Voters filled the offices of mayor of Atlanta, members of the Atlanta City Council and members of the Atlanta Board of Education, for terms commencing January 2010 and ending January 2014. Voters also voted in retention elections on a number of Municipal Court judges. The election was non-partisan, meaning that political party affiliations did not appear on the ballot.
The mayor is the city's chief executive officer and head of the executive branch, which carries out the laws that have been instituted by the council. The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day operations of city government.
The four leading mayoral candidates, based on standing in polls, took part in a final debate sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV were City Council President Lisa Borders, City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, state SenatorKasim Reed, and attorney Jesse Spikes. Minor candidates included Peter Brownlowe, Kyle Keyser, and write-in candidates.[2] Previously on October 14, 2009, Emory University sponsored a debate which included the six front running candidates.[3]
Mary Norwood received the most votes in the November election but did not win a majority. Therefore, she and Kasim Reed, who placed second, advanced to a runoff where Kasim Reed won the election.
The city council has fifteen members. The council's role is to advise the mayor and pass local ordinances. Twelve are elected in single-member districts by area, while three are elected at-large from one-third (four) of the 12 voting districts (referred to as "posts").
The President of the Council is elected from the city at-large and is the presiding officer of the Council, acting as chair of all Council meetings. The President of the Council votes on the Council only in case of a tie. The President of the Council appoints chairs and members of the various committees, subject to rejection by a majority of the council and also acts as acting mayor (exercising all powers and discharging all duties of the mayor) in case of a vacancy in that office or during the disability of the mayor.
There were three candidates for Council President: Ceasar C. Mitchell, Clair McLeod Muller, and Dave Gregory Walker.[8]
Mitchell placed first in the November election, with 48.67% of the vote, but not a majority.[2] Therefore, he and Muller, who placed second, advanced to a December runoff.
The Atlanta Board of Education establishes and approves the policies that govern the Atlanta Public Schools. The board consists of nine members, representing six geographical districts and three "at-large" districts. One person is elected per district to represent the schools in a given district for a four-year term.
