Savannah City Council election 2023: Who is running for mayor, council this year?

All nine seats on Savannah City Council are up for election this year.

Fifteen candidates have announced runs: nine incumbents and six challengers, including current At-Large Post 1 Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter, who is running for mayor. Gibson-Carter is the only incumbent seeking a different post. Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely is the latest to announce a bid.

Several more candidates are expected to seek election in November as an increasing number of the residents have voiced frustrations with the current council members and their frequent infighting.

The municipal election will be held Nov. 7. The election is nonpartisan, meaning there is no spring primary. The qualifying period, when candidates formally register to run, will be in August.

Here's who has announced bids at this point.

Mayor

Van Johnson

Savannah's current mayor confirmed in January his intent to run for second term in January.

Background

Prior to defeating former Mayor Eddie Deloach in 2019, Johnson served as the District 1 alderman for 16 years. Johnson won the mayoral post In a runoff, receiving 14,884 votes to DeLoach’s 9,291.

A graduate of Savannah State and Georgia Southern universities, Johnson currently serves on the National League of Cities Advisory Board. Johnson is retired from a job as the employee services and training manager for Chatham County. Johnson was on the list of Georgia's Democratic electors who cast Georgia's 16 electoral college votes to President Joe Biden in 2020.

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Johnson cites this council's work in reducing homelessness, raising the minimum wage for city workers to $15 an hour, and his transparency, noting that he held 51 weekly press conferences in 2022.

"I don’t think anybody has gone harder in the paint for Savannah than me,” Johnson said. “I’m not overconfident, I just know that we have a record that speaks for itself.”

Kesha Gibson-Carter

Current At-Large Post 1 Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter has been campaigning for mayor since January 2021.

She announced her intent to run for mayor the day after council voted 6-3 to remove her from her position as council chair over calling fellow member Nick Palumbo "racist" during a December meeting. She labeled the removal a political maneuver.

Background

Gibson-Carter is three years into her service as an elected official. She defeated the incumbent, Carol Bell, in the 2019 race by 255 votes.

Prior to that, Gibson-Carter worked as a community advocate and was the former executive director of the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire and the Interfaith Hospitality Network, now known as Family Promise, which assists homeless families.

Platform

Gibson-Carter, along with At-Large Post 2 Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely, spearheaded an anti-campaign against the Transportation Local Option Sales Tax referendum held in November 2022. TSPLOST failed to pass the countywide vote.

Gibson-Carter frequently pushes for responsible, public-facing use of city funds and more transparency in matters of policy. Gibson-Carter also supports a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) fee for Savannah College of Art and Design.

"I welcome healthy competition for anyone entering the municipal race. I am not running against the current mayor, I am running to be the next mayor - the 68th mayor of Savannah. Despite large federal subsidies, Savannah has been subjected to increases in crime, homicide, taxes, homelessness, and forced displacement. This mayor has had nearly 20 years to get at least one of these issues under control, but he hasn’t. I would say, may the best man win, but in this case, Savannah’s next mayor will be a woman,” a text from Gibson-Carter read.

At-Large Post 2

Alicia Miller Blakely

Savannah City Council's At-Large Post 2 Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely will run to keep her seat in this November's municipal election.

Blakely was first elected in 2019, defeating Tony Center. Blakely received the most votes out of any citywide post in that election, with 13,642 total votes cast. Blakely is the first Black woman to hold Savannah's At-Large Post 2 seat.

Background

Blakely was born in Philadelphia, but moved to Savannah when she was one year old. She graduated from Savannah High School, and went on to get her undergraduate degree from Savannah State University. She served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, and is a member of the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1414.

She was one of the original members of The Bullhorn Crew, an activist group that held vigils at the scenes of shootings and encouraged conflict resolution over violence.

Platform

Blakely is a vocal supporter of Black businesses and entrepreneurship and the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Last year, Blakely was one of the spearheads of an anti-TSPLOST campaign, a sales tax which failed a countywide public vote.

Blakely said she would fight against any attempt by the University System of Georgia to consolidate Savannah State University, and preserve Black history and Black historical sites in Savannah.

