In a statement posted on social media Wednesday afternoon, Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman announced he would not be running for re-election in November because his family is facing “significant medical challenges.”
Shipman said he will need to focus time and effort on his family instead of seeking a second term. But Shipman added he will fulfill his duties until the end of his current term.
In response to the Shipman news, Mayor Andre Dickens issued the following statement:
“My heart goes out to City Council President Doug Shipman, his wife and two young children. I’m asking that the entire city join me in prayer for the Shipman family. We will do whatever we can to provide support to our friend and colleague as he navigates this difficult time.”
Here is Shipman’s statement:
The joy and challenge of serving as the Atlanta City Council President has been the daily work to fulfill the aspirations and address the shortcomings of this great city and to energetically represent the residents who call it home. I’ve worked hard to fulfill the commitments I made during the 2021 campaign including successfully redefining the City Council President’s relationship with the mayor, delivering a collaborative and productive City Council, helping adopt tangible improvements to operations, transparency and policy making and using my platform to promote expanding our support for transportation, parks, small businesses, arts sustainability, and our infrastructure. I’ve enjoyed the work, the people and the overall responsibility of serving the public. Coming into this year I had been planning to run for re-election to the City Council President’s office.
Recently my family has come to face significant medical challenges that will require me to focus time and effort on my most important responsibilities as a father, son, husband and brother. While I will continue to vigorously fulfill my duties to the end of my current term, I cannot in good faith ask the voters of Atlanta to elect me again. The City Council President role is a full one and my expectations and the expectations of the voters are ones I cannot fulfill for another four years. I will not be running for re-election.
I appreciate the support of so many and I ask that my family be afforded respect for our privacy regarding the specifics of our situation. These unexpected life changes won’t change a few fundamental things- I will still be in Atlanta, I will continue to make serving our community a central part of my life in both public and private spaces, and I will continue supporting those who are striving to help our city reach its full potential. I will always treasure the trust Atlantans have placed in me to serve.
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