Ballotpedia: Devin Barrington-Ward

LinkedIn

Devin is from Atlanta. He volunteered as a member of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition. He is a Christian. 

Devin currently works as a managing director of Black Futurists Group. He previously served as chief of staff to legislators in the Georgia State Senate and State House of Representatives. He also worked as a lobbyist for pre-k funding for Black childcare providers and as a Senior Health Equity Fellow for the National Coalition of STD Directors. 

Devin Barrington-Ward ran for member of the Atlanta City Council in District 9 in 2021 and for state senator in State Senate District 38 in 2020, but he did not win either race.  

Candidate website

Supports expanding tree cover to reduce heat, clean air, and prevent flooding.

Supports expanding tree cover to reduce heat, keep air, and reduce flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods, 

Believes the effects of climate change are becoming "more evident by the day" and that the U.S. must transition away from fossil fuels to prevent increased threats to the environment and local livelihoods.

Believes the effects of climate change are becoming "more evident by the day" and that the U.S. must transition away from fossil fuels.

- Supports expanding tree cover to reduce heat, keep air, and reduce flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods, 
- Believes the effects of climate change are becoming "more evident by the day" and that the U.S. must transition away from fossil fuels.

Energy & the Environment

Supports increasing funding to the affordable housing trust fund, financed by taxing wealthy corporations.

Wants to increase funding for the affordable housing trust fund. 

Supports investing in resources, health services, and housing opportunities for unhoused individuals.

Supports investing in resources, health services, and housing opportunities for unhoused individuals in the Atlanta area. 

Supports incentivizing property owners to maintain affordable housing through grants and other incentives.

Supports incentivizing property owners to keep housing affordable through grants, among other incentives. 

Believes in reforming zoning laws to support diverse housing options for various needs and income levels.

Wants to change zoning laws to allow for more diverse housing options that meet the needs of different citizens and income levels.

- Wants to increase funding for the affordable housing trust fund. 
- Supports investing in resources, health services, and housing opportunities for unhoused individuals in the Atlanta area. 
- Supports incentivizing property owners to keep housing affordable through grants, among other incentives. 
- Wants to change zoning laws to allow for more diverse housing options that meet the needs of different citizens and income levels.

Housing & Urban Development

Opposes the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known as "Cop City."

Supports training law enforcement in de-escalation and community-centered approaches to public safety.

Opposes collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), believing it poses a threat to immigrant communities.

Opposes city collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying it poses a threat to immigrant communities.

Supports expanding mental health services for people with drug addiction and related mental health issues.

Wants to expand mental health services for people with drug addiction and related mental health problems. 

- Opposes the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known as "Cop City."
- Supports training law enforcement in de-escalation and community-centered approaches to public safety.
- Opposes city collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying it poses a threat to immigrant communities.
- Wants to expand mental health services for people with drug addiction and related mental health problems. 

Public Safety

Wants to invest in public parks, green spaces, and playgrounds throughout the city.

Opposes collaborating with state police on abortion and transgender health-related issues.

Said he refuses to work with state police in the "persecution of individuals" seeking abortion care or families seeking transgender health resources. 

- Wants to invest in public parks, green spaces, and playgrounds throughout the city.
- Said he refuses to work with state police in the "persecution of individuals" seeking abortion care or families seeking transgender health resources. 

Public Services

Plans to overhaul the "crumbling water pipes system."

Plans to refurbish the water pipe system.

Plans to add protected bike lanes throughout the city, along with additional safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians.

Plans to add protected bike lanes throughout the city and additional safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians.

Supports working with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to expand local bus routes, increase bus driver pay, and improve route frequency.

- Plans to refurbish the water pipe system.
- Plans to add protected bike lanes throughout the city and additional safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Supports working with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to expand local bus routes, increase bus driver pay, and improve route frequency.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports public services such as pre-kindergarten, healthcare, and housing.

Supports pre-kindergarten education for all in Atlanta.

- Supports pre-kindergarten education for all in Atlanta.

Education

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Devin Barrington Ward

Devin is originally from Atlanta and overcame a period youth homelessness. 

