ATLANTA — As Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens hits the campaign trail in his reelection bid, the former city councilman is trying to appeal to voters, touting his administration’s accomplishments.

Dickens, who is Atlanta’s 61st mayor, won the seat after a runoff victory against his fellow City Councilmember Felicia Moore in November 2021.

Dickens is reportedly supported by former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, and local “business and political elite,” and has amassed $1.4 million for his re-election bid, per the Associated Press.

Since then, Dickens has emphasized his administration’s achievements, particularly in crime reduction, affordable housing, and community unity. Under his leadership, Atlanta has seen a notable decrease in crime rates, with significant reductions in violent crimes and property offenses.

The Atlanta mayor has also highlighted the success of the “One Safe City” initiative, which aims to enhance public safety through improved emergency response times and community engagement.

But Dickens has also been heavily criticized by progressive activists for his support of the development of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, also known as “Cop City,” which Dickens has supported since was was a city council member. The center remains a hot-button topic in Atlanta, which escalated after a protestor was killed in 2023 during a demonstration. No one has faced charges in connection with the fatal shooting.

Dickens has also been recently mired in controversy, responding to allegations made by state officials of “potential criminal wrongdoing” by Dickens and members of his cabinet, as well as top fire officials in the City of Atlanta, Atlanta News First reported. Dickens has denied the allegations against him.

Atlanta’s mayoral election is scheduled for Nov. 4.

More about Andre Dickens’ reelection announcement.