Atlanta journalists discuss the results of local school board elections

Voters across metro Atlanta cast their ballots in Tuesday’s elections. On Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” WABE’s education reporter Juma Sei and Dan Whisenhunt, founder and editor of Decaturish, talked with show host Rose Scott.

In Atlanta, voters cast their ballots in Atlanta’s school board elections, where ten candidates ran for five open seats.“The way it works is if you’re in District 1, 3, or 5, you vote for your district, plus the two at-large seats–that’s seat seven and seat nine,” said Juma Sei.

“For the most part, all incumbents won, with the exception of one person.”



Katie Howard ran unopposed in District 1.“In District 3, Ken Zeff unseated Michelle Olympiadis… He starts his four-year term in January,” he continued.

In District 5, incumbent Erika Y. Mitchell was re-elected, and so was District 9 incumbent Jessica Johnson.

In District 7 At-Large, no candidate received a majority of the vote, so candidates Tamara Jones and Alfred ‘Shivy’ Brooks will be in a run-off on Dec. 5.

The Atlanta and East Atlanta journalists highlighted other vital races, such as the Brookhaven mayoral race and more. The guests also discussed Tuesday’s races’ outcomes, voter turnout, and what to expect next.