Born and raised in downtown Ellijay, Sandy Ott has dedicated her life to helping her community and city.
“My mother, Bernice Davis Branch, owned and operated The Men & Boys Clothing Store in Ellijay for over 20 years. From her, I learned firsthand the importance of supporting our local businesses and how small business impacts and makes a difference in our community,” said Ott.
Ott was elected to the Ellijay City Council in 2019 and has served faithfully for almost four years, during which she has been the city’s mayor pro tem.
A member of First Baptist Church of Ellijay and married to Roger Ott for 28 years, Sandy always called Gilmer County and the City of Ellijay home. Raising their three children (Carter, 22; Clay, 20 and Caroline, 20) in Ellijay reinforced Ott’s goals to ensure that the legacy of our community continues for future generations to have the ability and desire to call Ellijay home.
Ott holds a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Shorter College, a Master’s of Education in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University and post graduate work from the University of North Georgia.
Currently, Ott serves as executive director of the University of North Georgia Blue Ridge Campus serving the North Georgia region. While there, she has obtained over $6 million dollars of federal grant funding for the University of North Georgia and still responsibly manages the funding. She was also instrumental in writing the Upward Bound Grant in partnership with Gilmer County Schools to provide post-secondary higher education opportunities to low income, first generation or minority students. The program serves 60 Gilmer High School students each year.
Her community involvement includes serving on the founding board of the Gilmer County Boys and Girls Club, two terms on the Gilmer Chamber Board of Directors, the Gilmer County College and Career Academy board, the Rotary Club, Gilmer High School CTAE Advisory Board, Friends of Harrison Park and the Gilmer Initiative for Community Housing.
Ott is a graduate of Leadership Gilmer, the Georgia Academy of Economic Development and numerous other leadership programs in our region. She served as the State of Georgia Representative for the Appalachian Higher Education Network funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. In 2016, she received the University System of Georgia Gold Leader of the Year Award.
During her time as a city councilmember, the council approved pay increases for the public safety department.
“I’m very supportive of our public safety department,” said Ott. “We increased salaries to become competitive — to recruit and retain the best professionals to serve our city. We also maintained the millage rate, improved Harrison Park and approved numerous street projects.”
But there is still work to be done in the City of Ellijay.
“As your next mayor, I will focus on responsible and sustainable growth, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure improvements, community engagement and a commitment to the values that have defined our community,” said Ott. “I am committed to open communications and transparency in city government. I pledge to be a mayor who listens, who engages and who will work tirelessly to address your concerns.”