Atlanta City Council races up for grabs

By D.L. Bennett

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Despite complaints about rampant crime, shaky finances and high taxes, the next Atlanta City Council will look much like the current one -- if early returns from Tuesday hold true.

That's because on Tuesday, Atlanta voters were expected to return 10 incumbent council members to office and elevate a veteran council member to the presidency. In fact, six incumbents -- Howard Shook, C.T. Martin, Kwanza Hall, Natalyn Archibong, Carla Smith and Felicia Moore -- skated to new terms Tuesday without opposition.

"The only likely newcomers on council are coming in to empty seats," Shook said. He said that's likely due to the political phenomenon where voters are dissatisfied with a body or organization but fond of their member.

Still, there's much to be done.

Voters looked likely to leave four of five open seats unresolved. Among the newcomers, only longtime activist Yolanda Adrean appeared likely to win a seat outright on Tuesday, according to early numbers.

She would represent Buckhead's District 8, which Clair Muller left to pursue the council presidency.

"The most important thing to me is to go to work on behalf of the residents of District 8," Adrean said. "During the past 10 months, I've had the pleasure of meeting many community business leaders and neighbors. And if we all work together, we can accomplish a lot for the city."

Whoever gets elected Tuesday or in the runoff on Dec. 1  will be working with a new council president.

Early numbers showed Ceasar Mitchell and Muller in a tight race.

The two veteran council members waged a respectful, low-key contest without any of the backbiting or enmity that marked the final days of the mayor's race.

The council presidency became open when Lisa Borders abandoned the seat in a bid to become mayor.

Whichever candidate wins will see a dramatic role change in the new year. The winner will be appointing committee members and committee chairs from the council in January. The new president will also be refereeing the meetings.

Mitchell said he thinks he envisions a council working like a team and the president in a leadership role. He said he can do a lot with the job, which some critics say could be eliminated.

"I believe there are a lot of opportunities," Mitchell said. "Many believe it is barren soil. If I hold true, it will be fertile ground."

Beyond that, voters faced crowded fields for two open district seats and no likely winners from Tuesday's balloting, according to early numbers.

In District 6, where Anne Fauver stepped down, the field included six candidates. Alex Wan led in early voting but only by a narrow margin.

The most crowded race came in District 11 in southwest Atlanta, where nine candidates were in a slugfest to replace Jim Maddox, who retired after 32 years.