Atlanta mayoral candidate Andre Dickens' campaign day chock full of stops with voters

It was one of the first truly cold mornings of the season, and Andre Dickens was up before most of the city. With his alarm set for 6:15 a.m. on a Saturday, he had some time at home before a string of campaign appearances took him across the city in the span of a few hours.

That’s the life of a mayoral candidate in Atlanta 10 days out from a runoff election that could be decided by a few hundred votes.

By 9 a.m., the two-term council member was having coffee and a bagel at Buzz Coffee and Winehouse on Cascade Road while two people did Bible study a few tables down. It wasn’t far from where Dickens grew up, the southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Adams Park. He was dressed for an active day, sporting jeans and a black “Andre Dickens for mayor” hoodie, which he occasionally covered with a blazer throughout the day.

The narrow coffeeshop quickly filled with supporters, endorsers, and local political power players for an event hosted by two unions that are supporting Dickens and other candidates on the Nov. 30 runoff ballot. Between greetings and selfies, one topic of conversation throughout the room was the statement Dickens’ rival, City Council President Felicia Moore, had posted the day before — and then deleted — about the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict in Kenosha, Wis.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

City councilmembers, school board members and the county solicitor general were all on hand to give remarks. Dickens was the closing act, delivering an impassioned speech just before 10 a.m. that focused on the group’s collective love for Atlanta.

“Everybody in this room, I see you throw it up for the A all the time! We ride for our city,” Dickens said, his voice rising. “Let me say something about Atlanta — we’re ready to fight!” Then he added: “Maybe we’ll have a peaceful fight, solicitor.”

“Good trouble, good trouble,” a woman in the crowd said.

ExploreAJC voter guides for the Nov. 30 runoff election

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

He ended his speech walking through the crowd and out of the door, high-fiving attendees on the way and yelling, “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

The event kicked off a morning of canvassing by the union in the nearby neighborhoods, and Dickens was originally supposed to join those efforts for about half an hour. But plans changed after he huddled with two staffers outside and realized they wouldn’t have enough time, since the event at Buzz had run long. It was off to the next stop.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

10:40 a.m.

Dickens walked into The Municipal Market, also known as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, and immediately outstretched his arms when he recognized someone he knew. Nearby, a merchant selling spices asked him for a picture and wanted to put his campaign flyers on her stand.

With his small entourage trailing behind, Dickens floated through the crowded food market shaking hands and fist-bumping shoppers, reminding them of the upcoming runoff election.

“Hey, I’m Andre Dickens, vote for me for mayor! Don’t forget, we have to vote again!”

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“I saw you on TV,” one shopper said. Another thanked him for stopping the “Reed comeback.” One woman said she already voted for him and gave him a hug. “Southside!” one man shouted when he recognized Dickens. People in line for one of the meat stands asked one another when the election is.

While waiting in line, Mona Gilbert stopped Dickens to get serious. She asked him: Why should he be the next mayor?

“More people come in, and the cost of living is going up,” Gilbert told him.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dickens talked to her for a few minutes about his affordable housing plan and goal of improving food access before continuing to move through the market.

He joked with a group of older women that he was going to cut in the line for greens.

“You’ve got to go to the back of the line!” one woman quipped, adding “Love you, gonna vote for you!”

Dickens was fine with that. “I’ll take your vote, and then I’ll just come to your house and get the greens,” he said, prompting more laughs in the line.

He only stopped on the way out to take a quick picture of the room where they de-stem greens, and for a short meeting with the market’s manager.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

11:30 a.m.

Dickens hopped in the car (he has a driver that takes him and his team from place to place) en route to the Hammond Park neighborhood on the Southside, where a Thanksgiving food giveaway was planned on Metropolitan Parkway.

After a quick bathroom break, some group photos and selfies, Dickens dispatched to the parking lot to help pass out turkeys, chickens and vegetables to a long line of cars. The distribution was organized by C.H.O.I.C.E.S., an organization that aims to provide more healthy food options for children.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Throughout the event, Dickens chatted with people as he dropped off food in their trunks and took photos with fans like Rita Hutchins, who was wearing a light blue Mays High cardigan. A Mays alum himself, Dickens immediately recognized it.

“He used to come up all the time and was very supportive of the school,” said Hutchins, who worked at Mays until retiring in 2018. She said Dickens is “what’s good for the city.”

As he waited for the next car to pull up, Dickens said he’s feeling confident with Election Day around the corner.

“I’m feeling that we’ve got the momentum. I know we’ve got the votes right now,” he said, adding that his campaign is now focused on turnout. I’m not yielding any of the north to Felicia.”

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

He also addressed Moore’s statement on the Rittenhouse verdict that she took down, saying it was poor judgment on Moore’s part.

“Either you meant what you said the first time, or you’re too scared of your conservative backers that will threaten you every day you’re in office,” he said.

Dickens’ communications director walked up: “And now she posted again.”

Moore had reposted her original statement denouncing the verdict. Dickens didn’t dwell on it and got back to socializing, loading up cars and dancing to a bit of “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige. Campaign staff members were a few feet back under a covered tent checking their phones for the latest developments.

