Benita Cotton-Orr for Sky Valley

Platform: “Preserving Sky Valley’s Heart and Future”

Benita Cotton-Orr is the founder and principal of High Grounds Consulting LLC, a Sky-Valley-based firm specializing in policy, communications and strategic public affairs.

The native of South Africa immigrated to the United States in 1986. She spent 13 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, leaving the AJC Editorial Board to become vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. She resigned after 19 years at the Foundation to launch High Grounds Consulting. Benita and her husband, Scott, purchased their Sky Valley home in 2018 and made the move permanent in 2022. She created the “Sweet on Sky Valley” Facebook page and group, and she and Scott are active in the Country Club, Garden Club, and Golf Club.

A 2007 graduate of Leadership Georgia, Benita has a lengthy record of public service in Georgia. Among her current positions, she is a two-term member of the Georgia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, a Fellow at Do No Harm medical and policy advocacy group, Chairman of the Rabun County Republican Party, and an active and respected grassroots leader in Georgia. On September 17, 2025, Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Blake Tillery announced he has asked Benita to help write the enabling legislation for the Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax.

As Mayor, Benita will use her extensive network and experience in communications, public policy and the political arena to benefit all Sky Valley residents and property owners. Whether year-round or part-time, all Sky Valley’s taxpayers deserve to be included and informed.

Open government: A longtime champion of government transparency, Benita believes “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” She is committed to transparency to the extent allowed by law; consistency in the application of ordinances; integrity in all dealings with government, citizens and vendors, and clarity and unambiguous communication of City Hall’s actions and decisions. Much discord results from the lack of information. For example, the City has yet to inform individual property owners who are included in the proposed sewer system.

Fiscal responsibility: A fiscal conservative, Benita will prioritize targeted, cost-effective responses to budget and infrastructure challenges. Specifically, it is unacceptable to implement a multi-million-dollar, septic-to-sewer plan based on a “feasibility study.” As mayor she will insist the City conducts a needs assessment: Identify the scope and extent of septic problems and whether and what property owners have done as remediation. Explore alternatives and whether the sewer proposal is using taxpayer dollars to resolve an insurmountable septic problem or is simply a new City revenue stream. Ultimately, Benita is skeptical that costs will stop at $5 million, that only connected users will bear the cost, and that this exorbitant response is needed.

Responsible growth: A major concern is Merrill Trust’s multi-use development. Like many residents, Benita maintains the new urbanism village “concept” plan’s density will overwhelm our infrastructure. Property owners deserve an impact study to understand the consequences on the community: water, the environment, traffic, personnel, etc. We may not be able to prevent growth. Nor should we. But as chief policy advocate, the mayor has an obligation to exercise due diligence in ensuring Sky Valley grows responsibly, mindful of the serenity that drew us all here. Developers must return to the drawing board and show good faith by including the City and residents. We should not be surprised by developers’ plans, or facilitate unreasonable plans. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Vote for Benita. Vote for preserving Sky Valley’s heart and future.

benitaforskyvalley.com or Facebook.com/Benitaforskyvalleyga. Contact Benita 404-697-4419 or benitaforskyvalley@gmail.com.