Atlanta’s got a busy election season ahead. In November, residents will return to the polls to decide on all 15 City Council seats and the Mayorship. Three races are wide open — and the climate is already heating up.
City Council President Doug Shipman announced he would not run for re-election due to family issues; District 2 Councilmember Amir Farokhi announced his resignation to run the Galloway School; and District 11 Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet announced she would run for the City Council President seat instead.
It’s early, but several candidates have already thrown their hat in the ring for the incumbent and open races. The qualifying period for candidates to officially appear on the ballot is Aug. 19-22, but interested contenders must formally declare a run earlier on. That leaves the city with a packed playing field months ahead of the Nov. 4 election day.
Nonpartisan coalition Committee for a Better Atlanta saw the moment as an opportunity. For decades, the group of business and civic organizations has created an annual policy platform and questionnaire that quizzes candidates on key citywide issues. The coalition also interviews each candidate before publishing “scores” on every issue.
On June 17, the committee ran the season’s first candidate forum, a day-long event with 30-minute mini-panels open to candidates who have filed their declaration of intent. This year, the committee chose four policy areas: strong governance and partnerships, inclusive economic growth, safe neighborhoods and a sustainable and connected city.
The questions for each candidate revolved around the policy areas. Each contender was given about 30 seconds to a minute to answer the laser-focused subjects with little space to grandstand.
CBA Board Member Nick Fernandez said the panel helps “shape that early message around what the main issues voters should be focused on.”
It’s a way to set the tone. CBA hosted its panel months ahead of other organizations, establishing a framework for the candidates to hone in on.
“Hearing directly from the candidates as they respond to our platform’s challenges is vital,” CBA Co-Chair Jordan Dawson said. “Engaged voting is the foundation of an inclusive and prosperous Atlanta.”
For contested races like the District 2 City Council seat, a majority of the candidates showed up to answer the questions. But races like the mayor’s office, which is expected to go to incumbent Mayor Andre Dickens, had a different turnout — Dickens didn’t attend the panel, but a lineup of long-shot hopefuls did.
The full candidate forums were posted online. As the races continue, some will certianly drop out, and new hopefuls might declare their runs.
The current candidates are listed below:
District 1
Jason Winston (Incumbent)
Sean Skillings
District 2
Councilmember Amir Farokhi announced his resignation to run The Galloway School, leaving the dense district with Old Fourth Ward, Poncey-Highland, Midtown and Downtown open.
Alex Bevel Jones
Kelsea Bond
Jacob Chambers
Ocean Zotique
Courtney Smith
Rod Mack
James White
District 3
Byron Amos (Incumbent)
Perrin Bostic
District 4
Jason Dozier (Incumbent)
District 5
Liliana Bakhtiari (Incumbent)
Adam Gore-Wright
District 6
Alex Wan (Incumbent)
District 7
Longtime Councilmember Howard Shook recently announced his retirement from office, opening up Lindbergh, Buckhead Heights and Lenox Square Mall.
Jamie Christy
Gerald Thad Flowers
Rebecca King
William Worthy
District 8
Mary Norwood
District 9
Dustin Hills (Incumbent)
Charles Bourgeois
District 10
Andrea L. Boone (Incumbent)
District 11
Marci Collier Overstreet opted to resign from her council seat to run for City Council President, freeing up Niskey Lake, Venetian Hills and Ben Hill.
Andre Burgin
Curt Collier
Steven Dingle
Toni Ingram
Nathan Jester
Keith Lewis
Wayne Martin, Jr.
Reginald Rushin
Sherry Williams
District 12
Antonio Lewis (Incumbent)
Delvin Davis
Stephanie Flowers
Post 1, At-Large
Michael Julian Bond (Incumbent)
Juan Mendoza
Matt Rinker
Post 2, At-Large
Matt Westmoreland (Incumbent)
Post 3, At-Large
Eshé Collins (Incumbent)
Mayor
Andre Dickens (Incumbent)
Helmut Love
Kalema Jackson
Marcus Lamar
Walter Reeves
Larmetria Trammell
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