2021 Georgia Local Elections

2021 Local Elections Runoff

Jacki was born and raised in Atlanta. She attended Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools, and she graduated from Roswell High School. She has a bachelor's degree from Hampton University. Her husband, Patrick Labat, is Fulton County Sheriff, and she managed his campaign for the position. She and her husband have four adult children and attend the Enon Baptist Church. They live in Midwest Cascade with their two dogs, Hugo and Finesse.

Jacki is a small business owner and management consultant. She has worked for McKinsey & Company, Kilpatrick Townsend LLP and the King Center.

Jacqueline "Jacki" Labat's campaign for city council is her first entry into politics.

JFA 06302021

CCDR_Labat_20210930

As of August 9, 2021, Jacki Labat’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Atlanta Bike Coalition

Wants to help residents overcome employment and housing obstacles post-COVID.

-Said, "\[s\]mall businesses are struggling to recover and retain personnel, and housing evictions are expected to skyrocket as protections expire."

Plans to work to create a post-pandemic plan that prioritizes all the projects that were stalled during COVID.

- Wants to help residents overcome employment and housing obstacles post-COVID. 
-Said, "\[s\]mall businesses are struggling to recover and retain personnel, and housing evictions are expected to skyrocket as protections expire."
- Plans to work to create a post-pandemic plan that prioritizes all the projects that were stalled during COVID.

COVID

Wants to have more community involvement in the budgeting process.

- Wants to have more community involvement in the budgeting process.

City Budget

Wants to use federal relief funds provided to Atlanta for COVID are used to support those struggling to keep their homes.

Wants to use unused public land to develop mixed-income housing "and communities that are not stigmatized as public housing."

- Supports affordable housing.
- Wants to use federal relief funds provided to Atlanta for COVID are used to support those struggling to keep their homes.
- Wants to use unused public land to develop mixed-income housing "and communities that are not stigmatized as public housing."

Housing & Urban Development

Believes crime is the biggest issue facing Atlanta.

Believes "enforcing the law and holding people accountable is not mutually exclusive from supporting the police while also holding them accountable and enacting reforms that are designed to reduce the scale of incarceration."

Wants to expand housing incentives for law enforcement to promote community policing.

Plans to use the Atlanta City Detention Center to "humanely house" and provided re-entry and vocational training services to detainees.

Supports auditing cash bail reform and signature bond processes.

Said, "we must explore ways to incentivize youth from partaking in a life of crime."

- Believes crime is the biggest issue facing Atlanta. 
- Believes "enforcing the law and holding people accountable is not mutually exclusive from supporting the police while also holding them accountable and enacting reforms that are designed to reduce the scale of incarceration."
- Wants to expand housing incentives for law enforcement to promote community policing.
- Plans to use the Atlanta City Detention Center to "humanely house" and provided re-entry and vocational training services to detainees.
- Supports auditing cash bail reform and signature bond processes.
- Said, "we must explore ways to incentivize youth from partaking in a life of crime."

Public Safety

Wants Atlantans to become less dependent on cars for every day use by providing alternative transportation options, including public transit, walking and biking trails and sidewalks that are safe, well-lit and clean.

Plans to expand the police department's surveillance camera system because "drivers can become desensitized, aggressive and flat out rude."

Believes MARTA should work to provide accessible parking, statin-area development to allow residents to live, work, shop or go to school within walking distance of the station.

- Wants Atlantans to become less dependent on cars for every day use by providing alternative transportation options, including public transit, walking and biking trails and sidewalks that are safe, well-lit and clean. 
- Plans to expand the police department's surveillance camera system because "drivers can become desensitized, aggressive and flat out rude." 
- Believes MARTA should work to provide accessible parking, statin-area development to allow residents to live, work, shop or go to school within walking distance of the station.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports "a healthy mix" of housing options, including affordable rental homes, single family homes, duplexes and communities for seniors.

Believes zoning should require certain amounts of green space, lighting and public art.

- Supports "a healthy mix" of housing options, including affordable rental homes, single family homes, duplexes and communities for seniors.
- Believes zoning should require certain amounts of green space, lighting and public art.

Zoning

Jacki Labat

Jodi was born and raised in Atlanta. She attended Warren T. Jackson Elementary, Sutton Middle and Frederick Douglass High schools. When she was 15, she worked at Six Flags and Wendy's. She has a bachelor's degree from Hampton University, a master's in sociology from Temple University, a master's in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a doctorate in African- American Studies from Temple University.

Jodi is a diversity and inclusion consultant. She is Chief Executive Officer of Diplomacy, Inc., where she provides trainings on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Title IX and multiculturalism to public officials, universities and other organizations. She was appointed Ombudsman and established the Atlanta Public Schools' (APS) Office of the Ombudsmen following the APS cheating scandal. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Gordon State College, and Lecturer at Spelman College, Community College of Philadelphia, Art Institute of Philadelphia and Clark Atlanta University. She was also Adjunct Lecturer at Georgia State University, Special Assistant to the President of Spelman College and Assistant Director of the Georgia State University Neighborhood Collaborative.

