The Town of Highlands has received five applications from local residents seeking to fill the Board of Commissioners seat left vacant by the retirement of longtime Councilman John Dotson at the end of 2025.
The candidates — Jan Pittman, Bill Grubb, Margot Teed, Darryl Griswold and Marc Hehn — bring a diverse range of professional backgrounds and community service experience to the application process, according to town officials. The brief candidate profiles below are based on information each applicant submitted to the town as part of their application.
Jan Pittman
Pittman, a longtime Macon County resident, has extensive experience in community leadership, including eight years on the board of a large quasi-governmental sector homeowners association, where she served as president. Her tenure included managing multimillion-dollar budgets, overseeing infrastructure improvements and balancing the needs of both residents and short-term renters. Pittman is also known for her nonprofit work, notably transforming an animal shelter into a no-kill facility and fundraising for organizations such as Kids Chance, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Heart Association and Hospice. Her family roots in the area date back to the late 1800s.
Bill Grubb
Grubb brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in operational management, budgeting and regulatory oversight, especially in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. His experience includes managing budgets similar in size to the town’s and navigating regulatory agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration. He has served on the Highlands Planning Board, Greenway Board and ABC Board, gaining insight into both infrastructure and environmental issues. Grubb emphasizes the importance of collaborative planning and transparent decision-making, aiming to balance growth with the preservation of Highlands’ unique character. He is also active in Rotary and other civic organizations.
Margot Teed
Teed has served as both an appointed member and elected chairman of the Highlands Zoning Board for the past seven years. With a background in marketing, fundraising and leadership roles in various community organizations, Teed states that she would like a balanced approach between residential neighborhoods and ongoing commercial growth in Highlands. She and her family have owned property in Macon County for 38 years and she has a long history of community involvement, including work with school PTAs and homeowners associations in both Georgia.
Darryl Griswold
Griswold, an attorney with experience in both private and public sectors, has worked on commercial, business and financial matters as well as public policy. His stated philosophy is to listen first, examine issues from all sides and seek creative solutions to problem-solving. Since moving to Highlands full time, Griswold has participated in Leadership Highlands and currently serves as treasurer of The Literacy & Learning Center and on the finance committee of the Chamber of Commerce. He emphasizes community service and has pledged to approach the role with no agenda other than serving the town’s best interests.
Marc Hehn
Hehn, a former board member, offers decades of public service and has stated he will not seek re-election if appointed. His priorities include improving the town’s water distribution system, updating master plans for drainage and parking, and enhancing public health and safety partnerships. Hehn advocates for new revenue sources, such as local occupancy and prepared-meals taxes, and supports collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and state legislators to secure a greater share of local tax revenues for Highlands.
The selected applicant will serve the remainder of Dotson’s unexpired term. The board has not announced when it will make a decision and is expected to review the appointment process and timeline at its Feb. 19 meeting.
- Josh Bryson
editor@highlandsnews.com