Tim Montgomery, Dacula City Councilman

Dacula City Councilman Tim Montgomery’s love for animals led him into a career in veterinary medicine. His career in veterinary medicine then led him into the local political scene.

“I was asked by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association to head a task force to rewrite the veterinary practice act," he said. "I worked with the legislature for six years on this and after working in the process and seeing first hand how poorly things were run I decided to run for the state house of representatives."

Montgomery lost that election but he gained a new understanding of politics, especially its darker side. When a city councilman resigned to run for mayor, Montgomery was asked to fill his vacancy. 

“When the next election came up, I was asked to run for the office again,” he recalled. “I agreed to run, but was not going to spend money to win the election. I said I would debate anyone anywhere but I had seen how organized political parties operated and did not want any part of a paid campaign.”

“I continue to serve because the local government is the closest to the citizens and offers the most direct avenue for effective, timely change,” added Montgomery.

Montgomery has lived most of his life here in this area. He was born and raised in Auburn, Georgia.  He graduated with honors from Winder-Barrow High School in 1976. From there he went on to earn degrees from Gainesville College, The University of Georgia College of Agriculture, and then the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.  Montgomery has won several distinctions and awards during his long veterinary career. 

Montgomery started the Dacula Animal Hospital in 1986, the same year he married Leslie Fowler of Dacula. They had a son Michael that died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in 2005, and they have a daughter who is now 19 who will be graduating from . Montgomery also serves as a deacon at Appalachee Baptist Church in Auburn.

“The best thing about living in Dacula is the people. God has placed some of the nicest most caring people on the face of the earth right here in this spot,” he said. “I also like the fact that we are somewhat isolated from big city life but close enough the take advantage of the cultural and entertainment activities when we feel the need.”

Montgomery’s love for Dacula spills over into a passion to see the city overcome current challenges while positioning itself for a prosperous future. Montgomery believes the most pressing problems facing Dacula right now are traffic issues involving Dacula Road, Harbins Road, Highway 316, Fence Road and Highway 8.

“Unfortunately these roads are county or state roads and the city cannot authorize construction or repairs,” he said. “We also have to secure sewer for the city south of the railroad so that this area of the city does not continue to decay due to a lack of development."

"We cannot allow the core of the city to decay waiting on the county to bring sewer service in thirty or forty years. We do not want to be a developed doughnut with a rotten center,” he said.

Montgomery has a long-term vision for Dacula that involves taking advantage of it’s strategic location in Gwinnett County. 

“We need to foster development in small industries that will bring in high paying jobs to Dacula,” he said. “Our access to (highway) 316, the railroad and proximity to Atlanta, Athens and the new Georgia Gwinnett University makes Dacula a place ripe for high tech businesses to prosper.”

Montgomery is troubled by the apparent lack of attention Dacula has received from the county over the years. 

“Dacula has been the forgotten, red-headed step child of the county and suffered from poor to non-existent representation at that level for a long time," he said. "The current county long range plan does not recommend sewer for the Dacula area for the next thirty years yet plans to upgrade and replace the sewers in the western part of the county with our tax money." 

“Maybe now with a Dacula native serving as chairperson of the board, Dacula may at least get some attention from the county and we can work together to make Dacula a place where we can not only see our children get a good education but be able to stay here and raise a family with a good local job and the opportunity to prosper without having to move away and leave family behind,” added Montgomery.