Jodi Merriday's campaign for city council is her first entry into politics.

Sept 30th

June 30

Atlanta Daily World

Believes equity is the biggest challenge facing Atlanta.

Wants to "strengthen schools, create jobs, improve roads."

- Believes equity is the biggest challenge facing Atlanta. 
- Wants to "strengthen schools, create jobs, improve roads."

Plans to fund loans, subsidies and incentive grants to supply the resources needed to manage the health crisis (PPP, COVID testing and vaccination sites).

Wants to consider more "rent and utility grants, tax assistance grants, moratoriums, installment/payment plans \[and\] food/grocery give-a-ways" to support people financially struggling due to the pandemic.

Plans to partner with United Way and other private organizations and philanthropists "to create and fund a 90-day safety net point of capture for displaced individuals and families to provide housing and pathways to stability."

- Plans to fund loans, subsidies and incentive grants to supply the resources needed to manage the health crisis (PPP, COVID testing and vaccination sites).
- Wants to consider more "rent and utility grants, tax assistance grants, moratoriums, installment/payment plans \[and\] food/grocery give-a-ways" to support people financially struggling due to the pandemic.
- Plans to partner with United Way and other private organizations and philanthropists "to create and fund a 90-day safety net point of capture for displaced individuals and families to provide housing and pathways to stability."

Wants to fund sidewalk and urgent transportation needs through parking fees and fines, donations from corporations and "exploring cost sharing with visitors."

- Wants to fund sidewalk and urgent transportation needs through parking fees and fines, donations from corporations and "exploring cost sharing with visitors."

Supports using the Housing Opportunity bonds and partnerships with public and private organizations to develop affordable housing.

Plans to fund permanent housing and wraparound services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

- Supports using the Housing Opportunity bonds and partnerships with public and private organizations to develop affordable housing.
- Plans to fund permanent housing and wraparound services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Wants to hire 250 police officers, build a state of the art training facility for the police, give police officers bonuses if they stay on the force, and repurpose the city jail.

Plans to fund de-escalation training for police officers following former President Obama's guidelines for 21st Century Policing and "additional technologies such as Operations Shield Camera Network."

Supports using youth intervention programs and community-based policing tactics and promises to "lead community listening tours on gun violence."

- Wants to hire 250 police officers, build a state of the art training facility for the police, give police officers bonuses if they stay on the force, and repurpose the city jail. 
- Plans to fund de-escalation training for police officers following former President Obama's guidelines for 21st Century Policing and "additional technologies such as Operations Shield Camera Network."
- Supports using youth intervention programs and community-based policing tactics and promises to "lead community listening tours on gun violence."

Wants to make it easier for residents and visitors to move through the city using their preferred mode of transportation.

Promises to fund construction and repair for streets, sidewalks, bike lines and path installations.

Wants to thoughtfully design streets to increase visibility, discourage speeding, separate modes of transportation and protecting pedestrian crossings.

Plans to invest in more technology to track speeding, street racing and "other unsafe behaviors."

- Supports adopting Vision Zero.
- Wants to make it easier for residents and visitors to move through the city using their preferred mode of transportation. 
- Promises to fund construction and repair for streets, sidewalks, bike lines and path installations. 
- Wants to thoughtfully design streets to increase visibility, discourage speeding, separate modes of transportation and protecting pedestrian crossings. 
- Plans to invest in more technology to track speeding, street racing and "other unsafe behaviors."

Said, "I support inclusionary zoning to support a wider distribution of affordable housing ... \[and\] increasing the number of dedicated affordable units by augmenting the incentives for developers to supply units at rents below the 80th percentile of the area's median income."

Supports increasing the types of housing that is available for differing types of family structures and would update "zoning ordinances in single-family zoning areas to allow accessory dwelling units city wide."

- Said, "I support inclusionary zoning to support a wider distribution of affordable housing ... \[and\] increasing the number of dedicated affordable units by augmenting the incentives for developers to supply units at rents below the 80th percentile of the area's median income."
- Supports increasing the types of housing that is available for differing types of family structures and would update "zoning ordinances in single-family zoning areas to allow accessory dwelling units city wide."

Jodi Merriday

Keisha attended Georgia Southern University, Atlanta Metropolitan College and Georgia Perimeter College, and she has degrees in criminal justice and political science.

Keisha has worked with the United States Small Business Administration's Disaster Assistance division, providing disaster assistance loans, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where she coordinated disaster assistance after Hurricane Katrina, helped the response to the earthquake in Haiti and helped coordinate lead water testing in Flint, Michigan. After graduating college, she worked for a major lending institution.

