Meet the other City Council candidates
October 15, 2009 at 12:41 pm by Scott Henry in News
Vote early, vote often!
As you may have noticed, we at CL offered our City Hall endorsements this week — but only for four races: mayor, Council prez and two of the three at-large seats. Frankly, the reasons for being so selective were more practical than anything else. I mean, have you seen how many people are running for some of these seats? It wasn’t feasible to bring in 20 or 30 candidates for individual interviews. As it was, we ended up meeting face-to-face with a dozen candidates.
Does this mean we’re blowing off the rest of the Council races? We’re glad you asked, because the answer is no! In each of the contested district races, we asked the candidates to answer a questionnaire that we’d then post online to help educate voters. (Links to candidate responses are below the jump.)
You may recall that the Metro Atlanta Chamber (dba Committee for a Better Atlanta) does the same thing; we’d encourage you to read both sets of questionnaires — and visit the candidates’ websites, and watch forums, and attend meet-and-greets, etc. — in order to get a more complete idea of the choices facing you in the Nov. 3 election.
Not every candidate responded to our questionnaire but, without further ado, here are the ones who did, as well as their campaign websites. Click on the name to get the questionnaire results; click on the website to get, well, you know:
Council District 4
• LaShawn Hoffman — www.hoffmanforatlanta.com
• Cleta Winslow (incumbent) — www.citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/4.htm
Council District 6
• Bahareh Azizi — www.voteazizi.com
• Steve Brodie — www.stevebrodie09.com
• Tad Christian — www.tadchristian.com
• Liz Coyle — www.lizforatlanta.com
• Alex Wan — www.alexwanforatlanta.com
Council District 8
• Yolanda Adrean — www.yolandaadrean.com
Council District 11
• Keisha Lance Bottoms — www.electkeishabottoms.com
• Reginald Eaves
• Alvelyn Sanders — www.alvelynsanders.com
• Juanita M. Smith — www.juanitasmithforcouncil.com
Council District 12
• Curtis Davis Jr.
• Joyce Sheperd (incumbent) — www.joycesheperd.com
• Keisha Waites — www.keishawaites.com
Thanks to all the candidates who responded. And to ones who didn’t, it’s not too late — send us answers to our questionnaire and we’ll be glad to add your response to this list.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
October 15th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
New rule: If you’re running to replace an old guy on City Council, and you’re the same age as said old guy, it’s best you join the 21st century and invest in a campaign website. These Internets are not a fad. Sheesh.
October 15th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Newsflash: Tad Christian Answers a Questionnaire! Having ignored everyone from Committee for a Bidness Atlanta to SoVo, Tad finally found a pencil and started doing his homework.
Next up: Alex Wan explains where residents will come in the pecking order between big developers, small developers and the homeless when he sits in Fauver’s seat.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
This much we know about Wan: the residents will come in somewhere behind the Beltline. His coded answer at Inman School was that development plans at 10th Street/Monroe should be considered by the NPU (out on a limb there) but be based on the “best interests of the overall plan.” I hope I’m wrong, but that sounds like bland code for building like crazy on Monroe, since there’s little other money coming the Beltline’s way. I believe Wan is saying that anyone opposing it is harming the dear old Beltline, no matter that the original plans promised it as green space and pledged to protect the adjacent neighborhoods.
Build-on-Monroe is already Liz (”Remember, I fought 50 stories, and 4 & 8 are less than 50, and hey, I don’t live there”) Coyle’s position.
I couldn’t tell where Tad Christian or Baharreh Azizi stood; their answers were pretty vague, other than reminding us that they loved emerald necklaces.
Brodie opposes building in areas promised as green spaces; do you think he hates emerald necklaces?
October 15th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Indeed, it seems that only one candidate running in the D6 race is able to offer a clear, unambiguous answer to the central question of this election, do you support the neighborhood in protecting the green space and single family zoning at 10th and Monroe? Mr. Brodie by a full length, thank you.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Monomania does appear to be an affliction with high incidence in D6, but when monomania calls, monomania calls. In this case, Dr Freud, it’s more Monroe Drive than sex drive.
October 16th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Actually, I’ve heard Alex Wan talk about the Beltline several times and found his position clear and consistent – what I heard is that he wants to balance our wonderful green neighborhoods with appropriate development that doesn’t overwhelm. I think he has the vision, character and understanding of the processes and people involved to to accomplish such. As for references to developers – I wonder if these commenters have looked at the disclosures from other candidates? It’s not Wan who is developer-heavy.
October 16th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Anyone who was on the ADA board is so deep in the pocket of developers it ain’t even funny. He has no neighborhood roots, no history of working for resident interests. Wan’s idea of balance is whatever the big boys tell him.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Wan is against the high density development at 10th & Monroe. Just pick up a phone and call him.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Brodie, I mean BORDERS: Liz is for high-density development, Brodie & Wan are not.
Brodie’s taken big-time developer $$, so much so that there is an ethics charge aghainst him (and he’s given the $$$ back I think). Liz & Wan have not, to my knowledge.
If you’re going to trash the candidates, at least stick to some facts instead of creating full fiction out of thin air.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:28 am
@Crosby Stills & Nash
ADA is one humongo fact that tells us all about Alex. You can’t wish it away. Brodie’s acceptance of a single contribution from a developer that goes $400 over the limit was foolish. It does not make him a developer stooge.
