Michael Julian Bond - Independent Sector

Michael is from Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Frederick Douglass High School, Morehouse College, and Georgia State University. He is an active member at Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta.

Michael Julian Bond - Ballotpedia

Michael is currently a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing At-large Post 1. He was first elected in 2009 and is currently serving his fourth term. From 1994 to 2001, he served on the council as the District 3 representative.

Supports increasing the city's small purchase discretionary limit from $20,000 to $100,000.

- Supports increasing the city's small purchase discretionary limit from $20,000 to $100,000.

Economy

As of September 3, 2025, Michael Julian Bond’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Supports affordable and workforce housing.

- Supports affordable and workforce housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports effective public safety and community-based policing.

- Supports effective public safety and community-based policing.

Public Safety

Plans to advocate for the implementation of the Public Safety Parks Plan, which includes "VIC cameras, dedicated officers-standardized patrols."

- Plans to advocate for the implementation of the Public Safety Parks Plan, which includes "VIC cameras, dedicated officers-standardized patrols."

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports lead remediation as part of environmental justice initiatives.

- Supports lead remediation as part of environmental justice initiatives.

Energy & the Environment

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Michael Julian Bond

Michael is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Frederick Douglass High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College. He received a certification for senior executives in state and local government from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is an active member of Antioch Baptist Church North. He lives in Atlanta and is the father of 3 adult children and a grandfather.

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Michael currently works as the vice president of marketing for Seniors Home Reverse Mortgage, Inc. He is also the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Covenant Consulting Inc., a public policy advocacy and government relations firm. He previously worked as producer and host of “About Atlanta,” a local cable television show.

Passed legislation to update Atlanta’s Minority Business Enterprises program, expand local preferences for minority- and female-owned businesses, and extend small business utilization requirements.

Sponsored legislation to create the tax allocation district that enabled Atlantic Station, one of the city’s largest in-town developments.

- Supports increasing the city's small purchase discretionary limit from $20,000 to $100,000.
- Passed legislation to update Atlanta’s Minority Business Enterprises program, expand local preferences for minority- and female-owned businesses, and extend small business utilization requirements.
- Sponsored legislation to create the tax allocation district that enabled Atlantic Station, one of the city’s largest in-town developments.
- Opposes property tax increases.

Doubled the Community Development Block Grants investment to $25 million for affordable housing in underserved areas.

Sponsored legislation to authorize the sale of surplus real estate for $1 to nonprofit developers to incentivize affordable housing.

Created the Summerhill Community Trust Fund with $5 million in capital to support neighborhood revitalization.

- Supports affordable and workforce housing.
- Doubled the Community Development Block Grants investment to $25 million for affordable housing in underserved areas.
- Sponsored legislation to authorize the sale of surplus real estate for $1 to nonprofit developers to incentivize affordable housing.
- Created the Summerhill Community Trust Fund with $5 million in capital to support neighborhood revitalization.

Created a permanent Public Safety Compensation Commission to ensure competitive salaries for police, fire, and corrections officers.

Sponsored legislation requiring arraignment for individuals arrested for street racing to ensure judicial review before release.

Secured federal funding for reentry and justice reform initiatives, including a $1 million Second Chance Act grant and $425,000 for a Smart Prosecution Initiative.

- Supports effective public safety and community-based policing.
- Created a permanent Public Safety Compensation Commission to ensure competitive salaries for police, fire, and corrections officers.
- Sponsored legislation requiring arraignment for individuals arrested for street racing to ensure judicial review before release.
- Secured federal funding for reentry and justice reform initiatives, including a $1 million Second Chance Act grant and $425,000 for a Smart Prosecution Initiative.

Advocated for equitable funding of TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) projects across Atlanta communities.

Sponsored $1 million for the Downtown Traffic Operations Program to improve mobility and safety.

Secured $6 million from the Georgia Department of Transportation to improve pedestrian safety on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

- Plans to advocate for the implementation of the Public Safety Parks Plan, which includes "VIC cameras, dedicated officers-standardized patrols."
- Advocated for equitable funding of TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) projects across Atlanta communities.
- Sponsored $1 million for the Downtown Traffic Operations Program to improve mobility and safety.
- Secured $6 million from the Georgia Department of Transportation to improve pedestrian safety on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

Sponsored legislation to create Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry, a 280-acre greenspace and 30-day water reserve.

Co-sponsored legislation to establish Rodney Mims Cook, Sr. Peace Park, a civil rights memorial site and home of the John Lewis statue.

- Supports lead remediation as part of environmental justice initiatives.
- Sponsored legislation to create Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry, a 280-acre greenspace and 30-day water reserve.
- Co-sponsored legislation to establish Rodney Mims Cook, Sr. Peace Park, a civil rights memorial site and home of the John Lewis statue.

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Buket Urgen

Juan Mendoza is from South Bend, Indiana. He has a bachelor's degree from Indiana University and a graduate certificate from the University of Georgia. He lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

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Juan is a vice president of business banking at Ameris Bank, where he has worked since 2014. He started as a teller and has since advanced to his current role. Earlier in his life, he worked various jobs, including picking corn in Indiana fields, cooking at Dairy Queen, houseman at a hotel, working on an assembly line, and serving in restaurants.

Juan's campaign for Atlanta City Council Post 1 is his first entry into politics.

Supports commercial zoning legislation to make entrepreneurship more attainable and help small local businesses thrive.

Believes simple budget cuts do not address a 30% budget shortage and questions if all potential revenue sources and vendor contracts are being optimized.

