Duluth city councilor joins The Life Properties as president - Atlanta ...

Jamin Harkness & Lamar Doss are Sworn in as Council Members ...

Jamin Harkness

Jamin Harkness is from Union City, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree in business communications and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Kennesaw State University. He lives with his husband, Rodrigo, and their son, Ben, in Duluth, where they have been since 2005. He is an active member of North Point Community Church.

Jamin is the president of The Life Properties. He previously worked at The Management Group, LLC as an executive vice president and partner, and before that, he held various roles at private and public (REIT) management companies.

Jamin Harkness Seeks Re-Election to Duluth City Council with ...

Jamin is currently a member of the Duluth City Council, representing Post 1. He was first elected in 2021 and began serving in January 2022.

Supports maintaining the current millage rate to avoid tax increases.

Supports the growth of minority-owned businesses in Duluth.

- Supports maintaining the current millage rate to avoid tax increases.
- Supports the growth of minority-owned businesses in Duluth.

Economy

Supports redeveloping Buford Highway and the Hudgens Property.

- Supports redeveloping Buford Highway and the Hudgens Property.

Public Services

Advocates for "balanced housing", combining affordability with executive-style homes to attract medical professionals and working families.

Supports investing in existing affordable neighborhoods and working with developers to create more executive housing.

- Advocates for "balanced housing", combining affordability with executive-style homes to attract medical professionals and working families.
- Supports investing in existing affordable neighborhoods and working with developers to create more executive housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports increasing pay and providing housing assistance to help recruit and retain Duluth Police Officers.

As a city council member, voted to increase pay and provide housing assistance to help recruit and retain Duluth Police Officers.

- As a city council member, voted to increase pay and provide housing assistance to help recruit and retain Duluth Police Officers.

Public Safety

Supports investing in stormwater repairs, road improvements, and park renovations.

- Supports investing in stormwater repairs, road improvements, and park renovations.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of October 13, 2025, Jamin Harkness’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Jamin Harkness is from Atlanta, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree in business communications and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Kennesaw State University. He lives with his husband, Rodrigo, and their son, Ben, in Duluth. He is an active member of North Point Community Church.

Jamin is president of The Life Properties, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the company's portfolio of 16,000 workforce and affordable housing units. He previously worked at The Management Group, LLC as an executive vice president and partner, and before that, he held various roles at private and public (REIT) management companies, where he had direct oversight of conventional, tax credit, and Section 8-based communities.

As a city council member, invested in stormwater repairs, road improvements, and park renovations.

Jamin Harkness is from Atlanta, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree in business communications and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Kennesaw State University. He lives with his husband and son in Duluth. He is an active member of North Point Community Church.

Supports maintaining the current millage rate.

Supports "balanced housing" that combines affordable and executive-style homes to attract medical professionals and working families.

Supports providing raises and housing stipends to recruit and retain Duluth police officers.

Said, "I am an openly gay Christian man, married for 10 years, and I married an immigrant. I understand the challenges different communities face."

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Sarah Park lives with her husband, two young children, and her parents in Duluth. She has lived in Duluth for 26 years. Sarah has a bachelor's degree in political science from Georgia State University.

Community Leader Sarah Park Announces Independent Candidacy ...

Sarah works as an international marketing coordinator for Explore Gwinnett and a morning show co-host for Atlanta Radio Korea. Previously, she worked for Gwinnett County Government. She is also the co-owner of Alchemist on the Divide. 

Sarah's campaign for Duluth City Council Member, Post 1 is her first entry into politics.

Supports small businesses and wants to create an environment where they can flourish.

Supports "smart and sustainable growth" that revitalizes the business district and preserves historic legacy.

- Supports small businesses and wants to create an environment where they can flourish.
- Supports "smart and sustainable growth" that revitalizes the business district and preserves historic legacy.

Supports cultural and community events that promote diversity.

Supports strong partnerships with public, private, government, and nonprofit sectors to enhance school and healthcare services.

- Supports cultural and community events that promote diversity.
- Supports strong partnerships with public, private, government, and nonprofit sectors to enhance school and healthcare services.

Believes in supporting housing that strengthens the workforce and local economy while preserving Duluth’s character and quality of life.

