Understanding the Mayor-Elect of Atlanta: What It Means and Why It Matters

If you live in Atlanta, follow local politics, or are moving here soon, you may hear the term “mayor-elect of Atlanta” during election season. Knowing what this title means—and what the mayor-elect actually does before taking office—can help you understand how decisions are being shaped that affect your neighborhood, commute, safety, and local services.

This guide explains the role of the mayor-elect in Atlanta, how someone becomes mayor-elect, what happens between Election Day and Inauguration Day, and how you can stay involved and informed as a resident.

What Does “Mayor-Elect of Atlanta” Mean?

The term mayor-elect refers to:

Once the election results are certified and it’s clear who has won, that person is referred to as the mayor-elect until they formally take office, usually at the start of the next term.

In Atlanta:

• The Mayor is the head of the City of Atlanta’s executive branch.
• The mayor is responsible for overseeing city departments, proposing budgets, and working with the Atlanta City Council on legislation.
• The mayor-elect is in a transition period, preparing to assume those responsibilities.

You’ll often hear the term “mayor-elect” in local news, community meetings, and city announcements in the weeks or months after city elections.

How Someone Becomes Mayor-Elect in Atlanta

Atlanta’s municipal elections follow a clear process that leads to someone being recognized as the mayor-elect.

1. Election Day and Voting

The Mayor of Atlanta is elected by city voters in a nonpartisan municipal election, typically held in odd-numbered years (for example, 2021, 2025).

• Who can vote?
  Registered voters who live within the City of Atlanta limits.
• Where do people vote?
  At assigned polling places run by Fulton County (and DeKalb County for parts of Atlanta on the east side), or through early voting and absentee ballots.

2. Runoff Elections

To win the mayor’s race outright, a candidate usually needs to reach a majority of votes (more than 50%).

• If no candidate gets a majority, the top two candidates go to a runoff election.
• The winner of the runoff becomes the mayor-elect, once the results are clear and certified.

3. Certification and Official Status as Mayor-Elect

Election results are:

1. Collected by the counties (primarily Fulton County, and DeKalb County for some precincts).
2. Reviewed and certified by appropriate election authorities.
3. Confirmed as official results.

After certification, the winning candidate is formally recognized as mayor-elect of Atlanta until they are sworn in and become the Mayor of Atlanta.

What the Mayor-Elect Does Before Taking Office

The time between being elected and being sworn in is not just ceremonial. The mayor-elect is usually very active behind the scenes.

Here are typical activities during the transition period:

1. Building a Transition Team

Most mayor-elects form a transition team consisting of:

• Community leaders
• Policy experts
• Legal and financial advisors
• Representatives from key sectors like housing, transportation, public safety, and business

Their role is to:

• Review current city operations and budgets
• Identify urgent issues (for example, public safety priorities, infrastructure needs, or housing pressures)
• Help the mayor-elect shape early policy goals

2. Meeting with City Officials and Departments

The mayor-elect generally meets with:

• The outgoing mayor (if there is one)
• The Chief Operating Officer or city administrator
• Department heads (such as Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, Department of Watershed Management, Department of Public Works, Atlanta Department of Transportation, and others)

These conversations help the mayor-elect:

• Understand ongoing projects (street resurfacing, MARTA coordination, airport expansion, etc.)
• Review challenges affecting residents in different neighborhoods
• Decide whether to keep, replace, or reorganize department leadership

3. Setting Policy Priorities

During this period, you’ll often hear the mayor-elect emphasize key policy areas, such as:

• Public safety and policing
• Affordable housing and homelessness
• Transportation and traffic (including issues around the Connector, I-285, and neighborhood streets)
• Economic development and small business support
• Neighborhood development and gentrification concerns
• Infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, water/sewer)
• Sustainability and green space (parks, trails like the Atlanta BeltLine)

Even before being sworn in, the mayor-elect uses this time to:

• Outline a first-100-days agenda
• Connect with Atlanta City Council members
• Coordinate with regional bodies, such as MARTA, Atlanta Public Schools (APS), and nearby counties

4. Communicating with the Public

You may see the mayor-elect:

• Hold press conferences in locations like City Hall, neighborhood community centers, or major civic venues.
• Visit different neighborhoods—such as Southwest Atlanta, Buckhead, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, West End, or East Atlanta—to signal citywide engagement.
• Release public statements about priorities or major concerns.

This is a good time for residents to listen closely to what the next administration is promising and how it plans to govern.

When Does the Mayor-Elect Become the Mayor of Atlanta?

The mayor-elect becomes the official Mayor of Atlanta once they are sworn into office, usually at the beginning of the new term.

