CCI's Rohit Malhotra announces run for Atlanta City Council president

City Council Candidate Malhotra Wants to Improve Black Economic ...

Rohit Malhotra was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. Rohit now lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

Nonprofit policy leader enters race for Atlanta City Council president

Rohit is the founder and executive director of the Civic Center for Innovation, which focuses on supporting working-class families and small businesses. He also has experience working with HouseATL, ProGeorgia, and the Foundation Center. 

Atlanta City Council candidate Q&A: Rohit Malhotra

This is Rohit's first time running for public office. 

Aims to improve economic outcomes for Black people in Atlanta.

Supports creating programs for universal basic income and baby bonds to address economic inequality.

Believes cities should be more empathetic and flexible in reintegrating employees to post-2019 work conditions, noting that strict full-time in-person mandates lead to workforce reductions and exacerbate budget deficits, like Atlanta's $20 million shortfall.

Believes cities should be more empathetic and flexible in reintegrating employees to post-COVID work conditions, noting that strict full-time in-person mandates lead to workforce reductions.

Aims to raise household incomes and help families build generational wealth.

Supports investing in small businesses and local entrepreneurs in Atlanta.

Supports making city spending transparent and accessible so taxpayers can see where their money is going and to evaluate which programs are working (and also, which programs are not).

Supports creating a trust fund for Atlanta’s artists, musicians, and creatives to acknowledge their role in shaping culture and the economy.

Supports strengthening financial reserves and preparing for a potential economic downturn by advocating for a 2030 budget forecast and enhancing the independence and capacity of the Department of Finance to provide effective forecasting and guidance.

Supports preparing for a potential economic downturn by advocating for a 2030 budget forecast and enhancing the independence and capacity of the Department of Finance to provide effective forecasting and guidance.

- Aims to improve economic outcomes for Black people in Atlanta.
- Supports creating programs for universal basic income and baby bonds to address economic inequality.
- Believes cities should be more empathetic and flexible in reintegrating employees to post-COVID work conditions, noting that strict full-time in-person mandates lead to workforce reductions.
- Aims to raise household incomes and help families build generational wealth.
- Supports investing in small businesses and local entrepreneurs in Atlanta.
- Supports making city spending transparent and accessible so taxpayers can see where their money is going and to evaluate which programs are working (and also, which programs are not).
- Supports creating a trust fund for Atlanta’s artists, musicians, and creatives to acknowledge their role in shaping culture and the economy.
- Supports preparing for a potential economic downturn by advocating for a 2030 budget forecast and enhancing the independence and capacity of the Department of Finance to provide effective forecasting and guidance.

Economy

Believes in prioritizing council members with relevant neighborhood issues for specific committee assignments to ensure equitable representation and a diversity of thought.

Believes in empowering neighborhood leaders and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) to enhance community representation in City Hall.

Supports protecting and strengthening democratic processes, including referenda and ballot initiatives, and opposes "suppression tactics like signature matching."

- Believes in prioritizing council members with relevant neighborhood issues for specific committee assignments to ensure equitable representation and a diversity of thought.
- Believes in empowering neighborhood leaders and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) to enhance community representation in City Hall.
- Supports protecting and strengthening democratic processes, including referenda and ballot initiatives, and opposes "suppression tactics like signature matching."

Public Services

Supports equitable development across neighborhoods.

Supports a housing-first policy to address homelessness.

- Supports equitable development across neighborhoods.
- Supports a housing-first policy to address homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports having a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure legal support for residents impacted by "unprecedented policies."

Supports having an agreement with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure legal support for residents impacted by "unprecedented policies."

Supports investing in "proven violence prevention programs that address root causes and create a comprehensive, community-centered public safety strategy."

Opposes the use of surveillance in policing, saying "Where surveillance is set up and how is not a protective measure. It is often used to target."

Supports investing in community-based violence-interruption projects like the IVYY (Interrupting Violence with Youth and Young Adults) Project's Circle of Safety.

- Supports having an agreement with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure legal support for residents impacted by "unprecedented policies."
- Supports investing in "proven violence prevention programs that address root causes and create a comprehensive, community-centered public safety strategy."
- Opposes the use of surveillance in policing, saying "Where surveillance is set up and how is not a protective measure. It is often used to target."
- Supports investing in community-based violence-interruption projects like the IVYY (Interrupting Violence with Youth and Young Adults) Project's Circle of Safety.

