Decaturish

Katie has a doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Mercer University. She is a member of Save Decatur's Trees. She lives with her partner, Benjamin.

Katie is a school counselor and a licensed professional counselor. She previously worked as an elementary school teacher.

Katie Bell's campaign for city commissioner is her first entry into politics.

Said, "\[o\]ur school system has failed our students of color and is in disarray."

Prioritizes restoring equity, diversity and inclusion in Decatur. She said, "we are in danger of losing the unique voices and perspectives as older residents and lower to middle income and communities of color are pushed out."

- Said, "\[o\]ur school system has failed our students of color and is in disarray."
- Prioritizes restoring equity, diversity and inclusion in Decatur. She said, "we are in danger of losing the unique voices and perspectives as older residents and lower to middle income and communities of color are pushed out."

Public Services

Supports the city's mask ordinance, getting vaccinated, businesses establishing safety protocols at their establishment and funding personal protective equipment.

Wants to improve communication to the public about how the virus is impacting the city.

- Supports the city's mask ordinance, getting vaccinated, businesses establishing safety protocols at their establishment and funding personal protective equipment. 
- Wants to improve communication to the public about how the virus is impacting the city.

COVID

Wants to "consistently fund resources based upon community needs," including increasing pay for public works employees, teachers, fire fighters and police officers and funding curbside composting and a composting and recycling program in the school system.

Plans to investigate and change the city process for awarding contracts in order to work with more diverse contractors.

- Wants to "consistently fund resources based upon community needs," including increasing pay for public works employees, teachers, fire fighters and police officers and funding curbside composting and a composting and recycling program in the school system. 
- Plans to investigate and change the city process for awarding contracts in order to work with more diverse contractors.

City Budget

Said the city is failing by "not keeping housing affordable, not creating enough workforce and driving out middle and low income and senior citizens."

Wants to focus on affordable housing, including protecting existing rental units, creating "missing middle" housing options such as backyard cottages and duplexes and building new affordable housing near public transportation.

Plans to fast track affordable housing construction on projects like Legacy Park and Decatur Land Trust holdings.

Wants to protect landlords of affordable housing units from assessment increases by the county to keep their taxes down in the hope that they do not raise rent.

- Said the city is failing by "not keeping housing affordable, not creating enough workforce and driving out middle and low income and senior citizens."
- Wants to focus on affordable housing, including protecting existing rental units, creating "missing middle" housing options such as backyard cottages and duplexes and building new affordable housing near public transportation. 
- Plans to fast track affordable housing construction on projects like Legacy Park and Decatur Land Trust holdings. 
- Wants to protect landlords of affordable housing units from assessment increases by the county to keep their taxes down in the hope that they do not raise rent.

Housing & Urban Development

Said, "\[t\]he City of Decatur Police Department is a good example of community policing."

Wants to have licensed social workers on staff to support the police in responding to mental health crises and wants to provide the police with free mental health and wellness services.

Supports having all police trained in crisis intervention training and trauma informed practices.

- Said, "\[t\]he City of Decatur Police Department is a good example of community policing." 
- Wants to have licensed social workers on staff to support the police in responding to mental health crises and wants to provide the police with free mental health and wellness services. 
- Supports having all police trained in crisis intervention training and trauma informed practices.

Public Safety

Believes that "every road, every sidewalk, every railroad crossing, and every pothole should be resolved and kept in perfect condition."

Wants to create more efficient, accessible forms of transportation, including making the city more biker and pedestrian friendly.

Plans to improve sidewalks and install street lighting and crossings along Commerce Drive.

Wants to make sure that safe sidewalks are in front of every school, especially Westchester and Talley.

Supports a 25 mile per hour speed limit throughout the city.

- Believes that "every road, every sidewalk, every railroad crossing, and every pothole should be resolved and kept in perfect condition." 
- Wants to create more efficient, accessible forms of transportation, including making the city more biker and pedestrian friendly. 
- Plans to improve sidewalks and install street lighting and crossings along Commerce Drive. 
- Wants to make sure that safe sidewalks are in front of every school, especially Westchester and Talley. 
- Supports a 25 mile per hour speed limit throughout the city.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants to remove exclusionary zoning ordinances that only allow single family homes to be built.

Said "focusing on affordable housing, while leading with equity and thoughtful sustainable growth that considers everyone, is our best way forward."

- Wants to remove exclusionary zoning ordinances that only allow single family homes to be built. 
- Said "focusing on affordable housing, while leading with equity and thoughtful sustainable growth that considers everyone, is our best way forward."

Zoning

Katie Bell

Kelly has a bachelor's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master's in business administration from the Arizona State University. Kelly was a member of the Decatur Active Living Advisory Board and is part of the Decatur Business Association. She has lived with her husband and their two children in Decatur since 2005.

Kelly works at Keller Williams Realty Metro Atlanta. She previously worked "on Capitol Hill, followed by stints in international development project management, and leading training programs promoting democracy and free elections in Africa for a non-governmental organization in Washington, D.C."

Kelly Walsh is a member of the Decatur City Commission. She was first elected in 2017 and has served one term.

Plans to partner "with a local organization and host a series of community-wide education events that help citizens understand and customize smart growth strategies and investigate how to mitigate the negative impact of development on quality of life."

Supports adopting an "ordinance that minimizes the harmful effects of gas-powered leaf blowers" and planting more trees across the city.

- Plans to partner "with a local organization and host a series of community-wide education events that help citizens understand and customize smart growth strategies and investigate how to mitigate the negative impact of development on quality of life."
- Supports adopting an "ordinance that minimizes the harmful effects of gas-powered leaf blowers" and planting more trees across the city.

As a city commissioner, she supported the city's use of $1.2 million worth of forgivable loans for local businesses and nonprofits struggling during the pandemic.

- As a city commissioner, she supported the city's use of $1.2 million worth of forgivable loans for local businesses and nonprofits struggling during the pandemic.

Wants to fund a community track and multi-purpose athletic field facility in Legacy Park.

- Wants to fund a community track and multi-purpose athletic field facility in Legacy Park.

Supports creating a senior housing rehabilitation program and developing more affordable housing for city employees, artists and adults with disabilities.

- Supports creating a senior housing rehabilitation program and developing more affordable housing for city employees, artists and adults with disabilities.

As of August 23, 2021, Kelly Walsh’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to install more traffic calming devices, expand sidewalks and offer more bussing options for Decatur residents.

Plans to conduct a "feasibility study in 2022 on the city taking over traffic signal control from the county."

Promises to identify more areas that can be used for park space and preserve properties located in floodplain areas.

- Wants to install more traffic calming devices, expand sidewalks and offer more bussing options for Decatur residents.
- Plans to conduct a "feasibility study in 2022 on the city taking over traffic signal control from the county."
- Promises to identify more areas that can be used for park space and preserve properties located in floodplain areas.

Supported the adoption of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance.

- Supported the adoption of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance.

Kelly Walsh

- City commissioners work together with the rest of the city commission to set and implement city policy, and they are tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- Decatur's city commissioners have the power to choose the city's mayor every year. 
- City commissioners work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Georgia

2021 Georgia Local Elections

2021 Local Elections Runoff

Policing

Quality of roads

Housing costs

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 