She also advocates for improving infrastructure in impoverished communities and said community centers, recreation departments and parks deserve more financial support from the city. Blakely said she will make sure "equity is spread across the board."

"My goal is to make sure that the wealth is spread across the whole city, not just in certain areas. We want it to be equitable for everybody," Blakely said. "If you put one penny in taxation, you want to get a return on your investment. And we have not gotten returns on our investments in the city of Savannah."

Patrick Rossiter

Rossiter, son of former At Large Post 2 Councilman Frank P. Rossiter Sr., will seek the same seat his father held for 13 years on Savannah City Council. 

Background

Rossiter spent 39 years as a local educator, coach and school principal, 25 years of which were in the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. He served as principal at Garden City Elementary and later at the Tybee Island Maritime Academy.  Early on in his professional career, he established the Richmond Hill High School football program.

He currently works at the Port of Savannah as a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1475 Clerks and Checkers.

Platform

Rossiter supports business and tourism growth but also preserving the integrity of neighborhoods, “from downtown to Georgetown."

Rossiter said he was concerned about council negativity and compared current city council meetings to a “reality show."

“I want to carry on the tradition of public service established by my family and to use my extensive background in education and community service to benefit the entire city of Savannah," Rossiter said.

District 1

Bernetta Lanier

Sitting Savannah City Council 1st District Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier says she will be running for re-election to her current seat in November's municipal election.

Lanier was first elected in 2019, defeating Peter Pannizzo by a wide margin to take now-Mayor Van Johnson's former seat.

Background

Lanier has held several jobs, including 14 years in local government, owning and operating a marketing and management company in the small business sector, and serving as a longshorewoman in the International Longshoreman Association Local 1414 union.

Lanier is a graduate of Groves High School and went on to get a bachelor of political science degree from South Carolina State University, and her master's degree in public administration from Savannah State.

She considers herself a second-generation community leader, following in the footsteps of her father, Rufus Bryant, one of the founders of Savannah's first neighborhood organization in Hudson Hill.

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If re-elected, Lanier says she's looking to Lanier says she plans to introduce more "equity policies," including a community benefit ordinance, and aiming to curb what she called "the environmental injustice and industrial intrusion" into historic westside communities.

She hopes to add additional traffic calming measures in District 1, which she said are not as built out as other areas of the city.

Lanier said one of her highest priorities is the historic Waterworks building's redevelopment into a community market and entrepreneur center.

"We need to make sure the focus is on the needs of the community, the impacted people, citizens," Lanier said. "We need to make sure that citizens are more engaged and better heard through organizations such as alliances, and allowing them more collaborative opportunities."

District 2

Detric Leggett

Leggett is the incumbent and was first elected to council in 2019 after an unsuccessful run in 2015.

Background

Leggett is employed at Memorial Health Medical Center.. He has a long history of community service, including work with the local end gun violence program. He is also a member of the Bullhorn Crew, an activist group that raises awareness about the costs of violent crime on a community.

Leggett is a married father of five children.

Platform

Leggett’s focus for a second term is on slowing down traffic in his district and engaging more residents of the District 2 neighborhoods in order to address crime. He points to several community improvements completed during his tenure, such as the Waters Avenue Streetscape project and the new Delaware Center recreation facility, as successes to build on in his second term.

District 3

Linda Wilder Bryan

Current Savannah City Council District 3 Alderwoman Linda Wilder Bryan has announced she will be pursuing re-election to her current seat.

Wilder Bryan is currently in her first term as the District 3 representative, after defeating former District 3 Alderman John Hall in a tight race in 2019. This year, she has two challengers.

Background

Wilder Bryan is a local community activist and a retired environmental health and safety coordinator for Interfor US Inc. She attended

Wilder Bryan's activism prior to being elected to council included work with anti-gun violence groups, including Mothers of Murdered Sons as well as her own non-profit LB4 and After Foundation, named to honor her late son, Lawrence Bryan IV, who was killed in a shooting in Savannah in 2015.

Platform

Wilder Bryan says she hopes to continue to be a community resource for the 3rd District, aiming to keep the line open for resident concerns.

Wilder Bryan said housing affordability will be a priority, should she be elected for a second term, specifically bridging the gap between developers and residents, with the goal of finding a happy medium. She says helping people experiencing homelessness is high on the list as well.