Alex has had multiple opportunities to clarify his position on Beltline density and prefers studied ambiguity. His definition of appropriate density is not what the neighborhoods have in mind.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Borders: I agree that you’re just throwing feces and hoping that it sticks to someone. Brodie’s transgression was not simply a overage of $400.
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2009/09/20/district-6-candidate-steve-brodie-hit-with-ethics-complaint/
October 16th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
@Greg If you want to call ADA ‘feces,’ that’s your choice. I’d just call them unmotivated by residents’ needs – and that’s exactly how ADA’s Alex Wan comes across.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
As we all heard on high school debate teams , let us define our terms.
Emerson et al writes:
“Wan is against the high density development at 10th & Monroe…”
And by “high density development”, Wan means what? He opposed the The Mason towers? But their only supporters were those being paid by Mason, and those plans are gone.
Does “opposed high density development” a (Alex hopes) less painful and straightforward way of saying that he supports other development in areas shone as green space on the original BL plans?
Very simply – what is Wan’s position on ABI’s proposed SubArea 6 plan that calls for 4 and 8-story development along Monroe, in areas that were shown and promised as green space when the BL was being touted to citizens?
My earlier account of what he said at the public forum at Inman is accurate; he sidestepped it, as does Emerson et al’s formulation.
Brodie was clear as a bell; he’s against it, and he thinks it will indeed mean the end of the adjacent R-4 homes along Monroe, many of which have already been purchased by a single builder anticipating such a – pardon the pun – development.
I would welcome Alex’s unequivocal opposition to this plan and a pledge that he will protect these important communities, whose citizens provided important and timely support to the original BL vision and are now being rewarded for it by having to fight to protect their homes.
Such a pledge will be a great boost to these beleagured citizens, and speaking plainly on important issues will set a good example for public service. It will also distinguish him from his chief rival, Liz Coyle, who service on the ABI board – the one that wrote the exact plan – seems to have eroded many of the principles that distinguished her for years.
In any case, I hope Alex will speak plainly; if he supports ABI’s plans at Monroe/10th, have the courage and respect for the neihgborhood to say so.
But I hope that he will instead support the citizens who live in the area, and I urge Alex to say so plainly.
Instead of defining our terms, I hope the candidate will define himself.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Wan and Coyle are obvious supporters of the developer-led push for cramming a lot of “stuff” into the area near Monroe and 10th. Coyle was on the Beltline Board until recently, and Wan was on the ADA Board. Not a peep from either of them about community input being ignored. Not a question from either of them about the impacts of significant development on the neighborhoods. Not a word from either of them about ignoring the original promises of the Beltline. Do not listen to empty campaign platitudes from Coyle and Wan. Look at what they have done since the Beltline began. And start to get very worried.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Why speculate on Wan’s position on the high-rise development at 10th and Monroe? Put on your big-boy pants and, ya know, actually call him to ask.
Again, he is against it and has said so publicly.
Get Brodie to raise some money. Then maybe he won’t need to have surrogates post falsehoods on the CL boards in an attempt to gain some momentum.
October 18th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
ELC: I understand Wan supports the proposed Subarea 6 plan for Monroe and Tenth. It does not provide for “high rises” at that location, but will allow buildings of up to 8 stories. Wan wants to see tax revenue flowing from the BeltLine TAD, and sees buildings of up to 8 stories as the start of that process. Many people in the area believe that 8 stories are far too much and that the proposal violates basic tenets of the original Beltline vision and promise. Many people throughout the City feel that the Beltline management is placing too much investment and emphasis into the NE quadrant and that the Beltline planning process has lost direction and is rigged. Can anyone add to these opinions and understandings?
October 19th, 2009 at 9:35 am
@Crosby Stills etc – You’re not still repeating your BS defense of Wan are you? He favors 8-storey development around the east side of the park. That robs the park and robs nearby residents.
In 2013, let the under-represented, apparently affluent Chinese- American community put up a candidate who is not an ADA rubber stamp for whatever developers want.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
FACT: Atlanta is growing & will continue to grow. FACT: As the population grows, so will the demand for housing,so will the number of cars on the road. FACT: Atlanta has abandoned infrastructure in the city, only to rebuild it further out, resulting in urban sprawl. What is wrong with smart growth principles? The Beltline project demonstrates smart growth principles. Instead of fighting growth, Atlantans needs to engage & adopt smart growth principles. Focus on more city-centered, transit and pedestrian oriented mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. LIZ COYLE supports smart growth and she doesn’t make statements that she can’t deliver. I have to LOL regarding Tad Christian. As a neighborhood “leader”, very non-responsive, hates trees, unavailable and pro-developer. Read his website….on “HOW” he is going to reduce taxes….blah, blah, blah. No solution. Alex, nice guy. Good pedigree…..slick talker_pretty boy. Doubt if he can make anything happen in City Council. He would be a good PR person for the city. Steve Brodie….well, he is smart. He & Liz are probably the best candidates. I HOPE the citizens of 30306 have enough sense to know that TAD is BAD & ALEX is the best car salesman around.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I feel for you guys in District 6. Lots of choices and even more noise.