CL’s pick for Atlanta City Council Post 1 At-Large is…
October 12, 2009 at 5:28 pm by Thomas Wheatley in News
Adam Brackman
Before qualifying ended, the race to claim Councilman Ceasar Mitchell’s at-large post looked like a clown car.
Nine political hopefuls had filed to run for the citywide seat, including perennial candidates, a former councilman and a handful of unknowns. When it came time to pay the $1,184 fee to run, however, only four men and women remained.
Thankfully, Adam Brackman was one of them.
Brackman, a 42-year-old resident of south Atlanta’s Benteen Park, has risen through the ranks of neighborhood-based politics to stand out as a fresh-faced candidate with an arsenal of ideas — and a strong dose of enthusiasm — that could greatly enhance a council where nearly half the members will win their seats without opposition.
The fast-talking, openly gay IBM project manager is a genuine grassroots community advocate who knows his neighborhood’s police beat number. He’s served on multiple neighborhood group boards, chaired the Neighborhood Planning Unit-W public safety committee, and created the greenspace advocacy group Friends of Benteen Park. For the last three years, he’s been heavily involved with Fulton County CourtWatch, a district attorney’s office program in which residents are encouraged to attend legal proceedings that involve crimes committed in their neighborhoods. This year, he was named the Best CourtWatcher for his dogged persistence and frequent attendance at trials and sentencings.
Brackman’s running on a platform of improving public safety, spurring financial reform, and making City Hall more efficient and accessible for taxpayers. On public safety, he’s the most experienced of the candidates, boasting four innovative funding solutions that could not only add and retain officers, but also boost morale. That perspective garnered him the police union endorsement. Add an understanding of affordable housing and transportation, and you have a candidate who’s not just running on the issues du jour.
Both Dwanda Farmer and Chris Vaughn, two contenders who’ve run for several other political offices in the past, lack Brackman’s grasp on the issues. Michael Julian Bond, a former councilman who’s made three unsuccessful bids to return to City Hall, brings innovative ideas to improve public safety, boost nightlife and streamline service delivery.
But he doesn’t match Brackman’s mix of private sector experience and genuine desire to bring a resident’s perspective to everyday issues. On top of that, Brackman doesn’t view a seat on council as a stepping stone to a higher office.
“I just want to fix the city,” he says.
And we think he deserves the opportunity.
If you’re looking for CL’s complete endorsement package, including the candidate that we think is most qualified to become Atlanta’s next mayor, check back tomorrow morning. Here’s our pick for Atlanta City Council Post 2 At-Large. We’ll let you know who we endorsed for Atlanta City Council President later today.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
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October 12th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Now this is more like it. Farmer is nuttier than squirrel shit, and perennial candidate Vaughn ain’t too much further off.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I am truly shocked by your endorsement in this race. I have been to several forums around the city and seen these candidates debate and there is only one person in this race who clearly understands the challenges the city is facing and that’s Michael Julian Bond. He has an innovative solution to almost all the questions that come before him and I know he can get these policy items accomplished because when he was on city council he passed more legislation than anyone in the city’s history. Next year, there will be 6 new councilmembers out of 15. We need experience and we need it now. I like Mr. Brackman, but we are in no position for on the job training.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I can’t say this comes as a shock to me. CL has never endorsed Michael Bond in a citywide race even though he has always been more qualified than his opponents. In 2001, you supported Cathy Woolard even though Michael had a better record on LGBT issues than she. Cathy turned out to be unfit for the job as City Council President and quit. In 2004, CL supported Lisa Borders over Michael. Lisa didn’t have a track record on anything having being never elected before. Borders was and is a joke as Council President. She is a corporate automaton at best. Lisa can’t make a decision unless Tom Bell gives the O.K. I’m glad she is being exposed as a fraud now that she is running for mayor. Now to your current endorsement. The city is treading water in a sea of debt and unpaid bills. Our transportation issues are a nightmare. Adam Brackman is not qualified to be a citywide councilmember. He should have run for a District seat. He does not have the experience or the political acumen to get things done on the council level. Michael Bond is ahown time and time again that he has the skills and the imagination to get things done for all city residents. Thanks Creative Loafing for wasting your endorsing powers gain!
October 13th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I received Michael Bond’s direct mail piece and it says Committee for a Better Atlanta has rated him excellent compared to his opponents. He also has won the endorsements from Atlanta Labor Council, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Atlanta Firefighters Union, and Buckhead Coalition. I think CL should reconsider its endorsement of Brackman.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
As a Downtown resident, I can tell y’all that Dwanda Farmer has taken significant time to attend our community functions. Brackman has only come to our neighborhood association meeting once (last month). I have yet to meet Chris Vaughn or Mr. Bond.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I have met all four of these candidates and Farmer is clearly the smart one in the bunch and I don’t think she needs On the Job training. Her record of success is stronger than Bonds. She has delivered 500 units of housing, created new businesses, won millions of dollars for non profits and helped 1000s of people get job training and a job. Mr. Bond served on Council with $100M at his disposal for distressed communities and he did nothing for Vine City or English Avenue. Have you forgotten the abuse of power Mr. Bond displayed when he was Campbell’s floor leader and ringmaster of the infamous Nod Squad. Mr. Bond has no college degree and is living off the legacy of his father. Farmer on the other hand has a Ph.D. in Community Economic Development and has worked with every tool of government and is a trusted advisor to the US Dept of Treasury. I think it’s best if we move FORWARD WITH FARMER and not go Back to Bond!!!!
October 17th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I have a question: Who’s the bigger joke – Adam Brackman or Creative Loafing??
October 17th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
They are just trying to do everything to make Brackman a credible candidate. Sorry I can’t in good conscience vote for him. Those who know Brackman would not endorse him for dog catcher.