Meet the Candidates: Scott Batterton

Editor's Note: In the coming weeks, Lilburn Patch will profile candidates of local political offices.

Scott Batterton is running for re-election to his Post 2 seat in the Lilburn City Elections this November. We talked to Batterton about his life, hobbies, and service.

Batterton has served the community of Lilburn as a dentist since his practice opened in 1979. When consulted to open his practice in either Woodstock, Vinings, or Lilburn, Batterton chose Lilburn because of the outstanding community.

But Batterton has seen the world outside of Lilburn. At 18, he joined the U.S. Navy dental corps for three years. After his first stint with the Navy he met Betty at a church event, now his wife of 42 years. His wife is often at the dental practice helping in any way she can.

Batterton went back into the Navy for a four year period to complete his schooling. Batterton graduated from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1976.

The councilman got involved in city politics when he met the Lilburn police chief at the time. They were always looking for good candidates to be on the Lilburn merit board, so Batterton signed up. He later served on the city council until he was voted out in a clean sweep of the council in 1990.

With seven years with the Navy under his belt, Batterton decided to join the Georgia Army National Guard during Operation Desert Storm in 1990. By April of 2002, He had served a full career as a triage officer. Batterton retired a military veteran. When he came back from Desert Storm he spent a year on the planning commission.

In 1996, Batterton ran a write-in campaign to become Mayor of Lilburn. He was elected and served from 1996 to 2003. He currently holds Post 2 in the Lilburn City Council.

He also serves as chairman for the Gwinnett Stormwater Authority and is on the board of the Gwinnett Hospital Authority. He says he is wanted by the groups for his ability to run meetings, something Batterton feels he has a natural ability for.

"I have an interest in community service," said Batterton. "That's demonstrated in both my military and church service."

Batterton serves as an elder in the Gwinnett Bible Chapel. His daughter, Victoria, is a college student studying surgical technology. His son, Brian, is a police officer and lawyer for the Cobb County Police Department. Brian and his wife, Kathy, have two children, Brandon, 8, and Reagan, 6.

Batterton enjoys spending time with his son and grandchildren riding off-road vehicles. He currently rides his Polaris RZR which seats two people.

"I like to ride them as fast as I can," said Batterton.

Batterton managed to convince his wife to ride the off-road vehicle during the last snow storm in Lilburn. "She hated every minute of it," he said.

His usual riding partners are his two grandchildren. Yet somehow his grandchildren fall asleep while riding. Their caring grandfather holds the chin of their helmet the rest of the way to keep them from getting injured.

"Grandchildren are a gift God gives you for not killing your children," Batterton joked.

As a family man, elder, and serviceman, Batterton hopes to serve Lilburn for years to come.