Municipal Candidates at Southwest Atlanta Forum

The Next Four Years

It’s election season and let me tell you, there are a lot of items on the docket. Not to worry, I’ve got your shortlist right here. Whether it’s Atlanta Board of Education, City Hall, or the Georgia Public Service Commission, it’ll all be covered here. Be sure to scroll to the end because there is an” Act 358, SB 330: Independent School District Ad Valorem for Educational Purposes” measure to vote on as well concerning whether or not our seniors will get a break on paying a portion of school board taxes.

This is long, so here is an outline of what’s below, to help you navigate:

Special Statewide Election

Georgia Public Service Commission Districts 2 & 3

City of Atlanta

Mayor of Atlanta
City Council President
At-Large Posts 1, 2, & 3
City Council Districts 10, 11, & 12
Board of Education Districts 2, 6, and At-Large Post 8
Municipal Court Judges
Act 358, SB 330 concerning senior homestead exemptions for $50,000 of assessed value

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State Wide Special Election (1 of 2)

Georgia Public Service Commission District Map. We are in district 3, but we’ll be voting for both district 2 and 3 positions, state-wide.

Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC)

Utility bills are generally affected by who is serving in your GPSC district. Though Cascade (and all of Fulton County) is located in District 3, we will be voting for both statewide districts 2 and 3 in this partisan race. Here are the candidates for GPSC Districts 2 and 3:

GPSC District 2 - In alphabetical order:

Tim Echols (R, Incumbent)
Alicia Johnson (D)

GPSC District 3 - In alphabetical order:

Peter Hubbard (D)
Fitz Johnson (R, Incumbent)

City of Atlanta (2 of 2)

The Mayor, City Council President, and City Council Members' seats are all open for election and/or re-election. Nine Municipal Court Judges are up for retention. What’s retention in this case? Well, our municipal judges are each appointed by Atlanta Mayors, and during each of their election seasons, we get to decide if they should be “retained.” They don’t have opponents, because they were not elected by the people. On your ballot, you will simply select “Yes,(keep them)” or “No (don’t keep them).”

Atlanta Mayor

The Executive Branch of the City of Atlanta is headed by our mayor. Mayor Andre Dickens is the incumbent seeking another four-year term. There are three people running against him for the position. Here is the list of candidates of the nonpartisan mayoral race in alphabetical order:

Atlanta City Council President

The City Council President is an independent office. Some duties of the council president are to decide which council members sit on the council’s standing committees. If there is a tie in a council vote, the president can break the tie. Another rare duty of the council president is to step in as mayor in the event that the mayor may be unable to perform their duties. Essentially, if city policy, and thus the city’s future were a deck of cards, the president gets to stack the deck, deal the cards and call the game if a misdeal was claimed. Doug Shipman, the current City Council President, is not running for reelection. Here is a bit about the two candidates vying for this opening seat, in alphabetical order, as they will appear on the ballot:

Rohit Malhotra
Malhotra is a policy professional, and founder of 10-year old Atlanta’s Center for Civic Innovation, a nonprofit for civic education and engagement, as well as funding Black and Women-led nonprofit organizations that help develop and address economic disparities.
Marci Overstreet
Overstreet is the current Council Member for Atlanta City Council District 11, a seat she has held for nearly eight years. Overstreet is the founder of Mommy Knows Best LLC and Board Trustee of the City of Atlanta Pension Trust Board.

City Council Members of Cascade Area on Your Ballots

All Current Atlanta City Council members and City Council President

The legislative branch of Atlanta’s government is the City Council. There are 15 total council members, three At-Large (who serve the whole city), and 12 that represent distinct areas/districts. The City Council Districts that touch Cascade Road for this election include Districts 10, 11, and 12. District 10 (north and west of Cascade) is currently represented by Andrea Boone, who is running for reelection uncontested. At-Large city council members two and three, Matt Westmoreland and Eshé Collins, respectively, are both running for reelection uncontested.

Michael Julian Bond, long-time At-Large councilman for District One however is running for reelection with two opponents desiring his position. Here we will touch on District One candidates, yet focus heavily on District 11 (south and west of Cascade), and briefly mention the District 12 race that borders the southeast end of Cascade.

Now, concerning the HOT District 11 race, I’m happy to disclose that I support Curt Collier. Just as with the other races, you will find a bit about each candidate in the following races. It is however important to me that I share my leaning. Your trust means a lot to me, so I’ll be clear. being that Curt has supported this neighborhood brand effort each step of the way since 2020, it’s only fair to share. Collier provided us with interviews with city officials to help with content, supported my social media education for the brand kick-off, sponsored our first Cascade Connect Community Event, and so much more.

Not to mention, as his wife of nearly 20 years and the mother of our six children, having witnessed his commitment and dedication to us, our community, and the many issues and legislative items at hand, I have full confidence that Curt Collier, is the best suited candidate for this moment. You can read about each candidate below. Now that my one opinion disclosure is clear, let’s get to the City Council Races and the respective candidates.

