterizations and borrowed ideas.
In local government, where effective governance depends on practical problem-solving and measurable results, the choice between these two candidates may prove decisive.
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