Matt Rinker aims to unseat Archibong on Atlanta City Council
‘I can no longer stand by and watch from the sidelines’
- Courtesy of Matt Rinker for Atlanta
- Matt Rinker
East Atlanta resident Matt Rinker says he’s running to unseat Atlanta City Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong in this November’s municipal elections.
Rinker, who moved to Atlanta in 2004 and has never run for public office before, made the announcement yesterday. From his announcement:
“I’m proud and honored today to officially announce my candidacy for Atlanta City Council, District 5. As the son of a Steamfitters Union worker and public school teacher, and as someone who has called Atlanta home the last 10 years, I can no longer stand by and watch from the sidelines as our families and businesses face the same challenges of the last 10 years for another 10 years,” Rinker said today. “It is not too much to ask of City Council that our streets be safe, our children have parks to play in, and that we create a business friendly atmosphere that brings more good jobs with good pay to our city - but that’s not what we’ve been getting from our incumbent politicians on City Council. It’s time to make a change, and I hope over the next few months to earn the support, the prayers and the vote of the families and business owners in East Atlanta and South Atlanta.
District 5 includes East Atlanta, Reynoldstown, and Cabbagetown, among other neighborhoods. The Georgia Voice’s Dyana Bagby, who chatted with Rinker, notes that the 35-year-old real estate professional would be the second openly gay City Councilmember if he’s elected to office. In his spare time, Rinker says, he “volunteers and raises money for Hosea Feed The Hungry, Project Open Hand, CHRIS Kids, Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, and other groups.” He’s also active in kickball, dodgeball, and softball leagues.