On Jan. 5, Atlanta’s leaders gathered at Georgia State University’s Convocation Center to celebrate the inauguration of the city’s new and returning leadership.
The event, led by Masters of Ceremonies Lori Geary, host of The Georgia Gang, and Jorge Estevez, anchor for WSB-TV, drew attendance from Congress members Sen. Raphael Warnock, Rep. Lucy McBath, and Rep. Nikema Williams; former Atlanta mayors Ambassador Andrew Young, Shirley Franklin, and Kasim Reed; and Valerie Jackson and Sandra Massell, representing their late husbands and former mayors Maynard Jackson and Sam Massell.
The highlights of the ceremony were the swearing in of City Council President Marci Collier Overstreet, who was elected in November after former President Doug Shipman did not run for reelection, and Mayor Andre Dickens for his second term after being reelected with 85 percent of the vote. In their acceptance speeches, both Dickens and Overstreet highlighted the successes of their past terms – Overstreet as a member of City Council – and their goals to move Atlanta forward.
Dickens said the “defining work” of his second term would be the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, an ongoing project focused on uplifting and interconnecting Atlanta’s neighborhoods through the development of affordable housing, youth opportunities, public spaces, and accessible transit. The project is focused on seven neighborhoods: Thomasville Heights, English Avenue/Vine City, Grove Park/Bankhead, West Hollowell, East Campbellton, West Campbellton, and Downtown.
“At a moment when the federal government has pulled back from that group project, Atlanta chooses not to retreat,” Dickens said. “…We are all choosing to lean in. We are choosing to remain indivisible. The Pledge of Allegiance we recited earlier today says, ‘Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ Atlanta, we are indivisible, committed to one city, to one future, and most importantly, to one another.”
Overstreet said she is planning to institute presidential town halls across the city throughout the year so people who work 9-5 and are unable to attend weekday City Council meetings can still interact with city government.
“Everything I do is rooted in love, love for my community, love for my city, love for a future in which every voice is honored and every life is cherished,” Overstreet said. “I promise to leave this city with compassion, courage and an unwavering belief in Atlanta’s greatness. Thank you for trusting me Atlanta to serve as your council president. Let’s keep building Atlanta together.”
Other Atlanta officials who were sworn in on Monday included the City Council, who took the oath of office administered by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert C. I. McBurney, and the Atlanta Municipal Court Judges, whose oath was administered by Chief Judge of Fulton Superior Court Ural Glanville.
Newly inaugurated City Council members included Kelsea Bond, Thomas Worthy, and Wayne Martin. Reelected members included Michael Julian Bond, Matt Westmoreland, Eshé Collins, Jason Winston, Byron Amos, Jason Dozier, Liliana Bakhtiari, Alex Wan, Mary Norwood, Dustin Hillis, Andrea Boone, and Antonio Lewis.
Chief Judge Christopher E. Ward, Judge Gary E. Jackson, Judge Terrinee L. Gundy, Judge JaDawnya C. Baker, Judge Christopher T. Portis, Judge Ardra L. Bey, Judge Theresa A. Mann, Judge Pierce Hand Seitz, and Judge Allyson R. Pitts were all inaugurated as the Atlanta Municipal Court.
The event included a welcome from GSU President M. Brian Blake; the Pledge of Alliance recited by Benjamin E. Mays High School student Joselyn Vicente Ramires; performances by Amber Imam and the Community ATL Choir; an invocation by Mayor Dickens’ reverend, Reverend Sean Smith of New Horizon Baptist Church; and a closing benediction by Pastor Eric Thomas of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church.
The Atlanta City Council held an organizational meeting following the ceremonyat City Hall. The meeting included the announcement of committee chairpersons and appointments and an open house reception for the public to meet their elected representatives.
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