Atlanta council selections suggest hints of political futures and motives

Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, widely seen as a possible candidate in Atlanta’s next mayoral race, flexed his strongest political muscle when he announced a swath of new committee chairmen appointments.

It’s who was not named that is raising the most eyebrows.

For those who follow this kind of political maneuvering, it’s hard not to notice many of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s closest remaining allies on the council are without a prominent position. They include Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms, Councilman Ivory Young or Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd.

The same can be said for a few high-profile leaders including Councilman Kwanza Hall and Councilman Michael Julian Bond, who, like Mitchell, are believed to eye a mayoral bid.

“It’s no secret that we’re likely to see a mayoral run from Ceasar in 2017,” said Nick Juliano, a public affairs consultant and former city council aide. “There are quite a few other talked-about contenders from the ranks of council: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Kwanza Hall, Mary Norwood and Michael Julian Bond.”

Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, who served as the president of the council in the 1990s and lost his bid for mayor in 2001, said now is the time many will begin stretching their wings ahead of the 2017 race. He believes that inevitably plays into committee appointments.

Council presidents cannot vote on pending legislation unless there is a tie. Committee work — which begins this week with the first meetings of the new term — is the chief way for a president to influence the process.

“If Mitchell is going to (run), he will need to make changes and send the message not only to the mayor, but to the public that he’s there and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next several years,” Pitts said. “If you read the appointments, that’s the only conclusion one can come to.”

Mitchell granted top committee jobs to seasoned legislators and newcomers alike. Councilman Alex Wan now heads the finance committee, freshman Councilman Andre Dickens chairs the community development/human resources, recently re-elected Councilwoman Mary Norwood heads the committee on council and Councilwoman Felicia Moore, who last led the finance committee, oversees the transportation group.

Georgia State University political lecturer Steve Anthony said while it’s hard to know exactly what reasons fuel committee appointments, the outcome is clear.

“It could be all about (Mitchell), it could be all against Reed, or it could be a thing about him and Reed being at odds over something that you and I may not even know about,” he said. “But there’s no doubt he is creating his own team and in doing so, coincidentally or not, (many Reed allies) are not part of that.”

Mitchell, who wouldn’t definitively say whether he’s considering a mayoral run, said viewing his decisions through Reed or his own political ambition is too narrow.

“I think it would be a little bit short-sighted to think that’s the dispositive factor,” he said, explaining that he made this year’s appointments based on council members’ interest and experience and sought a “good mix of viewpoints” on each board.

But Mitchell — first elected to the council in 2001 — acknowledged that relationships matter.

“It really depends on a number of factors, but relationships do play in, but it’s not the be-all, end-all,” he said. “There are folks who are not chairs of committee who I consider to be very good friends.”

Bond, who last year led the public safety committee, said he didn’t expect to keep a chairmanship and “ran for city council, not for committee.”

He and Mitchell suffered a public falling-out last year during meetings to decide how to spend millions in communities impacted by the future $1.2 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium. Bond chaired the community benefits meetings.

But Bond noted people who are known to desire the city’s top job and have experience on the council are without key seats this year, while freshman council member Dickens has a significant committee.

“Real leadership would put the city first before any political ambitions. And whoever is best to lead, in the perfect world, would get the nod,” he said. “But we don’t live in a perfect world.”

Mitchell flatly denies the suggestion he put politics first and pointed out he regularly makes sweeping changes to committee assignments. The council president assigns committees on an annual basis.

“I am not going to place long range mayoral politics above and before the people’s business or the immediate needs of our city,” he said. “Long-term dynamics tend to sort out over time. Immediate concerns require immediate attention and care.”

Bottoms, who served as head of the zoning committee last year, said she had no expectations of this year’s round of appointments. Hall has for years served as chair of the Atlanta Committee on International Relations at Mitchell’s discretion; this year’s chair hasn’t been announced.

Wan said he spoke with Mitchell about legislative priorities, but was surprised to be named chair of finance.

“It’s one of those things I’ve always hoped for,” said Wan, who has a masters in business administration. “I’m definitely honored.”

Former council president Cathy Woolard, who said she’s interested in running for mayor, said it’s a mistake to assume Mitchell’s appointments represent strong allegiances.

“You could read those seven (chairs) as being people Ceasar thinks he works particularly well with or are responsible to him, but I wouldn’t suggest any of those are answerable to him,” she said. “Council members tend to be only answerable to themselves. They get touchy otherwise.”