The race to replace Kasim Reed as mayor of Atlanta has brought out a cross section of nine major candidates, one of the biggest fields for the job in years.
The contenders, which include current and former city officials as well as a state senator and the sitting leader of Fulton County, are making their bids as City Hall is embroiled in a federal investigation of alleged bribery for city contracts. While the investigation has taken center stage in early candidate forums, other topics such as education, police recruitment, affordable housing and jobs are also being debated.
Reed, who is in the last year of his second term, has not indicated who he may back as a successor. The election is set for Nov. 7.
THE SLATE: THE 2017 ATLANTA MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Mary Norwood -- Atlanta City Councilwoman. Starting in 2001, Norwood served two consecutive terms in the City Council. She ran unsuccessfully against outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed for the top office in 2009. Website: www.marynorwood.com
Keisha Lance Bottoms -- Atlanta City Councilwoman. Bottoms, an attorney and legal analyst, joined the Council in January 2010 and is executive director of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. Website: keishalancebottoms.com
Kwanza Hall -- Atlanta City Councilman. Hall was elected to the Atlanta Public School board in 2002 before moving to the Council in 2006. Hall, a director of business development for MACTEC Engineering, is the son of civil rights veterans Leon and Evelyn Hall and attended MIT. Website: kwanzahall.com
Ceasar Mitchell -- Atlanta City Council President. Mitchell is a real estate attorney for DLA Piper and Morehouse grad who served as a councilman for eight years before taking on the job as council president in 2009. Website: ceasarformayor.com
Vincent Fort -- Georgia State Senator. Fort represents the 39th District, – which includes parts of the city and East Point. He made headlines in 2016 after switching support from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders, who is backing Fort's mayoral run. Website: vincentfort.com
Cathy Woolard -- Former Atlanta City Council President. Former president of the Atlanta City Council. Woolard, a small business owner, became the first openly gay person elected to office in Atlanta in 1997 and the first woman Council president in 2002. Website: cathyforatlanta.com
Peter Aman -- Former City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer. Former city of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer. Aman, a former partner at consulting giant Bain & Company, helped former Mayor Shirley Franklin in a consulting role in the early days or her administration before becoming Mayor Kasim Reed's COO for two years. Website: peteraman.com
Michael Sterling -- Former executive director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency. Sterling is a former assistant U.S. attorney and advisor to Mayor Reed. He was appointed to Workforce Development In 2014 after its leader abruptly stepped down after allegations of mismanagement of the agency surfaced. Website: michaelforatlanta.com
John Eaves -- Fulton County Commission Chairman. Eaves has led Fulton, the state's largest county, since 2007. Before entering politics he spent seven years as southeast regional director for the Peace Corps. Website: eavesforatlanta.com
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