Politic-ATL: Another candidate enters race for council president

It's committee week for Atlanta's legislative body, but political moves are still happening.

The latest: Rohit Malhotra has jumped into the race to become Atlanta's next City Council president.

• Council Member Marci Collier Overstreet is also running for the seat, which is open since incumbent Doug Shipman is not seeking a second term.
• Malhotra is "taking an extended leave of absence" from his role as executive director of the Center for Civic Innovation while he campaigns, he said in a letter last week.

What they're saying: Malhotra said in a statement that he's running for the position because the city "needs principled, people-first leadership."

• "The answer to bad national politics is good local policy. Local government has the power to shape our daily lives," he said. "That means making sure our democracy works for everyone, not just the powerful few."

Flashback: Before founding and serving as the Center for Civic Innovation's executive director, Malhotra was an Ash Innovation fellow during President Obama's administration.

• He has a bachelor's degree from Emory University and a master's in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The big picture: With Mayor Andre Dickens most likely running for reelection without a challenger who could mount a serious challenge against him, the council president race could determine if voters will stick with a longtime elected official or back a candidate representing the more progressive wing of Atlanta politics.

How it works: The council president runs City Council meetings and appoints members to serve on the legislative body's committee, according to city law.

• This elected official also assumes the role of mayor if the sitting mayor is incapacitated.
• Fun fact: Atlanta is the only municipality in the state that has a council president, Georgia Municipal Association general counsel Rusi Patel told Atlanta Civic Circle.

Go deeper: A guide to Atlanta's 2025 mayoral and City Council races

Budget hearings continue

Meanwhile, the council will host another public hearing next Wednesday at City Hall related to the fiscal year 2026 budget and property tax rate. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

• The public can comment on the tax rate from 6pm to 6:15pm and the budget from 6:15pm to 7pm.