Public Safety

Supports public transit and advocates for transportation improvements.

Supports expanding and improving public transportation to make it more affordable, efficient, and transparent.

- Supports public transit and advocates for transportation improvements.
- Supports expanding and improving public transportation to make it more affordable, efficient, and transparent.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of September 3, 2025, Rohit Malhotra’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

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Rohit Malhotra

Rohit Malhotra is from Chicago, Illinois. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. He lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

- Aims to improve economic outcomes for Black people in Atlanta.
- Supports creating programs for universal basic income and baby bonds to address economic inequality.

Supports having a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure there is a direct line of support for impacted individuals.

- Supports equitable development across neighborhoods.

Rohit Malhotra is from Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Central Gwinnett High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. He lives in Grant Park, Atlanta.

Another candidate enters Atlanta City Council president race - Axios ...

Rohit is currently president of the Atlanta City Council. He was elected in 2025 and is serving his first term. 

As of September 3, 2025, Rohit Malhotra did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Supports having an agreement with public defenders, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the ACLU to ensure there is a direct line of support for impacted individuals.

Marci Overstreet is from Southwest Atlanta. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Georgia State University. 

Marci retired from Delta Airlines. She is also the founder and CEO of Mommy Knows Best, LLC.

Marci Collier Overstreet - Ballotpedia

Marci is currently a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing District 11. She was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. She is currently serving her second term.

Believes in ensuring fair wages and benefits for frontline workers.

As a city council member, created legislation to start a fund for fresh food access in underserved areas.

Supports commercial investment and redevelopment efforts to boost the economy.

- Believes in ensuring fair wages and benefits for frontline workers.
- As a city council member, created legislation to start a fund for fresh food access in underserved areas.
- Supports commercial investment and redevelopment efforts to boost the economy.

Plans to improve city services for residents.

Believes in equitable maintenance of public parks, and as a city commissioner, worked to ensure they are well maintained and updated through partnerships and relationships.

Believes in equitable maintenance of public parks and ensuring parks are well-maintained and updated.

- Plans to improve city services for residents.
- Believes in equitable maintenance of public parks and ensuring parks are well-maintained and updated.

Supports adding workforce housing and partnering with MARTA to create a transit hub at Greenbriar Mall.

- Supports adding workforce housing and partnering with MARTA to create a transit hub at Greenbriar Mall.

Atlanta City Council candidates Q&A: Marci Collier Overstreet

Supports a well-trained police department.

Supports a well-trained police department and supported building the Public Safety Training Center, a police training facility in South River Forest.

- Supports a well-trained police department and supported building the Public Safety Training Center, a police training facility in South River Forest.

Supports raising capital projects and implementing a half-penny sales tax for MARTA to improve transportation options in Atlanta.

Encourages community members to report potholes through the 311 system to improve accountability and response times for infrastructure repairs.

Believes the Atlanta Department of Transportation should check the 311 system and fill potholes immediately.

Supports the legislation for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) audit.

Supports an audit of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

- Supports raising capital projects and implementing a half-penny sales tax for MARTA to improve transportation options in Atlanta.
- Encourages community members to report potholes through the 311 system to improve accountability and response times for infrastructure repairs.
- Believes the Atlanta Department of Transportation should check the 311 system and fill potholes immediately.
- Supports an audit of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

As of September 3, 2025, Marci Collier Overstreet’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Marci Collier Overstreet

Marci is currently a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing District 11. She was first elected in 2017 and assumed office in 2018. She is currently serving her second term. Marci is running for Atlanta City Council President in the general election scheduled for November 4, 2025.

Marci is currently a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing District 11. She was first elected in 2017 and assumed office in 2018. She is currently serving her third term.

Supports ensuring fair wages and benefits for frontline workers.

Supports having a well-trained police department.

As a city council member, worked to improve access to fresh food in southwest Atlanta.

- City Council president is a position specific to Atlanta, and they are responsible for leading city council by presiding over meetings and appointing city council members to committee positions. 
- City council president cannot introduce legislation and can only vote to break a 7-7 tie. 
- City council president is elected by all voters in Atlanta in odd years to four year terms and will receive a salary of $74,400 starting in 2022. 
