Sunday, October 18, 2009
Opinion, Politics, Atlanta
City Council endorsements
THEY’VE GOT HER VOTE: Stephanie Ramage reveals her endorsements for Atlanta City Council
By Stephanie Ramage
On Aug. 24, I endorsed former state Sen. Kasim Reed for mayor of Atlanta. Among my reasons for doing so, I cited Reed’s track record of being able to work with people who are different from himself. This knack is exemplified in Reed’s effectiveness as a legislator representing Atlanta in the Georgia General Assembly, which is run by rural and suburban white Republicans.
Difficult as that must have been for Reed, if he’s elected mayor on Nov. 3, he will face yet another challenge: governing effectively alongside, or in spite of, the City Council. Nearly half of the council’s present members are running unopposed.
My endorsements are based on The Sunday Paper’s previous coverage of the City Council races (“City Council Shake Up,” News, Sept. 6, and “The Fight for Atlanta’s Citywide Offices,” News, Sept. 13), my own coverage of City Council meetings, interviews with some of the candidates, casual conversations with others, and interviews with neighborhood residents, police, and firefighters.
It has not been an easy task, but here are my endorsements.
POST 1 AT LARGE: ADAM BRACKMAN
When the first notes of suspicion and panic were heard after the Atlanta Police Department’s raid of the Atlanta Eagle, a gay leather bar, on Sept. 10, it would have been easy and politically advantageous for the openly gay Brackman to add his voice to the chorus charging the APD with anti-gay discrimination and denying any possible wrongdoing on the part of the Eagle’s patrons or staff. But Brackman didn’t take the easy route. He’s so far refused to pass judgment on either side of the brouhaha. At present, he’s attentively waiting for the APD’s internal affairs unit to finish its investigation into claims that arresting officers used anti-gay slurs and treated patrons roughly, before drawing a conclusion. The city needs his level-headed, fair-minded approach to controversial issues.
POST 2 AT LARGE: AMIR FAROKHI
Farokhi, an attorney, wants substantially more police officers on the street, and he believes that the recently imposed 42 percent property tax increase should be put to use in accomplishing that. He wants to offer educational grants and property tax breaks for police and firefighters, in addition to reinstating step-pay increases to retain more of the police force. He handily lists the equipment and staffing needs of the fire department. Additionally, Farokhi wants the city to be more careful in using tax allocation districts, which, if foolishly designated, rob it of resources. His plans are detailed, responsible and pragmatic.
POST 3 AT LARGE: SHELITHA ROBERTSON
Who knew the APD’s raid of the Eagle would prove to be such a politically transformative event? It has certainly transformed the profile of Robertson, a former city attorney and member of the APD’s elite REDDOG unit. It was Robertson who, along with District 6 candidate Miguel Gallegos, jumped into the fray to help jailed employees of the Eagle, charged with violating business permit requirements, get released. Not many people knew about Robertson’s past experience as a member of REDDOG until APD Zone 5 Commander Maj. Khirus Williams called her out about it at a forum on the raid on Oct. 5. She served in the unit under Chief Eldrin Bell. Robertson’s background makes her well-suited to the task of looking out for the well-being of police officers and residents alike.
DISTRICT 4: LASHAWN HOFFMAN
In addition to being CEO of the Pittsburg Community Improvement Association, LaShawn Hoffman serves on the Pittsburg neighborhood’s Weed and Seed organization—a Department of Justice program that aims to “weed out” crime and “seed” positive initiatives.
DISTRICT 6: STEVE BRODIE
Brodie has been more active in finding out what can be done to combat crime in the area, more in touch with the police and their priorities, more concerned, more informed, and more focused than any other candidate.
DISTRICT 8: YOLANDA ADREAN
A former Ernst & Young CPA, Adrean is essentially the only viable candidate for this seat.
DISTRICT 11: SILAS KEVIL
Kevil is a retired Atlanta firefighter turned real estate agent, and considering the crisis currently suffered by the fire department, it is imperative that the council include someone who understands, firsthand, the workings and difficulties of the city’s emergency services.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY: NO ENDORSEMENT
Dave Walker probably understands the role of the council president better than anyone else at City Hall. “You don’t have to be a brain surgeon. It doesn’t take Einstein. You only have three responsibilities: presiding over meetings, tie-breaking votes and appointing committees,” the candidate for the post, a longtime City Hall haranguer, told The Sunday Paper in September. His opponents, Councilman Ceasar Mitchell and Councilwoman Clair Muller, have ambitious plans for the office, but I believe that Walker’s absolutely right. The city spends $41,000 on the position, money that might be better spent elsewhere. The presiding duties could be rotated. There hasn’t been a tie vote for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been covering City Hall off and on since 1995. And the Neighborhood Planning Unit presidents could probably appoint council committees via a vote, for free.
COUNCIL INCUMBENTS WORTH KEEPING
- District 1 Councilwoman Carla Smith, who’s running unopposed.
- District 2 Councilman Kwanza Hall, who’s running unopposed.
- District 3 Councilman Ivory Lee Young
- District 5 Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong, who’s running unopposed.
- District 9 Councilwoman Felicia Moore, who’s running unopposed.
- District 12 Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd
SP