Manfred is originally from Germany. He has a degree in informatics from the University of Applied Science in Darmstadt, Germany. He was a member of the Finance Board for the City of Duluth and is on the Planning Commission and the Citizen Budget Review and Advisory Board. He and his wife have lived in Duluth since 2003.

Manfred is a senior program manager in the computer server development division of Fujitsu.

Manfred Graeder's campaign for city council is his first entry into politics.

Supports building a hiking trail through the city along the Chattahoochee River and a trail that connects Duluth to surrounding cities.

Wants to create new jobs in Duluth that fit the needs and qualifications of Duluth residents, which will be better for the environment and reduce traffic.

Supports the Comprehensive Plan 2040 (FORWARDuluth) and the city's effort to create more public art.

Promises that all future developments will "include plenty of trees and landscaping."

- Supports building a hiking trail through the city along the Chattahoochee River and a trail that connects Duluth to surrounding cities.
- Wants to create new jobs in Duluth that fit the needs and qualifications of Duluth residents, which will be better for the environment and reduce traffic. 
- Supports the Comprehensive Plan 2040 (FORWARDuluth) and the city's effort to create more public art.
- Promises that all future developments will "include plenty of trees and landscaping."

Public Services

Wants to follow CDC recommendations, including a mask mandate in all official buildings.

Said, "\[u\]nfortunately, there is not a lot of options left in what the City Council can do."

- Wants to follow CDC recommendations, including a mask mandate in all official buildings. 
- Said, "\[u\]nfortunately, there is not a lot of options left in what the City Council can do."

COVID

Said, "the finances of the City of Duluth are in great shape. This is the result of hard work, solid budgeting and forecasting," and wants the budgeting principles to stay the same.

Wants to include funding for external resources for the Planning Department to make additions to the zoning and building codes in the next budget.

- Said, "the finances of the City of Duluth are in great shape. This is the result of hard work, solid budgeting and forecasting," and wants the budgeting principles to stay the same. 
- Wants to include funding for external resources for the Planning Department to make additions to the zoning and building codes in the next budget.

City Budget

Plans to rewrite the city's development code to reduce development costs to allow for more construction of affordable and low-income housing.

Said, "\[w\]hat concerns me most is affordable and low-income housing."

- Plans to rewrite the city's development code to reduce development costs to allow for more construction of affordable and low-income housing.
- Said, "\[w\]hat concerns me most is affordable and low-income housing."

Housing & Urban Development

Said, "we need to make sure that the Duluth Police Department has the proper funding to do their job. As well as retain and hire the best officers available and provide them with the tools and technology needed."

- Said, "we need to make sure that the Duluth Police Department has the proper funding to do their job. As well as retain and hire the best officers available and provide them with the tools and technology needed."

Public Safety

Promises to make walkability a more important consideration in future city development projects and wants to add sidewalks and interconnectivity throughout the city.

Wants to maintain stormwater infrastructure, sidewalks and roads.

Plans to partner with the city's Department of Transportation to improve traffic on major streets in Duluth.

Wants to add public parking options to future development projects in the downtown area and to "come up with a plan" to address street parking in neighborhoods.

- Promises to make walkability a more important consideration in future city development projects and wants to add sidewalks and interconnectivity throughout the city. 
- Wants to maintain stormwater infrastructure, sidewalks and roads. 
- Plans to partner with the city's Department of Transportation to improve traffic on major streets in Duluth.
- Wants to add public parking options to future development projects in the downtown area and to "come up with a plan" to address street parking in neighborhoods.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants to update city codes to allow smaller quality homes, granny flats and shared driveways.

- Wants to update city codes to allow smaller quality homes, granny flats and shared driveways.

Zoning

Manfred Graeder

- 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. 