Keisha Sean Waites served three terms as a Representative in the Georgia General Assembly. She represented District 60, which includes Clayton County and Fulton County. She was on the Public Safety, Transportation and Juvenile Justice Committees.

Keisha Waites

Said, "I would make it my priority to be an effective conduit between Buckhead residents and the City of Atlanta government."

Wants to develop south Atlanta. She said, "\[h\]ome flippers see the potential and have been buying homes for $200k and selling them for $400k."

Wants to have a consulting firm do a detailed review of every city department, their role in providing services, and how they use technology to find and respond to any service issues.

As a state representative, she got the Georgia Building Authority to make the State Capitol and legislative office buildings accessible to disabled and visually impaired individuals.

- Said, "I would make it my priority to be an effective conduit between Buckhead residents and the City of Atlanta government." 
- Wants to develop south Atlanta. She said, "\[h\]ome flippers see the potential and have been buying homes for $200k and selling them for $400k." 
- Wants to have a consulting firm do a detailed review of every city department, their role in providing services, and how they use technology to find and respond to any service issues. 
- As a state representative, she got the Georgia Building Authority to make the State Capitol and legislative office buildings accessible to disabled and visually impaired individuals.

Encourages voters to vote by mail via absentee ballot due to the pandemic.

Wants to form a team to reach out to the owners of businesses that failed during the pandemic that want to reopen to match them up with landlords of underused commercial spaces.

Wants to support landlords who were hurt by the eviction moratorium.

- Encourages voters to vote by mail via absentee ballot due to the pandemic.
- Wants to form a team to reach out to the owners of businesses that failed during the pandemic that want to reopen to match them up with landlords of underused commercial spaces. 
- Wants to support landlords who were hurt by the eviction moratorium.

Plans to prioritize policing, infrastructure planning and maintenance, trash collection and code enforcement in budgeting.

Believes that "\[o\]ne of the most important tasks for the Mayor of Atlanta and City Council is to assure residents that their tax dollars are being spent wisely."

Wants to grow the tax base rather than raise taxes or create new taxes.

Wants to create a new tax on blighted or unoccupied properties, since they bring down property values, reduce available housing and reduce the tax base.

- Plans to prioritize policing, infrastructure planning and maintenance, trash collection and code enforcement in budgeting. 
- Believes that "\[o\]ne of the most important tasks for the Mayor of Atlanta and City Council is to assure residents that their tax dollars are being spent wisely." 
- Wants to grow the tax base rather than raise taxes or create new taxes.
- Wants to create a new tax on blighted or unoccupied properties, since they bring down property values, reduce available housing and reduce the tax base.

Sees gentrification as a good thing if property taxes for older or long term residents are frozen as the area develops.

Believes that lack of affordable housing is due to zoning regulations that reduce housing supply.

Wants to expand homeless services to provide access to jobs and wrap around services.

Plans to work with Partners for H.O.M.E., the United Way and other organizations to get services to homeless people as soon as possible.

Wants to make agreements with developers that guarantee a portion of affordable housing in new developments.

- Sees gentrification as a good thing if property taxes for older or long term residents are frozen as the area develops. 
- Believes that lack of affordable housing is due to zoning regulations that reduce housing supply. 
- Wants to expand homeless services to provide access to jobs and wrap around services. 
- Plans to work with Partners for H.O.M.E., the United Way and other organizations to get services to homeless people as soon as possible. 
- Wants to make agreements with developers that guarantee a portion of affordable housing in new developments.

Plans to fully staff the police department "as quickly as possible,"

Wants to expand the network of surveillance cameras and license plate readers, as well as the ShotSpotter system, which seeks to allow the police to find the location of gunshots in real time.

Wants to update the Employee Code of Ethics for city government, with strict penalties for violations.

Wants to expand, simplify or publicize the 311 program for residents to report issues.

As a state representative, she supported "Ban the Box" legislation to remove questions about criminal history from job applications.

- Plans to fully staff the police department "as quickly as possible," 
- Wants to expand the network of surveillance cameras and license plate readers, as well as the ShotSpotter system, which seeks to allow the police to find the location of gunshots in real time. 
- Wants to update the Employee Code of Ethics for city government, with strict penalties for violations. 
- Wants to expand, simplify or publicize the 311 program for residents to report issues. 
- As a state representative, she supported "Ban the Box" legislation to remove questions about criminal history from job applications.

Plans to get funding from the federal Department of Transportation, the state and the county to fix transit problems.

Wants to expand public transportation to create more affordable housing by making it feasible for people to live in the suburbs and commute to work.

