Executive Record vs. The ASAP Blueprint
Today, we continue our 8-day series by pairing two candidates who bring distinct, high-level executive perspectives to the table. Following our alphabetical, bi-partisan effort, we examine how their backgrounds in public and private leadership will shape Georgia’s future.
Keisha Lance Bottoms (D)
- Originally From: Atlanta, GA (Southwest Atlanta).
- Georgia Residency: Lifelong.
- Years in Politics: ~16 years (Atlanta City Council 2010–2017; Mayor of Atlanta 2018–2022; White House Senior Advisor 2022–2023).
- Career: Attorney and judge; former Executive Director of the Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority.
- Platform: Expanding Medicaid, eliminating state income taxes for teachers, offering free technical and community college, and establishing a statewide affordable housing trust fund.
- Known For: Her leadership of Atlanta during the 2020 social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her role as a high-level advisor to the Biden-Harris administration.
The A.T.L. Agenda (Bureau Analysis)
ART (Creative Economy & Youth Engagement)
Bottoms’ track record indicates a focus on the arts as a tool for community stability. As Mayor, she established the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ first-ever “Creative Industries” grant fund. Her record shows a commitment to the “educational pipeline” for the arts, having created the Hire Atlanta Youth program and investing in “at-promise” youth centers. Within the A.T.L. framework, this suggests she would prioritize protecting the film tax credit while ensuring local, diverse talent has a direct path into Georgia’s creative workforce.
TRADE (Infrastructure & Economic Inclusion)
Her record is heavily defined by large-scale infrastructure and business equity. She successfully navigated the $5 billion Gulch redevelopment and oversaw significant expansions at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. In terms of “Trade,” she focuses on Business Diversity; she famously launched the “Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative” and expanded the city’s SBE/EBO programs. This indicates a trade agenda that favors regional transit expansion (MARTA) and ensuring small local contractors can compete for state infrastructure projects.
LIFESTYLE (Affordability & Public Health)
Bottoms’ “Lifestyle” pillar is anchored in housing and criminal justice reform. Her record includes the creation of the city’s first Chief Housing Officer and the commitment of $100 million in public funds toward affordable housing. She also led the effort to end the city’s relationship with ICE and eliminated cash bail for low-level offenses. Within the A.T.L. framework, this points toward a lifestyle agenda focused on keeping long-term residents in their homes and modernizing the state’s approach to public safety and health equity.
Voter Accountability Note
A.T.L. N.E.W.S. Disclaimer: This profile is part of a non-partisan educational series. All candidates were invited to provide direct comments; these profiles are built from public records, campaign platforms, and historical data. A.T.L. N.E.W.S. does not endorse any candidate in this race.
Clark Dean (R)
- Originally From: The South.
- Georgia Residency: Longtime resident; he and his wife raised their family in Georgia.
- Years in Politics: First-time candidate (Last elected office was High School Student Government President).
- Career: Business Leader and Biomedical Engineer; Founder of Transwestern’s Transaction Sciences Group; former national top producer in commercial real estate.
- Platform: Focused on the ASAP Plan (Affordability, Strength, Accessibility, Prosperity). Key priorities include lowering grocery and housing costs, delivering efficient government through the “Dean Machine” philosophy, and bolstering education from cradle to career.
- Known For: Being an “outsider” businessman; former President of the Rotary Club of Atlanta; deep involvement in community boards like the Shepherd Center, YMCA, and the Atlanta Opera.
The A.T.L. Lens (Analysis based on ASAP Plan)
ART (Prosperity & Economic Quality of Life)
Within Dean’s “Prosperity” pillar, the arts are viewed as a vital component of the American Dream and a driver of economic growth. As a former board member of the Atlanta Opera, his record suggests he sees the creative sector as a primary tool for making Georgia a “competitive category” leader. Under the ASAP framework, he likely views a stable, low-tax environment as the best way to ensure the film and digital media industries continue to thrive and attract high-level talent to the state.
TRADE (Strength & Efficient Infrastructure)
The “Strength” pillar of the ASAP Plan focuses on delivering “small, effective, and efficient government.” In terms of Trade, Dean advocates for smart investments in energy and infrastructure. His background in commercial real estate suggests a strategy that prioritizes modernizing state operations to reduce waste. By applying conservative principles to infrastructure, he aims to streamline the movement of goods and people, ensuring Georgia’s logistics network remains the strongest in the nation.
LIFESTYLE (Affordability & Healthcare Accessibility)
Dean’s “Lifestyle” agenda is anchored in Affordability and Accessibility. He directly addresses the “endangered middle class” by proposing actions to lower food prices and housing costs. On healthcare, he moves away from government mandates, instead focusing on “fixing the gaps” in health and wellbeing through partnerships and coordination. His goal is to ensure every Georgian has the resources to live a life of “dignity, purpose, and possibility” without the burden of skyrocketing cost-of-living expenses.
Voter Accountability Note
A.T.L. N.E.W.S. Disclaimer: This profile is part of a non-partisan educational series. All candidates were invited to provide direct comments; these profiles are built from public records, campaign platforms, and historical data. A.T.L. N.E.W.S. does not endorse any candidate in this race.
