CCI's Rohit Malhotra announces run for Atlanta City Council president

City Council Candidate Malhotra Wants to Improve Black Economic ...

Rohit Malhotra was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. Rohit now lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

Nonprofit policy leader enters race for Atlanta City Council president

Rohit is the founder and executive director of the Civic Center for Innovation, which focuses on supporting working-class families and small businesses. He also has experience working with HouseATL, ProGeorgia, and the Foundation Center. 

Atlanta City Council candidate Q&A: Rohit Malhotra

This is Rohit's first time running for public office. 

Aims to improve economic outcomes for Black people in Atlanta.

Supports creating programs for universal basic income and baby bonds to address economic inequality.

Believes cities should be more empathetic and flexible in reintegrating employees to post-2019 work conditions, noting that strict full-time in-person mandates lead to workforce reductions and exacerbate budget deficits, like Atlanta's $20 million shortfall.

Believes cities should be more empathetic and flexible in reintegrating employees to post-COVID work conditions, noting that strict full-time in-person mandates lead to workforce reductions.

Aims to raise household incomes and help families build generational wealth.

Supports investing in small businesses and local entrepreneurs in Atlanta.

Supports making city spending transparent and accessible so taxpayers can see where their money is going and to evaluate which programs are working (and also, which programs are not).

Supports creating a trust fund for Atlanta’s artists, musicians, and creatives to acknowledge their role in shaping culture and the economy.

Supports strengthening financial reserves and preparing for a potential economic downturn by advocating for a 2030 budget forecast and enhancing the independence and capacity of the Department of Finance to provide effective forecasting and guidance.

Supports preparing for a potential economic downturn by advocating for a 2030 budget forecast and enhancing the independence and capacity of the Department of Finance to provide effective forecasting and guidance.

- Aims to improve economic outcomes for Black people in Atlanta.
- Supports creating programs for universal basic income and baby bonds to address economic inequality.
- Believes cities should be more empathetic and flexible in reintegrating employees to post-COVID work conditions, noting that strict full-time in-person mandates lead to workforce reductions.
- Aims to raise household incomes and help families build generational wealth.
- Supports investing in small businesses and local entrepreneurs in Atlanta.
- Supports making city spending transparent and accessible so taxpayers can see where their money is going and to evaluate which programs are working (and also, which programs are not).
- Supports creating a trust fund for Atlanta’s artists, musicians, and creatives to acknowledge their role in shaping culture and the economy.
- Supports preparing for a potential economic downturn by advocating for a 2030 budget forecast and enhancing the independence and capacity of the Department of Finance to provide effective forecasting and guidance.

Economy

Believes in prioritizing council members with relevant neighborhood issues for specific committee assignments to ensure equitable representation and a diversity of thought.

Believes in empowering neighborhood leaders and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) to enhance community representation in City Hall.

Supports protecting and strengthening democratic processes, including referenda and ballot initiatives, and opposes "suppression tactics like signature matching."

- Believes in prioritizing council members with relevant neighborhood issues for specific committee assignments to ensure equitable representation and a diversity of thought.
- Believes in empowering neighborhood leaders and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) to enhance community representation in City Hall.
- Supports protecting and strengthening democratic processes, including referenda and ballot initiatives, and opposes "suppression tactics like signature matching."

Public Services

Supports equitable development across neighborhoods.

Supports a housing-first policy to address homelessness.

- Supports equitable development across neighborhoods.
- Supports a housing-first policy to address homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports having a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure legal support for residents impacted by "unprecedented policies."

Supports having an agreement with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure legal support for residents impacted by "unprecedented policies."

Supports investing in "proven violence prevention programs that address root causes and create a comprehensive, community-centered public safety strategy."

Opposes the use of surveillance in policing, saying "Where surveillance is set up and how is not a protective measure. It is often used to target."

Supports investing in community-based violence-interruption projects like the IVYY (Interrupting Violence with Youth and Young Adults) Project's Circle of Safety.

- Supports having an agreement with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure legal support for residents impacted by "unprecedented policies."
- Supports investing in "proven violence prevention programs that address root causes and create a comprehensive, community-centered public safety strategy."
- Opposes the use of surveillance in policing, saying "Where surveillance is set up and how is not a protective measure. It is often used to target."
- Supports investing in community-based violence-interruption projects like the IVYY (Interrupting Violence with Youth and Young Adults) Project's Circle of Safety.

Public Safety

Supports public transit and advocates for transportation improvements.

Supports expanding and improving public transportation to make it more affordable, efficient, and transparent.

- Supports public transit and advocates for transportation improvements.
- Supports expanding and improving public transportation to make it more affordable, efficient, and transparent.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of September 3, 2025, Rohit Malhotra’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

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Rohit Malhotra

Rohit Malhotra is from Chicago, Illinois. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. He lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

- Aims to improve economic outcomes for Black people in Atlanta.
- Supports creating programs for universal basic income and baby bonds to address economic inequality.

Supports having a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure there is a direct line of support for impacted individuals.

- Supports equitable development across neighborhoods.

Rohit Malhotra is from Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Central Gwinnett High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. He lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

Another candidate enters Atlanta City Council president race - Axios ...

Rohit is currently president of the Atlanta City Council. He was elected in 2025 and is serving his first term. 

As of September 3, 2025, Rohit Malhotra did not have a website or any information online.

- City Council president is a position specific to Atlanta, and they are responsible for leading city council by presiding over meetings and appointing city council members to committee positions. 
- City council president cannot introduce legislation and can only vote to break a 7-7 tie. 
- City council president is elected by all voters in Atlanta in odd years to four year terms and will receive a salary of $74,400 starting in 2022. 


Atlanta

Public safety

Buckhead City Movement

Georgia

City Council President

James Auchincloss

Buket Urgen

Supports having an agreement with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure there is a direct line of support for impacted individuals.