Wilder Bryan also said she hopes to "get back to the basics" of city governance, by prioritizing infrastructure needs and making sure that the residents of the 3rd District have a voice.

"I want to continue to be Linda. I want to work with everybody, because this isn't just about Linda. It's about the needs of everybody in the 3rd District."

Todd Rhodes

Rhodes is running for office for the second time in two years, having mounted an unsuccessful campaign for Savannah-Chatham School Board president in 2022. He says he is mounting his run as a way to give back to the community that raised him, and hopes to bridge the gap between the local Savannah government and the community they serve.

Rhodes will challenge the incumbent, Linda Wilder-Bryan, who is expected to formally announce a re-election run in the coming days.

Background

Rhodes is the owner of Royal Rhodes Lawn Service, and is actively involved in youth sports programs locally. He's been coaching youth football since 2005. Rhodes grew up in two areas of Savannah, Tatemville, and also in the 3rd District on Greenwood Street. He graduated from Beach High School and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from Liberty University. He is set to graduate this summer.

Last year, he coached football at St. Andrew's and will be doing the same at Jenkins High this year. He also founded the Savannah Royal Lions, a sports league nonprofit dedicated to mentoring youth ages 6 to 18, both in school and afterschool.

Platform

Rhodes says the opportunities for youth in the city are “slim to none” and says the lack thereof gives kids idle time, which can lead to trouble. He said, if elected, he’ll be an advocate for providing more activities for Savannah’s younger community.

He hopes to push for more community policing through increasing staffing at Savannah Police Department, allowing officers more the chance to spend more time in the communities they serve.

Rhodes also said he would be a responsible steward for the city's tax dollars and search for ways to lift some of the financial burden off residents. Rhodes also said he wants to be assessible to the community, bridging the gaps between them and their local government.

Clinton Cowart

If elected, Cowart will push policies that ensure more Savannnahians benefit from the area's thriving economy,

Cowart will challenge the incumbent, Linda Wilder-Bryan, who is expected to formally announce a re-election run in the coming days.

Background

Cowart was born in Savannah and graduated from Sol C. Johnson High School in 1991. He went on to earn a liberal arts degree from Armstrong State University. He also holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University, and a master's degree in human resources from Webster University.

Cowart worked in the hospitality industry as the HR director for MSG Staffing Agency for two years before entering politics in 2021. Prior to that, he operated a consulting business called Cowart Consulting.

Platform

Cowart said he aims to support efforts to encourage more neighborhood policing, which he says builds trust in police officers while deterring crime.

Cowart also listed transparency as a key platform point, especially in regard to how tax dollars are spent. He also said the current council rule requiring majority approval to get an item on the council agenda is a bad policy.

He wants lower taxes and more traffic safety measures in District 3.

District 4

Nick Palumbo

Savannah's 4th District Alderman Nick Palumbo has announced he'll be seeking re-election in this year's municipal election.

Palumbo, first elected in 2019, ran unopposed.

Background

Palumbo was born and raised in New Orleans, and raised in lower Alabama. He graduated from Daphne High School, and went on to get his undergraduate degree in administrative science from the University of South Alabama, and earned his master's degree in education from Armstrong.

Palumbo worked as a police officer in Washington D.C. before meeting his wife in Savannah, moving here shortly after.

Platform

Palumbo said his main priorities for a second term would be ensuring housing accessibility, and continuing the work he's done in his first term on transportation and mobility and public safety.

He said with the Hyundai plant, and the massive population influx expected to accompany it, on the horizon, Palumbo said the city will need leadership to prepare for the future, especially in regards to housing. Palumbo predicts housing affordability to be "the crisis of this generation," and hopes to make headway on the issue in his time in office.

"We have served in some of the most tumultuous times in our city's history, and led us through these changes to greater heights. Now it's time to build upon those successes for our future," Palumbo said. "Our city's best days are just ahead of us, but we need to make sure we have the right leadership in place to bring that to life."

District 5

Estella Shabazz

Current District 5 Alderwoman and Mayor Pro-Tem Estella Shabazz announced on Wednesday she will run for re-election to her current post.

