Ferdinand knows about longevity in public office. The AJC has been digging into his operations for years, exposing how he earns nearly $400,000 through extra fees, how he profits off tax liens and how his practice of selling liens to private collectors has cost taxpayers millions.

On Monday he visited the Atlanta school board to explain the taxation process. It was the first time in about 18 years he’d made the trip, he told the board.

Wow, 18 years, Carstarphen mused. “You people do stick around,” she told him.

“See there’s hope,” Ferdinand told her.

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Superintendent Bryan Johnson listens to a speaker during an Atlanta School Board meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. APS held its first vote on school consolidation plans. (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

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Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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