Meet the Atlanta City Council candidates: Courtney Smith for District 2

This November, the entire Atlanta City Council is up for election, including the District 2 position, which council member Amir Farokhi recently announced he would vacate to lead the Galloway School. One candidate is Courtney Smith—an involved member of several neighborhood groups and formal committees—whose answers to Atlanta Community Press Collective questions about her background, District 2 and objectives if elected are below.

Answers are condensed for space.

What distinguishes District 2 from the rest of Atlanta?

District 2 embodies the greatest access to a broad transit network; the widest range of housing types; the greatest mix of commercial, residential, institutional and arts & culture interests; and a major economic driver for the entire metro Atlanta area. For these reasons, we have the greatest opportunity to ensure a wide diversity of families thrive and have access to critical social determinants of health: jobs, healthcare, education, housing and a strong community. 

Historically, District 2 communities are open to new ideas, different approaches. This is a major reason I love District 2, am inspired to represent it and advocate alongside its amazing neighbors. Atlanta is facing some chronic challenges we need to come at from a new way, with new tools. District 2 is embracing new approaches to create affordable housing—specifically a project I am honored to be part of—the Midtown Fire Station project. With the advocacy of council member Farokhi, we are part of a guaranteed minimum income initiative. I serve on the board of Our House in Old Fourth Ward, where we are addressing Atlanta’s crisis of families experiencing homelessness with a unique model that stops the cycle for future generations. I know District 2 will be open to new possibilities that will bring great progress for our neighborhoods.  

Your experience includes being chair of NPU-E and Midtown Neighbors’ Association president. What have been your tangible policy aims and gains in those roles?

As a member of the NPU-E Board and Midtown Neighbors’ Association, I have voted to support numerous legislative initiatives that expanded incentives for affordable housing, updated zoning code to reflect the way we want to live today, controlled the development of data centers and eliminated uses that do not align with dense urban planning like drive-thrus on major corridors. With my neighbors, we’ve participated in the Comprehensive Development Plan updates and policies that impact housing like short-term rentals.  

One of my most extensive efforts has been as part of a city task force fully modernizing alcohol licensing. Sounds very niche, but the work has a direct impact on the economy, neighborhood safety and government efficiency.   

I am proud to say the list of policy and legislative efforts I’ve been honored to help shape is long. I look forward to expanding it to address challenges with housing supply, multimodal transit, infrastructure repair and new economic development opportunities.

What are the unique challenges of District 2 that you would engage as council member? How?

District 2 represents some of the most expensive rental rates and a high barrier to entry for home ownership. Parking continues to drive many conversations but without new tools to address it. Special events help support local businesses but can also have a negative impact on quality of life. The condition of our roads, crosswalks, sidewalks is unacceptable, particularly considering the volume of residents, workers and visitors that enjoy our district.  

The value I bring is the focus on solutions. I will work thoughtfully and strategically to create more housing supply through efficient code, incentive programs, creative uses of city-owned land and encouraging preservation of existing affordable supply.    

I have solutions ready for day 1. I am ready to utilize my valuable network of stakeholder partners to get to work nurturing a thriving, vibrant city.

What are the biggest issues for the entire city you’d address? How?

We should be thoughtful about preserving our history, meaningful places and neighborhood culture so that our communities feel rooted in the richness of this place while we change and grow. We need to be intentional about this. It plays into landmarking properties, investing in local entrepreneurship, shaping green space, expanding nightlife—to name a few components.  

Atlanta also has an aged infrastructure system that needs repair, not just to service the city safely, but also to comply with federal mandates and avoid punitive fines for non-compliance.  

Housing is part of both challenges. As we grow, we want to protect legacy residents and ensure we are welcoming a diversity of residents into our neighborhoods. The creation of housing at the levels we need will add burden to our infrastructure.  

Everything is related, and we need leaders who can navigate multiple critical factors thoughtfully. 

We cannot just let development happen to us. It must happen with us.  

Almost all contributions to your campaign last reporting period qualified as major donations. How would you say that connects with voters and compares with the Atlanta Way?

Contributions to my campaign came in fast and strong. Over 90% of donors are local Atlantans. I am proud of this success.  

I am a person of strong conviction with a long history of consensus-building in Atlanta.  Donations are a vote of confidence, not control. The generous funding from my donors will allow me to get my message of collaboration for positive change far and wide and faster.  

Tell us about your broader political journey. How have your politics changed over time, and how do you see that fitting with this Council?

Like many, life experiences inform my political beliefs. I was raised to understand the value of knowledge, the impact of hard work and helping others, and the importance of thinking bigger than myself. My political beliefs have always been led by this bigger mission and are shaped by the current challenges in our communities.

I grew up in a large working-class family. Farmers, firefighters, teachers, health care workers.  My parents worked hard to give my sisters and I access to sports, music and a strong support structure to be successful in school. I consider that essential to who I am today. I went to public school and studied with great focus to attend Georgia Tech on scholarship and without financial burden on my parents. I’ve lived in big cities, small towns and even abroad. I’ve been in the corporate world, and I’ve started my own business.

For more information about Smith and her platform, visit courtneyforatlanta.com.