Shabazz has served on city council for 12 years, first elected in 2012.

Background

The City of Savannah hired Shabazz in an engineering role in 1986, making her the first Black woman to serve as a civil engineer for the city.

She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Savannah State University, her Master of Divinity Degree from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theology Center in Atlanta and her Doctorate of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Platform

Shabazz said her civil engineering background would help her "continue to ensure our local infrastructure is a priority." She said she would continue to push for the mixed-use development long planned for the former Coastal Empire Fairgrounds property, which she said was "in the competent hands of our city manager."

"I have stood on the frontlines of this district, a place that I love, and that has been home for me for a lifetime. As a voice from the citizens from all walks of life in our community, supporting our senior citizens, building bridges for our youth and the next generation of leaders," Shabazz said.

Robert Bryant

Robert Bryant says he was inspired to run after having conversations with people in his home district about the level of advocacy expected from the bench at city hall, and he believes his current representative, longtime Alderwoman and Mayor Pro-Tem Estella Shabazz, is not meeting that standard.

Background

Bryant was born and raised in Savannah's Liberty City neighborhood, and says he still remembers when it was mostly dirt roads. Bryant is a Windsor Forest High School graduate. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Georgia Southern University, and a doctrate in adult education from the University of Georgia.

Bryant remained in the higher education sector after attaining his degrees and currently serves as the director of development for inclusion and equity fundraising efforts for Clemson University.

Bryant lost the Georgia PSC race to the incumbent, Republican Jason Shaw, by 190,000 votes on Nov. 3, 2020, narrowly missing a runoff.

Platform

Bryant says his first priority is "protecting our community" nothing that the job of elected representatives is not to advocate for themselves, but by "identifying resources, developing partnerships and working with our constituents."

Bryant said "valuing our community" is the second facet of his approach, noting the 5th District is one of the most historic Black districts in the city, and says, if elected, he will work to protect the area from overdevelopment and gentrification. By doing so, he hopes to preserve the culture and voices of elders in the community.

He says he will "be the voice of residents at the planning table," staying engaged with community leaders to make sure the interests of the 5th are aligned with any new developments. Bryant says he hopes to identify resources that will help the district through asset based approach to community development.

District 6

Kurtis Purtee

Savannah's current District 6 Alderman Kurtis Purtee announced Feb. 4 he will run for re-election in November.

Purtee, a Georgia Southern University police captain, was first elected to the post in 2019, defeating longtime District 6 Rep. Tony Thomas with a 53% margin.

Background

Purtee was born and raised in Michigan, working as a dairy farmer through middle and high school. He moved to Savannah in 2005, where he began his 22-year law enforcement career. He holds a bachelor's degree from Mountain State University and a master's degree in criminal justice from Georgia Southern University.

Purtee also serves on many local boards, including Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless, Windsor Forest Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, and has volunteered with Savannah Jaycees, Keep Savannah Beautiful Campaign, Campus Vote Project, America's Second Harvest and the Adopt-A-Road Initiative.

Platform

If re-elected, Purtee said his priorities for his second term include a continued focus on infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks and drainage.

Purtee says he hopes to "address homelessness with a community approach," adding that he is "committed to working with resources to address homelessness in our area."

He is also focused on completing the Southside Community Center, a community service center where southside residents can pay their water bills, talk to code enforcement and host community meetings, and to bring "vitality" to the Savannah Mall corridor through the Southside Master Plan

Mike McCann

White Bluff Methodist Church Youth Pastor Mike McCann has announced his run for Savannah City Council's District 6 seat, and he hopes to bring a spirit of collaboration to council.

McCann has lived in the Savannah area for four years and moved here to take a job as general manager at Vaden Nissan. He's worked 26 years in the automotive industry.

Background

McCann, born and raised in Bakersfield, California, is known by many as Coach McCann. He coaches multiple teams from multiple sports, and is actively involved in youth sports programs around the city.

He serves on the board of the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club, the Habersham YMCA and the city's sports and recreation board. He is the vice president of Savannah Ambucs, the president of Chatham County Little League, president of Chatham County NFL Flag, and the immediate past president of Savannah Rotary Club South.

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