- Believes in supporting housing that strengthens the workforce and local economy while preserving Duluth’s character and quality of life.

As of October 13, 2025, Sarah Park’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports investing in sidewalks, parks, and green spaces to improve infrastructure, reduce traffic, encourage active living, and strengthen community bonds.

- Supports investing in sidewalks, parks, and green spaces to improve infrastructure, reduce traffic, encourage active living, and strengthen community bonds.

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Sarah Park

Sarah Park has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Emory University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Georgia. She lives with her husband, two young children, and her parents in Duluth.

Supports investing in sidewalks, parks, and green spaces to improve infrastructure, reduce traffic, encourage active living, and promote community bonds.

Shafayat Ahmed Puts Families and Growth at Center of Duluth City ...

Shafayet Ahmed is from Bangladesh. He has an associate's degree from Georgia Perimeter College and a bachelor's degree in computer science from Kennesaw State. He has lived in the U.S. since 2006.

Shafayet's campaign for Duluth City Council Post 1 is his first entry into politics.

Supports using local tools like fee relief, expedited permitting, and storefront improvement programs—paired with county and state incentives—to make Duluth a hub for innovation, create jobs, and build a stronger local economy.

Supports using local tools like fee relief, expedited permitting, and storefront improvement programs to build the local economy.

Supports creating partnerships between local businesses and schools to develop internships, mentorships, and career events for youth.

- Supports using local tools like fee relief, expedited permitting, and storefront improvement programs to build the local economy.
- Supports creating partnerships between local businesses and schools to develop internships, mentorships, and career events for youth.

Supports partnering with nonprofits and local organizations to offer more enrichment, sports, arts, and mentoring programs in City facilities like libraries, recreation centers and parks.

Supports strengthening libraries, recreation centers, and learning spaces that support education beyond the classroom.

Supports providing space, small grants, and partnerships with community groups to reach students who need extra help through tutoring and mentoring programs.

Believes in maximizing limited park space by introducing space-efficient sports like pickleball and volleyball, and designing larger playgrounds to support various games and activities.

- Supports partnering with nonprofits and local organizations to offer more enrichment, sports, arts, and mentoring programs in City facilities like libraries, recreation centers and parks.
- Supports strengthening libraries, recreation centers, and learning spaces that support education beyond the classroom.
- Supports providing space, small grants, and partnerships with community groups to reach students who need extra help through tutoring and mentoring programs.
- Believes in maximizing limited park space by introducing space-efficient sports like pickleball and volleyball, and designing larger playgrounds to support various games and activities.

Supports enhancing homestead exemptions and offering down payment assistance for first-time buyers to attract and retain homeowners.

- Supports enhancing homestead exemptions and offering down payment assistance for first-time buyers to attract and retain homeowners.

Supports police and first responders and wants to invest in neighborhood safety measures like better street lighting, stronger traffic enforcement, and community policing.

Plans to install more security cameras, increase patrols in high-crime areas, and ensure police have the necessary resources to respond effectively.

Supports expanding the Public Safety Ambassador program in low-crime areas to allow more police officers to focus on high-crime zones.

- Supports police and first responders and wants to invest in neighborhood safety measures like better street lighting, stronger traffic enforcement, and community policing.
- Plans to install more security cameras, increase patrols in high-crime areas, and ensure police have the necessary resources to respond effectively.
- Supports expanding the Public Safety Ambassador program in low-crime areas to allow more police officers to focus on high-crime zones.

Supports enhancing sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic safety to ensure students can travel safely.

- Supports enhancing sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic safety to ensure students can travel safely.

As of October 13, 2025, Shafayet Ahmed’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Shafayet Ahmed

Shafayet Ahmed is from Bangladesh. He has an associate's degree from Georgia State University, a bachelor's degree in computer science from Kennesaw State University, and a medical degree from Washington University of Health and Science. He lives with his family in Duluth.

As of October 13, 2025, Shafayet Ahmed did not have a website or any information online.

Plans to work with school leaders to improve academic performance, resources, and opportunities for all students.

Supports increasing homeownership in Duluth to build stronger communities and strengthen the local economy.

- 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. 