Devin currently works  has served as managing director of Black Futurists Group. He was formerly chief of staff to legislators in the Georgia State Senate and State House of Representatives, a lobbyist for pre-k funding for Black childcare providers, and a Senior Health Equity Fellow for the National Coalition of STD Directors. He also was a mayoral appointee to the Taskforce to Reimagine Public Safety and Incarceration under Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Devin Barrington-Ward previously ran for Atlanta City Council district 9 in 2021 and for Georgia State Senate district 38 in 2020, but did not win.  

Supports incentivizing local businesses to divest from single-use plastics.

Plans to preserve Atlanta's tree canopy by proposing legislation to strengthen tree ordinances and accelerate reforestation efforts.

Believes climate change requires immediate collective action, not just awareness or public relations campaigns.

Supports expanding tree cover to improve air quality and mitigate the effects of rising heat and flooding.

Believes immediate action is necessary to reduce and reverse climate change effects, emphasizing that Atlanta has a significant role to play.

Supports expanding tree cover to reduce heat, keep air, and prevent flooding.

- Supports expanding tree cover to reduce heat, keep air, and prevent flooding.
- Believes the effects of climate change are becoming "more evident by the day" and that the U.S. must transition away from fossil fuels.

Believes Atlanta's high income inequality, particularly affecting Black families, exacerbates economic hardships for working people, who are not receiving fair wages despite "soaring profits."

Believes Atlanta has the highest income inequality in the nation, with working families struggling to make ends meet.

Supports increasing funding to the affordable housing trust fund.

Supports incentivizing property owners to keep housing affordable through grants.

- Supports increasing funding to the affordable housing trust fund.
- Supports investing in resources, health services, and housing opportunities for unhoused individuals.
- Supports incentivizing property owners to keep housing affordable through grants.
- Believes in reforming zoning laws to support diverse housing options for various needs and income levels.

Believes safety encompasses access to housing, food, water, healthcare, education, and jobs.

Believes addressing poverty and investing in public resources are essential for improving public safety.

Opposes criminalizing homelessness and poverty and using policing to gentrify neighborhoods.

Supports demilitarizing police and preventing the use of military weapons and tactics on Black and Brown Atlanta civilians.

Opposes the city collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), believing it poses a threat to immigrant communities.

- Opposes the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known as "Cop City."
- Supports training law enforcement in de-escalation and community-centered approaches to public safety.
- Opposes the city collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), believing it poses a threat to immigrant communities.
- Supports expanding mental health services for people with drug addiction and related mental health issues.

Aims to empower working-class families, LGBTQ people, Black people, and other marginalized communities.

Supports the special election on November 5th to fill the vacant City Council Post 3 At Large seat, allowing all City of Atlanta voters to participate in the decision alongside the presidential election.

Supports working with unions to generate good jobs that provide living wages, supports workers’ right to unionize, and supports ensuring that wealthy corporations pay their fair share in taxes and a living wage to the workers their bottom line depends on.

Opposes collaborating with state police and prosecutors on abortion and transgender health-related issues.

- Wants to invest in public parks, green spaces, and playgrounds throughout the city.
- Opposes collaborating with state police and prosecutors on abortion and transgender health-related issues.

Aims to keep streets safe by addressing potholes.

Plans to add sidewalks to every street to promote walkability and connectivity, create safe crosswalks, and discourage reckless driving.

Believes in addressing critical infrastructure issues to prevent future water crises.

Supports reducing car dependency by expanding access to public transportation, adding bike lanes and sidewalks, and incentivizing businesses to invest in clean energy.

Plans to refurbish the water pipes system.

- Plans to refurbish the water pipes system.
- Plans to add protected bike lanes throughout the city, along with additional safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Supports working with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to expand local bus routes, increase bus driver pay, and improve route frequency.

Supports pre-kindergarten children for all in Atlanta.

- Supports pre-kindergarten children for all in Atlanta.

As of September 23, 2024, Devin Barrington Ward’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Devin Barrington-Ward has served as chief of staff in the Georgia State Senate and State House of Representatives, a lobbyist for pre-k funding for Black childcare providers, and a Senior Health Equity Fellow for the National Coalition of STD Directors. He has also worked as a community organizer with the Movement 4 Black Lives and was a mayoral appointee to the Taskforce to Reimagine Public Safety and Incarceration under Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

- 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. 