Here are candidates for districts 1, 11 and 12 in alphabetical order, as they will appear on your ballot:

Council Post 1 At-Large Candidates (City-Wide)

Michael Julian Bond (Incumbent)
A long-serving Councilmember since 1993, Michael Julian Bond has represented all Atlantans with consistency, sponsoring more legislation per term than any other councilmember in city history.
Juan Mendoza
A banker and community leader, Juan Mendoza has served as vice president at Ameris Bank and as president of the Old Fourth Ward Business Association, bringing real-world business insight to citywide challenges.
Matt Rinker
A dedicated real estate professional and neighborhood advocate, Matthew Rinker has focused his campaign on mobility, transit, and equitable development across Atlanta.

Current Atlanta City Council Post 1 At-Large Councilman Michael Julian Bond, seeking reelection (left), Juan Mendoza (center), Matt Rinker (Right)

District 11 Candidates (with Map)

Toni Belin-Ingram
Reverend Dr. Ingram, a minister, speaks about responsible growth and neighborhood stability.
Andre Burgin
Burgin, a tech industry professional, desires to bring more tech to the corridors in the district and using technology to address concerns.

Curt Collier

Collier’s work in our neighborhoods attests to his superior record of “walking the walk,” not simply “talking the talk” when it comes to the real-life concerns of the residents of District 11. As a career public educator, his public service is grounded in working with and appreciating the everyday people of our Southwest Atlanta neighborhoods, from residents and business owners, to the accessibility and enjoyment of public community assets.

In August of 2025, Collier publicly proposed the solution of a 24/7-hour work schedule to reopen Cascade road in a matter of weeks.
Collier canvassed neighbors to eliminate dragstrip (speeding) activities on residential streets, successfully helping to get speed tables installed by the city.
As a licensed real estate broker, he has helped seniors walk through property tax disputes to help them age in place.
Collier champions resilience in city infrastructure, to include street (pothole) audits, and permeable roads to both prevent storm water runoff and preserve aging pipes until much needed legislation and execution of water infrastructure improvements are made.
Marta transit expansion is a critical concern to Collier. He notes that we are soon to be comparable in size to a Washington D.C., yet our public transit lags behind in comparison, further exacerbating other infrastructure issues like traffic, that also bleed into environmental issues such as toxic chemicals emitted by stop-and-go traffic gridlock.
Deeply concerned with safety, Collier has actively engaged Zone 4 police leadership, NPU leadership, and business owners via producing leadership interviews and publishing Youtube videos to that end, years before running for office. He also served as the Cascade Business Association President
Collier has helped plan and execute toy and food drives for Cascade Elementary School and families in need.
As a social science and history educator, he has keenly noted the displacement of the over 60 public housing neighborhoods, primarily inhabited by African-American and Senior citizens from the 1990s to the 2010s, through government policy. He is vigilant and committed to ensuring that the same demographic, which makes up the majority of the District 11 constituency, has a voice of protection and preservation in City Hall. To learn more, you may go to CurtCollierAtl.com or give him a call at ‪(404) 923-0543‬.

Steven Dingle
Dingle is a music business professional and a substitute teacher. Dingle’s social media presence and strategy is notable.
Harold Maurice Hardnett
Hardnett is a real estate professional who boasts of many accomplishments.
Nate Jester
Jester is a real estate attorney who represents developers and lenders in multimillion and billion dollar deals.
Wayne Martin
Martin is a government affairs professional who has worked with the government through corporations such Starbucks and Comcast Cable.
Reginald Rushing
Rushing is a business professional that has served in the NPU system.

Atlanta City Council District 11 Candidates in Alphabetical order.

District 12 Candidates

Delvin Davis
Davis is a managing member of DD&A, a political campaign consulting firm. Here are the first three (of 10 total) “issues” listed on his website in the order that they appear in the dropdown menu: Affordable Housing, Food Access, and Business & Economic Growth.
Stephanie Flowers
Flowers' experience spans the public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, working with organizations that focus on neighborhood revitalization, economic inclusion, and social equity. Here are the first three (of 5 total) “issues” listed on her website Issues Page in the order that they appear: Affordable Housing, Protecting Legacy Residents, and Economic Development.
Antonio Lewis (Incumbent)
Lewis is the current District 12 Council person. On his website he is quoted saying the following: "I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. I believe that if we continue on the path that we are on, we can truly see social mobility in Atlanta. WE CAN RISE TOGETHER."

Atlanta City Council District 12 candidates in alphabetical order

Atlanta Municipal Judges

Atlanta Municipal Court Judges are officials appointed by the city’s executive branch. Judges pose for a photo with Mayor Dickens.

