Political newcomer Andre Dickens garnered 52.77 percent of the votes over 12-year incumbent Harold Lamar Willis (46.79 percent). Dickens will take over the Post 3 at large seat on the Atlanta City Council.
“It’s a new day!” an excited Dickens told supporters at his election night watch party held at Manuel’s Tavern.
Putting his best foot forward, Dickens doesn’t hide from the fact that politics is new to him. In light of the fact that Mayor Kasim Reed endorsed his opponent, Willis, a humble Dickens believes scheduling a meeting with Reed and finding common ground during his first 100 days is imperative as well as gleaning knowledge from his fellow council members. “I am respectful of Mayor Kasim Reed and the office of mayor and I believe collegiality is key. We are to be good leaders and that means listening when it’s hard and when we disagree. At the end of this night, a lot of those things will be in the past. The future of Atlanta depends on us effectively working together. My ears are open are my hands are extended.”
Also in his first 100 days, he plans to “assert myself on the issues that I’ve heard along the campaign trail in terms of job creation, public safety and an ethical government. We’re not that distant, it’s just [adding] new approaches.”
For Dickens, creating safer neighborhoods translates to blighted and abandoned properties being torn down or repurposing where needed.
How Dickens will get the message out and stay engaged …
“I will be using face-to-face, visiting and talking with them directly and digitally. Also, I am going to use technology to capture their needs and concerns, a feedback loop. I’ve been dubbed a ‘newcomer’ and ‘unknown’ but for me to be in this position right now, it’s because I have had a whole lot of people talking to me. I needed that and will need it for the rest of my time in office. I’ve seen Caesar Mitchell [council president] use Twitter effectively. I come from neighborhood associations and NPUs [neighborhood planning units] and I believe public participation is the key to good government.”
