Andre Dickens Announces Run For Atlanta Mayor

ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilmember Andre Dickens launched his candidacy for Atlanta’s Mayor on Thursday afternoon.

“I’ve dedicated my life to improving our city and serving its residents, and I’m running for mayor to ensure that our government works for everyone,” the eight-year at-large councilman said in social media and online statements announcing his campaign. “Atlanta is facing many unique challenges, but I was made for this moment. From my training in engineering and economic development, to my experience as a small business owner, to advocating for diversity for one the country’s leading universities, I’ve been preparing to lead our city forward.”

The announcement comes nearly a week after Atlanta’s current leader, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, released an emotional letter and video online telling the City she would not seek a second term in office this fall. It is unclear if Dickens’ announcement may have been somehow made in concert with Bottoms’ planned revelation.

Dickens could not be reached for comment.

Dickens is the Georgia Community Leader for the non-profit TechBridge, which helps connect other charitable organizations with technology and business expertise. But resume outside of City Hall stretches from actively recruiting African American students to and helping retain them at his alma mater Georgia Tech, to co-founding and running multi-million dollar retail company City Living Home Furnishings for 11 years.

He will face off against Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore, who began campaigning in January. Moore’s entry into the mayoral race was sparked, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, by one of the major challenges Dickens could face should he win on Nov. 2.

Concerns about a rise in violent crime in the city last year, and particularly crime in Buckhead, have prompted movements to bolster security through public-private partnerships in the tony neighborhood and to outright secede from Atlanta. Both Moore and Dickens would want to win over a faction of Buckhead residents who want out.