The City of Atlanta is holding an general election for mayor, city council president, three at-large council members, 12 by-district council members and two city judges on Nov. 7, 2017. Jennifer Ide, a Grady cluster mother with children at Morningside Elementary, is running to represent District 6 in the Atlanta City Council.

The district encompases Brookwood Hills, Lindbergh, Lindridge/Martin-Manor, Morningside, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland, Historic Midtown, Atkins Park, Piedmont Heights, Sherwood Forest and Ansley Park.

The Atlanta City Council is the legislative branch of the city government with goals that include making the laws for the city and approving its annual budget.

“I have practiced law here for over 15 years and through my work, have developed a firm understanding of the issues facing our businesses, citizens and local governments,” Ide said.

Ide prides herself on her familiarity of the Atlanta area after having lived in the city her whole life and in the Morningside area for the past 17 years. Ide has four daughters, all of whom have attended Atlanta Public Schools and The Paideia School.

“I also co-founded a technology company here and know what the challenges are to small businesses in the city,” Ide said. “I want to see Atlanta become one of the best places to work and live in the country, but to do that, we will need to address our traffic issues, make sure that there is a plan in place for smart growth and ensure that parts of the city aren’t left behind.”

A recurring theme throughout Ide’s campaign is the importance of neighborhoods. Ide emphasizes that a well-functioning city is composed of properly operating neighborhoods and therefore believes it is imperative to preserve and strengthen those foundations.

“The citizens of Atlanta have passed three important funding mechanisms — the MARTA SPLOST, the Transportation SLPOST and the Renew Atlanta bonds — and we need hardworking, ethical leaders to make sure that these public dollars are spent appropriately and that the transportation and infrastructure projects they are intended for are implemented in an efficient manner,” Ide said.

If elected, Ide plans to pass a new zoning code as well as tree ordinances. She believes these improvements will be vital to the sustainability and livability of District 6 and Atlanta as a whole.

Ide’s campaign has strong support from lawyers, parents and community volunteers. Throughout the neighborhoods of Morningside and Virginia Highlands, hundreds of front yards bear “Jennifer Ide for City Council” signs, distinguishable due to their circle shape and bright red background.

Since the Grady community is enclosed in District 6, some Grady students have been following the impending election. Veronica Skelton, a senior at Grady, agrees with many of Ide’s views.

“I plan on voting for Jennifer Ide because it seems like she has a good idea of what she wants to accomplish and how to help our city,” Skelton said. “She seems very focused on the idea of smaller things creating a bigger picture, which I admire.”

Shannon Gaggero, a community activist, philanthropist and writer in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood, has taken a recent interest in local politics since the national election in Nov. 2016 and reinforces Ide’s campaign ideas.

“I really appreciated the fact that she is focused on our community while also recognizing that we’re a really resource rich area in a lot of different ways,” Gaggero said. “She has a holistic view of how she thinks about Atlanta, and that’s really important to me.”
Ide is eagerly anticipating the Nov. 7 election and with it, the possibility of her career as a member of the Atlanta City Council.

“Whether it is working on improving education, making sure our teachers and first responders can afford to live in the city, or making sure that children across the city have a park they can safely walk to from their home, I will work toward making Atlanta a great place to live for everyone,” Ide said.