www.ADWnews.com
voters guide
October 24 - 30, 2013
voters guide
www.ADWnews.com
October 24 - 30, 2013
Mayor, Others Campaign for Votes By Dion Rabouin ADW Digital Editor
Atlantans will make their choices for mayor, as well as city council, municipal court judges and school board representatives on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Many of the elections are citywide contests, while others will be played out exclusively in individual districts around the city. Around the city, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., and voters within the City of Atlanta, who registered by Oct.7, will have the opportunity to vote. On this year’s docket, incumbent Mayor Kasim Reed is facing challenges from Al Bartell, Fraser Duke and Glenn S. Wrightson. Reed has raised more than $2.5 million for his campaign, according to the AJC, and is a heavy favorite in the race. While many in the Atlanta political community expect Reed to win handily, the mayor appeared publicly in the same room as Bartell, Duke and Wrightson at an election-related event last week for the first time in the campaign season, a person close to the Bartell camp told the Daily World. As for the Atlanta City Council, each of the 12 Atlanta City Council seats will be voted upon, though not every candidate will be opposed. City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell is taking on Rachele Fruit, a factory worker who has not previously held political office. Mitchell has served as City Council president since 2010 and as a councilman since 2001. Two of the three at-large city council races will likely be competitive, particularly the race for the Post 3 At-Large seat currently occupied by H. Lamar Willis, who is seeking reelection against challenger Andre Dickens. Dickens has enlisted the support of former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who criticized Willis’ professional record after he was disbarred by the Georgia Supreme Court this month. Willis fired back, and all three parties have since been embroiled in
a bit of back-and-forth mudslinging. The race for Post 2 At-Large features incumbent Aaron Watson against former councilwoman and 2009 Atlanta mayoral candidate Mary Norwood. Norwood vacated the Post 2 At-Large seat to run for mayor in 2009 and lost to Reed by about 700 votes. Councilman Michael Julian Bond is running unopposed to retain his position as the Post 1 At-Large representative. In district elections, incumbent Carla Smith is running against Robert Welsh and Bill Powell in District 1; Kwanza Hall is running unopposed to maintain his District 2 seat; Councilman Ivory Young is facing a challenge from the Rev. Darrion Fletcher, a Vine City activist who also ran against Young in 2009, and Patricia Harris Crayton; Cleta Winslow faces off against Toriel “Torry” Lewis, a Clark Atlanta Ph.D. candidate in District 4; District 5 Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong faces off against four challengers: Christian Enterkin, Jon Jones, John Paul Michalik and Matt Rinker; Alex Wan will fight for his seat against challengers Mike Boyle and Tracey Austin; incumbent Howard Shook is up against Bobby Montgomery and Abid Haque in District 7; Yolanda Adams is running unopposed in District 8; Felicia Moore, in District 9, will face a challenge from first-time council candidate Duwon Robinson, who also ran for mayor in 2009, and Ricardo Mosby; Clarence “C.T.” Martin is running unopposed for his District 10 seat; Keisha Lance Bottoms is up against Ron Shakir in District 11; and Joyce M. Sheperd is unopposed in the race for her District 12 seat. Also up for election are seats on the Atlanta Board of Education, including two open at-large seats in District 5 and District 6. The races for school board feature the following candidates,
including three open seats: Board of Education Member, District 1: incumbent Brenda J. Muhammad against Leslie Grant. Board of Education Member, District 2: Byron D. Amos is unopposed. Board of Education Member, District 3: Matt Westmoreland is unopposed. Board of Education Member, District 4: incumbent Nancy M. Meister against Taryn Chilivis Bowman. Board of Education Member, District 5: (open seat) features Steven Lee, Charles Lawrence, Mary L. Palmer, Raynard Johnson and Kathy Green. Board of Education Member, District 6: (open seat) features Eshe’ Collins, Anne Wofford McKenzie, Dell Byrd and Shawnna Hayes-Tavares. Board of Education Member, District 7: At Large: incumbent Courtney D. English faces former board member Nisha Simama. Board of Education Member, District 8: At Large: incumbent Reuben McDaniel faces Dave Walker, Tom Tidwell, Cynthia Briscoe Brown and Mark B. Riley. A run-off election will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 3, if the race for any particular seat(s) results in no single candidate receiving at least 50 percent plus one (1) vote. Should a runoff election be necessary, only the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for each office will compete. Voters will also decide whether Atlanta Municipal Court Judges Barbara A. Harris, Elaine Carlisle, Calvin Graves, Gary Jackson, Crystal Gaines, Christopher Ward and Terrinee Gundy will be retained.
Dear Atlantans:
“ We’ve turned our economy around, hired more than 750 police officers, built the largest police force in the city’s history, reduced violent crimes by more than 17 percent, fully staffed our fire department and grown our cash reserve from 7.4 million dollars to more than 126 million dollars in less than 4 years. We have also reopened our once closed recreation centers and are turning them into Centers of Hope for children and seniors. Working together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish for Atlanta.” - Mayor Kasim Reed
This November 5th as you make your way to the voting polls, I ask that you give close and careful consideration to your vote for Atlanta City Council. When you do, I am confident you will join me in re-electing Mary Norwood as our City-Wide Post 2 Independent Voice. Atlanta has changed since 1969 when I first entered public service. From my days as an Alderman to City Council President to my judicial duties, I have proudly watched our city grow, prosper, evolve, and thrive as an international presence. I take a great deal of pride in my small contribution to our success, and remain confident our progress will continue.
Let’s Re-Elect Mary Norwood
Your Independent voice on Atlanta City Council!
Citywide Post 2 www.marynorwood.com
Independent. Progressive. Effective. 8
www.marynorwood.com Facebook: facebook.com/ElectNorwood Twitter: @MaryNorwood Home: 404-237-3774 Mobile: 404-824-1014
Through her eight years of service on City Council, Mary Norwood has also been an active partner in Atlanta’s success. I have known Mary for many years and know her to be a good woman of integrity, honesty, and action. As she has amply demonstrated, she is a problem solver; reaching out to neighborhoods and communities across Atlanta to address concerns and issues; always inclusive, always concerned. Mary is an independent voice with no agenda except to serve Atlanta and make our city the very best place to call home. This November 5th, please join me in re-electing Mary Norwood to City Council. She is an open book; ready to serve; ready to work. Without a doubt, with Mary Norwood on City Council, you will know who represents you, what she’s doing, and what she plans to do. Mary Norwood is there for you, for me, for Atlanta. I’d bet my bow tie on it. Sincerely,
Judge Marvin Arrington (ret.)
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