Shanita is originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics and African American studies from Smith College and a master's of business administration from Simmons University. She moved to Fairburn in 2019 where she lives with her husband and two sons. 

Shanita has 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, financial stewardship, and education advocacy. 

Run for City Legislature in Fairburn City, GA

Shanita's campaign for Fairburn City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

Supports cutting red tape for entrepreneurs, launching a "Buy Fairburn First" initiative, and partnering with county and state programs to create jobs and strengthen small businesses.

- Supports cutting red tape for entrepreneurs, launching a "Buy Fairburn First" initiative, and partnering with county and state programs to create jobs and strengthen small businesses.

Economy

Wants to expand community access to City Hall by providing open data, hosting town halls, and holding neighborhood-based input sessions.

- Wants to expand community access to City Hall by providing open data, hosting town halls, and holding neighborhood-based input sessions.

Public Services

Believes in planning growth responsibly, ensuring new developments benefit residents and do not strain city services.

- Believes in planning growth responsibly, ensuring new developments benefit residents and do not strain city services.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports strengthening community policing and expanding partnerships between residents and officers.

- Supports strengthening community policing and expanding partnerships between residents and officers.

Public Safety

Supports upgrading water, sewer, and power lines to prevent outages and reduce costs.

Wants to improve traffic flow and expand safe transit options for seniors and working families.

Believes in investing in road repairs and smart infrastructure to support growth without burdening taxpayers.

- Supports upgrading water, sewer, and power lines to prevent outages and reduce costs.
- Wants to improve traffic flow and expand safe transit options for seniors and working families.
- Believes in investing in road repairs and smart infrastructure to support growth without burdening taxpayers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of October 12, 2025, Shanita Nichols’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

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Shanita Nichols

Shanita earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and African American Studies from Smith College and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Corporate Social Responsibility from Simmons University. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Fairburn. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Shanita currently works as a senior program officer at the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. She previously served as the chief executive officer of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, as a senior consultant at the Atlanta Regional Commission, and as a program officer at the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Earlier in her career, she held roles in education and youth development at Teach For America and City Year.

Supports reducing bureaucratic obstacles for local entrepreneurs.

Plans to launch a "Buy Fairburn First" initiative to encourage local spending.

Plans to audit Fairburn's utility billing system to prevent overcharges and ensure fairness.

Supports investing in road repairs and smart infrastructure to encourage growth without increasing taxes.

Advocates for upgrading water, sewer, and power lines to prevent outages and high costs for families.

Wants to update city policies to "require real transparency in budgets, contracts, and council actions."

Wants to expand community access to City Hall by providing open data, hosting town halls, and organizing neighborhood-based input sessions.

Supports strengthening ethics rules to ensure transparency in decision-making.

Supports responsible growth planning to ensure new developments benefit residents and do not strain city services.

Supports investing in road repairs and "smart infrastructure" to support growth without burdening taxpayers.

Wants to enhance traffic flow and expand transit options for seniors and working families.

Supports upgrading water, sewer, and power lines to reduce outages and high costs for families.

As of October 12, 2025, Shanita Nichols did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Anatavia M. Benson

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Audrey Horn works as the president of Harkless/Horn PR Company and as a tax professional/consultant at H&R Block. 

Update: Fairburn chooses new city council member | South Metro ...

Audrey previously ran for Fairburn City Council in 2015, 2017, and 2018 but did not win. 

As of October 12, 2025, Audrey Horn did not have a website or any information online.

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Audrey Horn

Nancy Juarez Sanchez

Rian is from Atlanta, GA. He attended Creekside High School and Paine College, an HBCU. Rian resides in Fairburn with his wife, Kimya, and their 3 children. 

Rian is a real estate professional. He also launched the First Step Financial Literacy Empowerment Program, which educated teenagers on credit, interest rates, investments, and personal finance, after returning home from college.

Rian Trotter's campaign for Fairburn City Council Member is his first entry into politics.

Supports small businesses and wants to attract new businesses that meet community needs.

Promises to protect residents from "unnecessary tax hikes and ever-rising utility bills."

Wants to protect residents from "unnecessary tax hikes and ever-rising utility bills."

- Supports small businesses and wants to attract new businesses that meet community needs.
- Wants to protect residents from "unnecessary tax hikes and ever-rising utility bills."

Supports expanding services for seniors and empowering youth through education and financial literacy.

- Supports expanding services for seniors and empowering youth through education and financial literacy.

As of October 12, 2025, Rian Trotter’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Rian Trotter

Rian Trotter was born at Grady Memorial Hospital in the heart of Atlanta, GA, and raised on the Southside—spending his formative years in Southwest Atlanta, College Park, and Fairburn. He is the third of five children born to Pastor Rick and Annette Trotter. Rian attended Creekside High School in Fairburn, where he was recognized as a Wendy’s Scholar-Athlete—an honor awarded to students who excel academically and athletically. He went on to further his education at Paine College, an HBCU in Augusta, GA, where he was elected Mr. Paine College, served on the Student Government Association, and became a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. During his time at Paine, Rian developed a lasting commitment to service, leadership, and strengthening community connections. Upon returning home, Rian applied his experience at Wachovia Bank to launch the First Step Financial Literacy Empowerment Program, which educated teenagers on credit, interest rates, investments, and personal finance. For the past 11 years, he has built a successful career in real estate, helping many families achieve their dream of homeownership. In 2008, Rian married the love of life, Kimya, daughter of Pastor Raymond and Donna Causey. Kimya shares Rian’s passion for service, dedicating her life’s work to advocating for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Together, they are raising three wonderful children: Rylan (12), Kamryn (7), and Kristian (3). Rian’s professional expertise, strong community roots, and family values fuel his dedication to improving Fairburn—ensuring safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and greater opportunities for ALL residents. A firm believer in collaboration, Rian is committed to doing his part to help move Fairburn forward together.

Rian is a real estate professional. He has spent the past 11 years helping families achieve their dream of homeownership. He also launched the First Step Financial Literacy Empowerment Program, which educated teenagers on credit, interest rates, investments, and personal finance, after returning home from college.

As of October 12, 2025, Rian Trotter did not have a website or any information online.

Council Member Ulysses Smallwood | City of Fairburn, GA

Ulysses Smallwood is a lifetime resident of various cities in the South Fulton County area and is extremely excited to now call Fairburn home. He attended Shorter College, where he received an associate's degree in business management and a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. He also earned a master's degree in early childhood education with a specialization in mathematics from Ashford University and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University in 2017. He is married to Marchketa Smallwood, and they have three children.

Ulysses is currently a council member for the City of Fairburn. He was elected in November of 2017 and is currently serving his second term.

As of October 12, 2025, Ulysses Smallwood did not have a website or any information online.

Ulysses Smallwood

- 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. 