Friday, May 22, 2009
News Adam Brackman announces City Council At Large Post 1 bid
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Fri, May 22, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Southeast Atlanta resident Adam Brackman announced his candidacy for Atlanta City Council Post 1 At Large today, joining what might be the most crowded municipal race — next to the mayor's race — that we've seen yet.
Brackman, a Boston native, has lived in Atlanta for 16 years. The IBM executive served as vice-president of South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development, or SAND, the board of Neighborhood Planning Unit W, the Benteen Park Neighborhood Association and the East Village Park Homeowners Association.
He's openly gay and has worked with multiple diversity groups. Brackman's also been involved with the Fulton County District Attorney's Citizens' CourtWatch program in which residents attend court cases involving neighborhood-related crimes.
He's running on a public-safety and fiscal responsibility platform. He says in a press release:
“Crime has escalated significantly, but police officers are being furloughed. Fire stations are being shut, our 911 center is understaffed, and the city is still not able to reconcile its finances,” he observes. “How has our existing city leadership reacted to this? Higher taxes and increased fees. That’s not my vision for how difficult challenges are met.”
Brackman's opponents include: first-time candidate Clarence Turner; former GOP Congressional candidate turned Democrat state senate candidate (?) Erik Underwood; marketing professional Chistopher Vaughn, Atlanta Black Panther (?) Neetta Black-Heart and former Atlanta Councilman Michael Julian Bond.
Brackman's full announcement is after the jump.
Southeast Atlanta resident Adam Brackman will seek the Atlanta City Council Post 1 At Large position in this November’s elections. Adam is a services delivery executive and manager with IBM Global Business Services.
The Boston native and Northeastern University graduate has lived in Atlanta for 16 years. He has been active in his community and across the city, including having served as vice-president of the southeast regional neighborhood organization South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development (SAND)*, the board of Neighborhood Planning Unit W, the Benteen Park Neighborhood Association and the East Village Park Homeowners Association
“Now is the time for me to take my passion for community change to the next level by running for Atlanta City Council Post 1 At Large,” Adam says.
As an established resident of the city, Adam says that he has watched over the years as Atlanta has grown in leaps and bounds. That growth has brought tremendous opportunities for many Atlantans and gave its citizens even more reason to be proud to call this city their home.
But Brackman feels that because of how the City of Atlanta has been run, many citizens across the city have not benefited. In fact, he says, their situations have worsened, as they are negatively affected by the city’s financial irresponsibility and its cuts to its most basic services: its first responders.
“Crime has escalated significantly, but police officers are being furloughed. Fire stations are being shut, our 911 center is understaffed, and the city is still not able to reconcile its finances,” he observes. “How has our existing city leadership reacted to this? Higher taxes and increased fees. That’s not my vision for how difficult challenges are met.”
The time for change is now.
Through his community work, Adam says, he has tried to effect the change he believes all Atlantans want to see: safer streets, lower taxes and a city government that is efficient and meets the needs of the residents who call Atlanta “home”.
Adam believes that the skills he has developed in his professional life will translate to his effectiveness as a city council member. Managing large projects, working with executives and client teams from around the globe, and leading his own internal team in delivery of services and business transformation are examples of the skills he believes are needed at the city level.
Since joining IBM, Adam has been actively involved in one of IBM’s diversity network groups, EAGLE (Employee Alliance for GLBT employees at IBM). EAGLE addresses issues important to IBM's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. He also spent two years on the National Advisory Board of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a non-profit advocacy group that works to make the workplace safe for GLBT employees. Additionally, Adam has spent time volunteering with AID Atlanta, CHIRS Kids, Hands on Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services and the Georgia Council on Child Abuse.
Adam was a recipient of the 2009 “Outstanding Citizens’ CourtWatcher” for his active participation in the Fulton County DA’s Citizens’ CourtWatch program. Additionally, Adam graduated from the Atlanta Citizen’s Police Academy in 2008 and is an initial member of the Atlanta Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association.
(Photo courtesy Adam Brackman Campaign)
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