- Plans to get funding from the federal Department of Transportation, the state and the county to fix transit problems. 
- Wants to expand public transportation to create more affordable housing by making it feasible for people to live in the suburbs and commute to work.

Supports higher density, smaller minimum footprints and redevelopment of blighted properties.

Wants to change zoning and other policies to create mixed-use spaces that people want to be in and around, such as the brewery scene.

Wants to review zoning plans to rebalance land use designations.

Plans to use rezoning to direct investment into majority minority areas of the city.

- Supports higher density, smaller minimum footprints and redevelopment of blighted properties. 
- Wants to change zoning and other policies to create mixed-use spaces that people want to be in and around, such as the brewery scene. 
- Wants to review zoning plans to rebalance land use designations. 
- Plans to use rezoning to direct investment into majority minority areas of the city.

Keisha Sean Waites

Ralph was born and raised in Atlanta. He has a degree in interior design from the Art Institute of Atlanta. He lives with his wife, Erica, and his son, Ralph IV, in Southwest Atlanta. They are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Ralph owns a real estate firm, The District Realty.

Ralph Long served two terms as a Representative in the Georgia General Assembly. He was on the Higher Education, Transportation and Natural Resources and Environment Committees.

September 30 2021 disclosure

June 30 2021 disclosure

Wants to strengthen commitments to senior citizens.

Promises to "fight tirelessly for the interests of working people, including low-income people who have been shut off from the opportunities in Atlanta."

Promises to "fight for small business owners and the jobs they create" by streamlining the permit process, providing "microgrants" and partnering with Atlanta Public Schools on an entrepreneurial pathway.

Wants to make streets more "shareable," expand sidewalk coverage and make crosswalks safer.

- Wants to strengthen commitments to senior citizens. 
- Promises to "fight tirelessly for the interests of working people, including low-income people who have been shut off from the opportunities in Atlanta." 
- Promises to "fight for small business owners and the jobs they create" by streamlining the permit process, providing "microgrants" and partnering with Atlanta Public Schools on an entrepreneurial pathway.
- Wants to make streets more "shareable," expand sidewalk coverage and make crosswalks safer.

As of August 9, 2021, Ralph Long’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to expand housing choices and provide grants for home repairs for seniors.

- Promises to protect homeless teens. 
- Wants to expand housing choices and provide grants for home repairs for seniors.

Wants "meaningful police reform" and to strengthen the ATL Citizens Review Board.

- Wants "meaningful police reform" and to strengthen the ATL Citizens Review Board.

Wants to design city infrastructure to better fit citizen need.

Believes Atlanta needs robust sidewalks and bike lane coverage throughout the city.

Said, "we need to move our city away from its car-centered culture ... Transportation, which includes sidewalks and bike lanes, is a matter of civil rights and economic development."

Plans to work with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to make city streets safer for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

Believes jaywalking should not be a crime and that crosswalks should be audited and redesigned, particularly in underserved areas of the city.

- Wants to design city infrastructure to better fit citizen need. 
- Believes Atlanta needs robust sidewalks and bike lane coverage throughout the city. 
- Said, "we need to move our city away from its car-centered culture ... Transportation, which includes sidewalks and bike lanes, is a matter of civil rights and economic development." 
- Plans to work with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to make city streets safer for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers. 
- Believes jaywalking should not be a crime and that crosswalks should be audited and redesigned, particularly in underserved areas of the city.

Wants to work closely with Neighborhood Planning Units.

- Wants to work closely with Neighborhood Planning Units.

Ralph Long

Sherry was born and raised in Atlanta. She attended Charles L. Harper High School. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from North Carolina State and a Masters of Science in information systems from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is a four-time breast cancer survivor. She attends the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Sherry has worked for the Georgia General Assembly, Sen. Horacena Tate, Georgia Stand Up, New Georgia Project, Pro Georgia, AZ Democratic Party, Coca-Cola, Chicago Urban League Workforce Trainer, Southland Corporation, Toshiba and Cole Taylor Bank. She was also a Senior Independent Pink Cadillac Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Sherry B. Williams' campaign for city council is her first entry into politics.

October 2021 Final

October 22, 2021

Wants to pay all city workers, city employees and contract workers living wages.

Plans to work with state and county leaders to allow easy access to voter registration and voting.

- Wants to pay all city workers, city employees and contract workers living wages. 
- Plans to work with state and county leaders to allow easy access to voter registration and voting.

As of August 9, 2021, Sherry B. Williams’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to include all residents in planning, developing, serving and distributing tax dollars.

- Wants to include all residents in planning, developing, serving and distributing tax dollars.

Wants to protect neighborhoods against further gentrification.

- Wants to protect neighborhoods against further gentrification.

Advocates for police reform and community policing.

- Advocates for police reform and community policing.

Sherry B. Williams

- 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. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

City Council Member - Post 3

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Runoff election

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