Mayorwatch 2017: Peter Aman is in
Bain consultant, former COO officially asks for Atlanta’s vote in the mayoral race
Aman is a partner in the Atlanta office of Bain and Company, a consultancy, but he’s worked at City Hall before. During a pro bono stint during Mayor Shirley Franklin’s term, Aman led the team that authored what’s known as The Bain Report.
The group studied city operations and came up with a bunch of recommendations to the mayor and city council, including suggesting they try to create a realistic budget and stick to it. Mayor Kasim Reed tapped Aman as his COO during his first two years in office.
Aman’s website lists a few dozen policy ideas related to safety, traffic, community, jobs, education and city efficiency. Interesting mentions include pushing for more affordable housing, more community-oriented policing, a greenspace plan that includes the Chattahoochee River, and Atlanta’s first citywide education plan involving schools from kindergarten through college.
“Atlanta must be a city with opportunity for all,” Aman said in a statement. “A city where people have transportation options to get them to and from work. A city where every kid can go to a school that is performing well and attend an affordable college. A city where every person, regardless of income, lives in a clean, safe and thriving neighborhood.”
More recently, Aman has worked with the Atlanta Police Foundation, The West Side Future Fund, the Atlanta Committee for Progress, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. He’s also been involved with HOME, the city’s effort to combat homelessness.
His campaign team includes some notable names in local and state politics, some of whom worked with Reed’s election campaigns. They include the Oblander Group, a well-known fundraiser for Democratic candidates; Jeremy Berry and Stefan Passantino of law firm Dentons (formerly McKenna Long and Aldridge); Washington, D.C.-based polling firm Anzalone, Liszt, Grove, which caters to Democrats; Obelisk Strategies, a local communications consultant led by Saba Long; and Scintila Group, a consulting firm led by Megan Sparks, formerly of Leadership Atlanta.
By our count, Aman is one of six candidates in the race. Former City Council President Cathy Woolard started her campaign last year. Outgoing state Rep. Margaret Kaiser has announced her run and has filed city and state campaign paperwork. Current City Council President Ceasar Mitchell has filed state paperwork that would enable him to accept donations. A couple of calls to his office to confirm his run are so far unanswered.
Debra Hampton and Kimberley Johnson Obasuyi, two relatively unknown political hopefuls, have also filed disclosures with the city.