Atlanta
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Published on November 07, 2024
Atlanta's At-Large City Council Runoff, Jones and Collins Vie for LeadershipSource: Unsplash/Arnaud Jaegers

As the city of Atlanta prepares for its City Council Post 3 at-large seat runoff on December 3, the two candidates at the vanguard of the race bring different backgrounds and visions for the future of the city. Dr. Nicole “Nikki” Evans Jones, a former Atlanta Public Schools principal and entrepreneur, contends with Eshe Collins, an established member of the Atlanta Board of Education and civil rights lawyer, in a bid to fulfill the remaining term of former council member Keisha Waites, as reported by SaportaReport.

Both candidates are advocating for major city issues such as affordable housing and transportation, however, they emphasize different approaches. Collins, having secured endorsements from notable political figures like state Rep. Jason Esteves, Kim Schofield, and Stacy Evans, is touting her experience in education and legal work as the backdrop for her campaign. "I am just so excited about the opportunity to continue to fight for a city that thrives for all of us, Aungelique, honestly. No matter where you live in the city, no matter what your income, we all should be able to have an opportunity to thrive in Atlanta," Collins delineated in an interview obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.

In contrast, Jones, who has clinched high-profile endorsements from former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former Ambassador Andrew Young, centers her campaign on neighborhood-centric policies. "My vision, and I have talked about this around the city, is to put neighborhoods first again, so that we hear the needs and desires of the more than 240 unique neighborhoods," Jones articulated as per FOX 5 Atlanta's report. Both candidates support the controversial $109-million public safety training facility, and take a stance on being ready to serve from day one.

The competition is expected to be intense with Jones leading the first round of voting at 39 percent while Collins followed at 25 percent, making them the top contenders out of the initial five according to figures released by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and cited by the SaportaReport. The runoff election is set to determine who will corner the opportunity to serve until December 2025, completing Waite’s term, before the seat is contested again.

The Center for Civic Innovation is stepping into the fray, announcing a virtual and in person “runoff forum” scheduled for Tuesday, which aims to unveil the candidates' stances on pressing civic issues.