Judges up for Retention/Non-Retention are as follows, in alphabetical order, as they will appear on your ballot:

Judge JaDawnya C. Baker (General Traffic Matters - appointed in 2015 by Kasim Reed)
Judge Ardra L. Bey (General Traffic Matters - appointed in 2016 by Kasim Reed)
Judge Crystal A. Gaines (General Traffic Matters - appointed in 2005 by Shirley Franklin)
Judge Terrinee L. Gundy (DUI Division - appointed in 2013 by Kasim Reed)
Judge Gary E. Jackson (General Traffic Matters - appointed in 2005 by Shirley Franklin)
Judge Teresa A. Mann (Traffic & Civil Matters - appointed in 2021 by Keisha Lance Bottoms)
Judge Christopher T. Portis (General Criminal & Traffic Calendars - appointed in 2015 by Kasim Reed)
Judge Pierce Hand Seitz (Housing & Code Enforcement - appointed in 2024 by Andre Dickens)
Judge Christopher E. Ward (Aggravated Criminal & Traffic) appointed in 2012 by Kasim Reed)

Atlanta Board of Education

In 2020, a change to the ABE election cycle took place. In order to stabilize the board structure from election to election, they opted to stagger elections. So, in 2023, odd number board seats held their first staggered election (in a very long time, being that records from the 1800s show that this was the initial plan). So now, in 2025, it’s time for the even seats to take their turn at elections. I will be sharing information about Cascade area seats 2, 6, and 8. District four does not intersect with Cascade. District 8 is city-wide, so we will all cast our vote for district 8. Please see the ABE District Map to see if you will be voting for either Seat 2 or 6, which are area specific districts (and the lines aren’t very straight forward) in this non-partisan race.

Atlanta Board of Education District Map.

ABE District 2

Arretta Baldwin, current board member is not running for reelection.

Individuals running for ABE District 2 are as follows, in Alphabetical order:

Marlissa Crawford
A Morris Brown grad with an M.S. in Gerontology from Brenau, Crawford worked 13 years as a paralegal before becoming a small-business owner. She’s running for the open APS District 2 seat on Nov. 4, 2025.
Tony Mitchell
Mitchell is a Saint Louis University School of Law graduate and Senior Director of State Government Affairs at Gilead Sciences. He says he’s running to “keep scholars’ success at the forefront” and “raise the bar” for APS communities.
Stephen Owens
Owens is an education policy expert (Ph.D., UGA) and former teacher who served as Education Director at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute. His platform centers on evidence-backed rigor and expanding access to advanced coursework across APS.

ABE District 6

Tolton Pace, current board member (incumbent) was not elected, but appointed in a special appointment by the board members to fill the seat of Eshé Collins, once she won a special election in City Hall. Now, Pace is running as the incumbent to be elected for the first time, by the people. He is being challenged by four individuals for the District 6 Seat.

Individuals running for ABE District 6 are as follows, in Alphabetical order, as they may appear on your ballot:

Michael Hopkins
A fifth-generation Georgian with 30+ years in metro Atlanta, Hopkins frames his campaign as “a voice for every family.” He’s running for District 6 in the Nov. 4, 2025 election
Patreece Hutcherson
A counselor by profession with degrees from Morris Brown and Ohio State, Hutcherson is a native Atlantan. Her campaign messaging emphasizes keeping public education public and resisting privatization influences.
Jonathan Leon
Leon presents a vision where every child has a “quality seat” in safe, supportive schools led by effective educators. His focus is on academic rigor alongside social-emotional support and college/career readiness.
Tyreese Miller
Miller is a City Hall staff member for the Atlanta City Council District 12 council member. He has worked develop an equity task force within the Atlanta Public School System.
Tolton Pace (Incumbent)
Appointed in January 2025 to fill a vacancy, Pace is the incumbent District 6 board member. A youth pastor with nonprofit/philanthropy experience, he’s seeking a full term this year.

Atlanta Board of Education District 6 Candidates from left to right.

ABE District 8

Cynthia Briscoe Brown, current board member is not running for reelection.

Individuals running for ABE District 8 are as follows, in Alphabetical order, as they may appear on your ballot:

Kaycee Brock
Dr. Brock is a Metro-Atlanta educator with 18+ years’ experience who currently works in postsecondary success. Her campaign frames a “students first” agenda focused on equitable, community-centered outcomes.
Royce Mann
An education advocate and recent Emory alum, Mann is running to “fight censorship,” “fund public schools,” and uplift every student. His campaign emphasizes student voice and strong public-school investment.
Aisha Stith
Stith is an APS at-large candidate with a background in writing/media and early ed-tech entrepreneurship. She’s on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot for Seat 8.

Atlanta Board of Education Candidates for At-Large Seat 8, in alphabetical order, from left to right.

Act 358, SB 330

Finally, you will be voting on an act that will allow senior citizens 65 years of age and older apply for a property tax exemption for $50,000 of the value of their property, basically if a senior citizen’s property was assessed and valued at $150,000, voting yes, would allow them to be taxed on $100,000, rather than $150,000.

In other words, voting '“yes” would be giving people who have paid their dues in property taxes to the county, city, and board of education for decades, a $50,000 deduction on how much their property is assessed (said to be worth for taxing purposes). Many senior citizens are on fixed incomes, and allowing them a break on a portion of their property tax burdens would increase there chances of being able to keep their homes and afford to live in the city.

That was a lot. I thank you for supporting our work and reading all the way to the end. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at erika@thecascadeatl.com. If you like this guide and want to appreciate me by buying me a cup of coffee or tea? Feel free to donate right here. I will be writing soon.

In the meantime, enjoy cascade!

Cascade Votes

The Next Four Years

This is long, so here is an outline of what’s below, to help you navigate: