On November 4, 2025, Senoia elected a new mayor and a new city councilman. But before the titles, before the oaths, and before the first meetings, Scott Tigchelaar and Brent Anderson were already familiar faces around town — neighbors who had been quietly investing their time, energy, and hearts into the community they love.
This moment marks the beginning of their official service, but not the beginning of their connection to Senoia. Long before ballots were cast, both men had been showing up — building, serving, listening, and helping shape the town in ways that had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with people.
That shared foundation is what makes their story worth telling now — not as policymakers, but as individuals stepping into leadership with deep roots already planted.
Finding Home in an Unexpected Place
Scott Tigchelaar’s path to Senoia didn’t begin with city hall — it began with curiosity and a pull toward something different. Growing up in Canada, Scott was always drawn to the American South and the pace of life that came with it. He jokes now that he was voted “most likely to become American,” a line that feels fitting given where life eventually led him — even if it wasn’t an official yearbook title.
He first arrived in Georgia in the early 1990s, working alongside his uncles at Riverwood Studios — then the only movie studio in the state. After several years in the film industry, changing international incentives pulled production back to Canada, and Scott returned north. But Georgia never quite let go.
In 2003, Scott came back with his young family and a vision — not for office, but for place. He wanted to raise his children somewhere that felt personal, grounded, and connected. Partnering with industry leaders, he played a role in helping revive Georgia’s film industry, which would eventually help place Senoia on a global stage.
At the same time, Scott noticed something closer to home.
Downtown Senoia was fragile. “There were only a handful of businesses on Main Street,” Scott recalls. He describes it as looking like a toothless smile — solid buildings with noticeable gaps where life should have been. Vacant parcels dotted downtown, and at one point, the most serious development proposal was a Dollar General at the entrance to Main Street.
Many years prior, longtime residents successfully fought to reroute Highways 16 and 85 around downtown — a pivotal decision that avoided state highway types of development and helped preserved Senoia’s character. Fast forward to 2007, Scott’s family was able to purchased 22 vacant parcels and engage a classical historic architectural firm to re-create a blueprint for downtown — not just for buildings, but for how the town should feel.
Scott never set out to be a developer, and he has never developed anywhere else. He simply stepped in during a critical moment to help guide growth in a way that honored Senoia’s history rather than replacing it.
“You can’t stop growth,” Scott says. “You can only shape it.”
That belief continues to guide him as he begins this new chapter of service.
A Life Built on Connection
Brent Anderson’s journey to leadership followed a different road — but arrived at the same destination. After years working as a home builder in Henry County, Brent felt called in 2008 to take over a church in Senoia, despite having no formal background in vocational ministry. For eight years, he led with a simple question at the center of everything he did: How do we connect people?
He focused on relationships over programs, presence over performance. Over time, his heart for people expanded beyond the church walls and into the broader community.
When the church closed in 2016, the story didn’t end — it transformed. That same building became home to i58 Mission, an organization now serving families across Coweta County and beyond.
A year earlier, Brent and his wife had taken another leap of faith, purchasing Senoia Coffee. Neither had experience running a coffee shop. What they did have was a vision.
Brent saw the space not simply as a business, but as a modern front porch — a place where people could gather, talk, and feel known. Over the years, Senoia Coffee became exactly that. All four of Brent’s children worked there during their formative years, learning not just how to make coffee, but how to care for people.
“This is our place,” Brent says. “And these are our people.”
Rooted, Not Passing Through
Both Scott and Brent share a quiet gratitude for building full lives without having to leave.
Scott’s commute spans just a few blocks. His children went off to college and came back. His family roots have grown deeper with each passing year, and his first grandchild is on the way.
Brent and his wife raised their four children in Senoia. Their family rhythms — school, work, faith, business, and community — all unfolded within the same familiar streets.
That rootedness isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a town shaped intentionally — and by people willing to invest for the long haul.
Stepping Into Service
Neither man ever set out to run for office. In fact, both resisted the idea initially. But over time, they felt a responsibility to step forward — not to change Senoia, but to help protect what makes it special.
Their election in November marks the beginning of a new chapter, one they approach with humility and gratitude. They see the next several years as an important season for Senoia — a time when momentum from community events, small businesses, and neighborhood connections can continue to flourish if guided thoughtfully.
Their focus isn’t policy first — it’s people first. Growth will come. It always does. But both believe it can be shaped in a way that preserves Senoia’s personality, honors its history, and strengthens its sense of community.
“We’re honored,” Scott says, “to help steward what’s next.”
And that’s the heart of this story. At the start of their service, Senoia isn’t being led by strangers. It’s being led by neighbors — two men who planted roots long before they ever took office, and who now step forward to serve the town they already call home.
Not as politicians. But as people.