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Atlanta has elected its next mayor!
After a crowded election and contentious runoff race, Councilman Andre Dickens pulled out the victory Tuesday night (November 30), defeating Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore. The two faced off in a runoff after Moore beat out Dickens, but didn't secure a high enough percentage of the vote to claim the title.
Dickens, 47, is a native of Atlanta and a trained engineer. He joined the city council back in 2013 and ran on a campaign platform over concerns of the rising violent crime in the Peach State's capital city and claims he'll be more effective than his opponent in addressing the issue.
"We voted for progress and a problem solver, for a bridge builder, for transformation," Dickens told a crowd of supporters after being named the winner. "And this work will start start right now. We can't wait any longer to address these issues."
Dickens is now the 7th consecutive Black mayor Atlanta has elected.
Dickens has plans to better fund city services, increase affordable housing options, implement community policing, and prevent the wealthy Buckhead neighborhood from seceding.
Dickens will take office at the end of current Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms term in January 2022.
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