Swearing-In and Inauguration

Key steps usually include:

• An oath of office administered at an inauguration ceremony.
• Transfer of responsibilities from the outgoing mayor (if applicable).
• The start of the new mayor’s official term, during which they can fully:
  • Sign city legislation
  • Issue executive orders (where applicable)
  • Direct city operations and initiatives

After the swearing-in:

• The term “mayor-elect” is no longer used.
• The individual is simply referred to as “Mayor of Atlanta”.

What the Mayor (and Former Mayor-Elect) Actually Controls in Atlanta

Understanding what the mayor can and cannot do helps you interpret the promises made while someone is mayor-elect.

The Mayor of Atlanta typically:

• Oversees city departments
  Including public safety, public works, planning, watershed management, human resources, and more.

• Proposes the city budget
  The mayor puts forward a budget that must be approved by the Atlanta City Council.

• Implements city policies and programs
  For example, affordable housing strategies, infrastructure projects, and citywide initiatives.

• Appoints key positions
  Often including department heads and certain board positions, subject to city rules and council confirmations.

• Works with regional and state partners
  On issues involving:

  • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  • MARTA and regional transit planning
  • Collaboration with Fulton and DeKalb counties and the State of Georgia

However, the mayor does not control everything:

• Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is governed by its own elected school board.
• Certain taxes, regional plans, and laws depend on state legislation or intergovernmental agreements.
• The Atlanta City Council has its own legislative authority and must approve many of the mayor’s initiatives.

The mayor-elect must work within these structures, and you can often see those relationships forming or shifting during the transition period.

How Atlanta Residents Can Engage with the Mayor-Elect

If you live in Atlanta, the mayor-elect will soon be directing many services that affect you daily. There are several practical ways to stay involved.

1. Follow Official City Channels

Once election results are known, the mayor-elect typically communicates through:

• Announcements coordinated with the City of Atlanta.
• Public statements often shared via:
  • Local news outlets
  • City press releases
  • Public events at places like Atlanta City Hall (68 Mitchell St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303)

These channels help you track:

• Who is on the transition team
• Major policy priorities
• Planned changes to city leadership or structure

2. Attend or Watch Public Meetings

While the mayor-elect has not yet taken office, they may:

• Attend Atlanta City Council meetings or briefings.
• Join public forums hosted by neighborhood groups or civic organizations.

You can typically:

• View agendas and schedules for City Council meetings through city information offices.
• Attend in person at City Hall or watch streams when available.

3. Connect Through Neighborhood and Community Groups

Many Atlanta neighborhoods are active through:

• Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs)
  Atlanta’s NPUs are citizen advisory councils that make recommendations on zoning, land use, and other planning issues.
• Neighborhood associations and community organizations.
• Business or merchants’ associations in areas like:
  • Downtown
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • Little Five Points
  • Cascade, Camp Creek, and others

These groups often:

• Invite candidates and mayor-elects to speak.
• Organize Q&A sessions about local concerns.
• Send feedback and policy requests to the incoming administration.

Mayor-Elect vs. Other Local Offices in Atlanta

It helps to understand how the mayor-elect fits into the broader structure of city government and local leadership.

Quick Comparison Table

If you are tracking who speaks for what issue, remember:

• The mayor-elect is the incoming city executive, focused on city operations and policy.
• County and school leaders have separate authority, though they often work with the mayor’s office.

Why the Mayor-Elect Matters to Everyday Life in Atlanta

Even before taking the oath, the mayor-elect can influence expectations, plans, and directions that matter for daily life, such as:

• Neighborhood development
  How growth is managed in areas like Midtown, West Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, South Atlanta, Buckhead, and others.

• Public safety approach
  Priorities for policing, crime prevention strategies, and community engagement.

• Transportation and mobility
  Emphasis on road repairs, bike lanes, transit coordination, and pedestrian safety.

• Housing affordability
  Attention to rents, evictions, homelessness services, and development incentives.

• Quality of basic services
  Such as trash pickup, water and sewer reliability, code enforcement, and park maintenance.

Listening to what the mayor-elect says and does during the transition offers a clear window into how the next four years could look for Atlanta residents.

Where to Turn for Official Information in Atlanta

If you want official, up-to-date information about the mayor-elect or mayoral transition, consider these primary city resources:

• City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office
  Typically based at:
  Atlanta City Hall
  68 Mitchell St SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main city information line is often available via central city hall contacts.

• Atlanta City Council Offices
  Also located at City Hall; they can provide schedules for council meetings and hearings where the incoming administration’s priorities are discussed.

• Fulton County and DeKalb County Elections Offices
  For questions about:

  • Election results
  • Runoff schedules
  • Voter registration and polling places affecting Atlanta residents

Checking these official channels helps ensure you have accurate information about who is serving as mayor-elect of Atlanta, when they will take office, and how to stay informed as the city transitions to new leadership.