ExploreExclusive AJC poll: Dickens edges ahead of Moore in Atlanta mayoral runoff

It wasn’t long before Dickens was due at his next event, so he hopped in a Ford Expedition after taking a few more pictures with supporters who shouted, “Hey mayor!”

12:45 p.m.

It had warmed up by this point, and several dozen East Atlanta residents schmoozed at a meet-and-greet for Dickens at one of the entrances to Grant Park. Young kids ran around swinging Dickens campaign signs as the adults in the crowd sipped on sodas.

“You got a sticker!” Dickens said when he saw 6-year-old Benjamin Hunter, whose parents had gone to the polls that day and secured an “I Voted” sticker for the youngster.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The 6-year-old then put on his reporter hat: “What are you gonna do when you become mayor?” he asked Dickens.

The councilman mentioned the gazebo that recently burned down in the park: “We’re gonna build that back up and you can have a place to play.”

Councilwoman Carla Smith and state Rep. David Dreyer, who both represent the area, later introduced Dickens, who mentioned that he is a member of the Grant Park Conservatory. He also talked about park maintenance, bike lanes and mobility and affordable housing around the Beltline.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dickens added the turmoil over Moore’s Rittenhouse statement to his prepared remarks.

“It’s a flip flop,” he said of her deleted statement. “Decisiveness is what’s needed to be the CEO of the city of Atlanta.”

1:30 p.m.

Shortly after wrapping, Dickens was rushed toward his car and did a quick interview with The Washington Post. A staffer had dropped off some wraps in the car for lunch, as Dickens zipped off to his next event. He usually spends car rides between events on the phone with people inside or outside of the campaign, or prepping for the next function.

But this trip Saturday afternoon wasn’t normal.

As Dickens and his team were headed to a meet-and-greet, discourse started to swirl on social media about a shooting at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, including unconfirmed reports of an active shooter. Dickens, who chairs the city council’s transportation committee, pulled over to get to the bottom of what was unfolding.

A tragedy at the airport would have certainly diverted him and likely had a massive impact on the rest of the campaign.

ExploreMore Atlanta mayor's race coverage from the AJC

Dickens was on another phone call when he saw the reports of the shooting. He hung up and called his contacts at the airport and police department to learn more about what happened and what the public should know.

At 1:58 p.m. Dickens tweeted, “I have spoken to the airport general manager and the police chief and confirmed there is NOT an active shooter at the #AtlantaAirport. They are investigating the source of the loud bang. Please standby for more information.”

I have spoken to the airport general manager and the police chief and confirmed there is NOT an active shooter at the #AtlantaAirport. They are investigating the source of the loud bang. Please standby for more information.
— Andre Dickens (@andreforatlanta) November 20, 2021

At almost exactly the same time, the airport’s Twitter account sent out its first tweet of the day, confirming that an accidental gun discharge caused the panic.

By this time, guests had started to arrive at the upscale Ansley Park home of Lawrence and Kathy Ashe, who served in the state House of Representatives for 20 years. Eager to hear from Dickens, they munched on snacks and sipped hot cider around a fire pit on the home’s back patio.

Kathy Ashe was one of several influential local Democratic leaders at the meet-and-greet; former Mayor Shirley Franklin, former mayoral candidate Sharon Gay, Councilwoman Jennifer Ide and former Atlanta Public Schools board chair Courtney English were all on hand.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

3 p.m.

Dickens arrived in the middle of Ide’s remarks. “How are y’all doing? Hey Sharon, how are you doing? Hey everybody!” Dickens said as he walked into the back patio, campaign staffers close behind.

“I was just telling them why you’re gonna be the next mayor, so we’re gonna put you right on the spot,” Ide said. If Dickens was exhausted by this point, there weren’t many signs of it.

“Let’s do it! Good afternoon everybody,” Dickens said, apologizing for the late arrival. “We had an incident at the airport.”

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

He recapped what had happened and delivered the latest updates before launching into his stump speech. This time he included details on how he hopes to stop Buckhead cityhood (an issue affecting neighborhoods not far from Ansley Park) and penalize unruly nightclubs.

He took questions from attendees and addressed a top issue for Ansley residents: the city’s proposal to rezone homes located near MARTA stations to allow for more small apartment buildings. Homeowners in the neighborhood are overwhelmingly against the idea, with signs opposing the rezoning located in front of almost every house.

Dickens drew applause from the crowd when he assured them the ordinances were unlikely to pass this year, and that he wanted the city to start over and reevaluate how it gets input from neighborhoods.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The event ended with Franklin reminding the crowd that she won her race in 2001 by a mere 181 votes: “It was 183, but in the recount I lost two votes.”

It underscored why Saturday’s events — chock-full of direct interactions with potential voters and well-known neighborhood figures — were crucial to the Dickens campaign, especially in an election that is projected to have low turnout.

After a few more photos, campaign staffers had to pull Dickens away from his final conversations so he could zip off to another few private fundraisers and events. He finally went to bed at 12:45 a.m. Sunday, then visited three churches that morning.