Believes in addressing historical inequities and segregation's legacy to create a more equitable Atlanta, where every neighborhood has a chance to prosper.

- Supports commercial zoning legislation to make entrepreneurship more attainable and help small local businesses thrive.
- Believes simple budget cuts do not address a 30% budget shortage and questions if all potential revenue sources and vendor contracts are being optimized.
- Believes in addressing historical inequities and segregation's legacy to create a more equitable Atlanta, where every neighborhood has a chance to prosper.

Supports development projects that address community challenges by including medical services, education, greenspaces, and grocery stores.

Supports development projects that address community challenges by including medical services, education, green spaces, and grocery stores in neighborhoods.

- Supports development projects that address community challenges by including medical services, education, green spaces, and grocery stores in neighborhoods.

Supports working with organizations like PAD and Mercy Care to provide wrap-around services to the unhoused population.

Supports removing the option for developers to pay a penalty fee instead of including affordable housing in new developments.

- Supports working with organizations like PAD and Mercy Care to provide wrap-around services to the unhoused population.
- Supports removing the option for developers to pay a penalty fee instead of including affordable housing in new developments.

Believes in adequately funding public safety units and addressing all types of crime, not just homicides and violent crimes.

- Believes in adequately funding public safety units and addressing all types of crime, not just homicides and violent crimes.

Plans to improve walkability and bike-lane infrastructure to reduce car traffic in congested areas.

Plans to improve transportation options and infrastructure in South and West Atlanta.

- Plans to improve walkability and bike-lane infrastructure to reduce car traffic in congested areas.
- Plans to improve transportation options and infrastructure in South and West Atlanta.

As of September 3, 2025, Juan Mendoza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Juan Mendoza

As of September 3, 2025, Juan Mendoza did not have a website or any information online.

Juan Mendoza is from South Bend, Indiana. He has a bachelor's degree from Indiana University and a diploma from the Georgia Banking School. He lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

Juan is a vice president of business banking at Ameris Bank. He started at Ameris Bank as a teller after moving to Atlanta in 2014 to pursue his career. He has also served as president of the Old Fourth Ward Business Association.

Supports adding commercial zoning affordable legislation to help small local businesses thrive and encourage entrepreneurship.

Supports providing wrap-around services to the unhoused population by working with organizations like PAD and Mercy Care.

Matt Rinker is from Virginia. He has a bachelor's degree in communications studies and a bachelor's degree in English from Longwood University. He lives in Peoplestown.

Matt is a licensed Realtor at Rinker Realty Group.

Matt previously ran for Atlanta City Council in District 5 in 2013 but did not win.

Supports introducing a tax on parking to ensure fair contributions from non-MARTA counties and advocates for a moratorium on surface-level parking lots to promote denser urban development.

Supports introducing a tax on parking to ensure fair contributions from non-MARTA counties.

Supports solidifying the Office of Inspector General with safeguards for due process and employee rights.

Supports strengthening the Office of Inspector General with safeguards for due process and employee rights.

Supports housing subsidies for police, firefighters, and teachers.

- Supports introducing a tax on parking to ensure fair contributions from non-MARTA counties.
- Supports strengthening the Office of Inspector General with safeguards for due process and employee rights.
- Supports housing subsidies for police, firefighters, and teachers.

Supports establishing a clear process for citizens to propose ballot initiatives.

- Supports establishing a clear process for citizens to propose ballot initiatives.

Supports extending and expanding the Legacy Resident property tax freezes.

Supports extending and expanding property tax freezes for Legacy Residents.

Opposes corporate ownership of Atlanta homes and supports local management for rental properties.

- Supports extending and expanding property tax freezes for Legacy Residents.
- Opposes corporate ownership of Atlanta homes and supports local management for rental properties.

Supports enhancing racial and cultural sensitivity training for officers and expanding PAD and 3-1-1 services to a 24/7 model.

Supports enhancing racial and cultural sensitivity training for officers and expanding PAD (Police Alternatives & Diversion) programs to a 24/7 model.

Supports providing housing subsidies for Atlanta Police Department officers to live in the zones they patrol.

- Supports enhancing racial and cultural sensitivity training for officers and expanding PAD (Police Alternatives & Diversion) programs to a 24/7 model.
- Supports providing housing subsidies for Atlanta Police Department officers to live in the zones they patrol.

Supports expanding protected bike lanes and fining vehicles that block bike lanes.

Supports increasing fees for closing sidewalks and enforcing laws to keep sidewalks clear of vehicles.

Supports completing the Atlanta Beltline with rail to connect neighborhoods and reduce commute times.

Supports extending light rail and street car services.

Supports a temporary ban on new surface-level parking lots to encourage denser urban development.

- Supports expanding protected bike lanes and fining vehicles that block bike lanes.
- Supports increasing fees for closing sidewalks and enforcing laws to keep sidewalks clear of vehicles.
- Supports completing the Atlanta Beltline with rail to connect neighborhoods and reduce commute times.
- Supports extending light rail and street car services.
- Supports a temporary ban on new surface-level parking lots to encourage denser urban development.

As of September 3, 2025, Matt Rinker’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Matt Rinker

Matt Rinker is from Virginia. He has a bachelor's degree in communications studies and a bachelor's degree in English from Longwood University. He lives in Peoplestown with his two dogs, Hank and Harper.

Supports introducing a tax on parking and implementing a moratorium on surface-level parking lots to promote denser development.

Supports introducing a tax on parking and a moratorium on surface-level parking lots.

Supports expanding protected bike lanes and implementing fines for vehicles blocking bike lanes.

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 