Moore wins Atlanta council president, Pitts wins Fulton chairman

Voters headed to the polls at Henry W. Grady High School in Atlanta on Tuesday. The region’s voters decided a slew of city council, county commission and mayoral races. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Voters headed to the polls at Henry W. Grady High School in Atlanta on Tuesday. The region’s voters decided a slew of city council, county commission and mayoral races. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Felicia Moore defeated Alex Wan in the race for president of the Atlanta City Council in unofficial results in Tuesday's runoff election.

Metro Atlanta voters also decided a slew of other city council, county commission and mayoral elections. Here’s a look at results in some of the key races.

Atlanta

In the race for Atlanta City Council president, Moore defeated Wan by a substantial margin.

Moore, a council member, said she will offer research and data for the council when necessary.

“Because the council president does not vote does not mean the council president should not be intricately involved in all the issues that come before us,” she said.

Wan, also a city councilman, said a critical job for the president is matching the right people with the right committees, where most of the work is done.

“You’re being a voice of council, representing the council and speaking out for council,” he said.

Several City Council seats were also up for grabs Tuesday. Incumbent Cleta Winslow defeated Jason Dozier in the city council District 4 seat, in unofficial results.

In District 9 seat, Dustin Hillis defeated Kwame Abernathy.

And in District 11, Marci Collier Overstreet defeated Harold Hardnett.

Fulton County

In the race to become the new chair of the Fulton County Commission, Robb Pitts defeated Keisha Waites.

Pitts, a former county commissioner Atlanta City Council president, said he wants to make the county “more of a player” in the region. His priorities include fixing the county’s ongoing issues with property assessments and tax collection, expanding transit and improving the criminal justice system.

Waites, a former state representative, said she wants to be a “consensus builder and a bridge builder.” She wants to market Fulton County better, improve the property tax system and reduce HIV rates.

In the runoff for the Fulton County Commission District 4 seat, Natalie Hall defeated Kathryn Flowers. Hall was the chief of staff to former Commissioner Joan Garner, whose April death from cancer led to the special election.

Hall said she wants to fix the property tax system, in part by exempting seniors from having to pay school taxes. Hall also said she would look at other exemptions, as well as the assessment process.

Flowers said she “wanted to be a person who offered solutions to the residents of Fulton County.” She wants to help keep residents from being displaced because of rising property values.

In Roswell, Lori Henry defeated Lee Jenkins to become the first new mayor in 20 years. She replaces Mayor Jere Wood, who has held the office since 1997.

Henry said she wants to focus on filling empty buildings in commercial corridors and bringing developers who will build more offices in the city.

Cobb County

In Marietta, Cheryl Richardson, a local attorney, defeated Jay Davis, a retired consultant in early returns for City Council Ward 1.

In the Smyrna City Council Ward 3 race, Maryline Blackburn, who heads the non-profit Divas with A Cause, defeated Travis Lindley, a healthcare lobbyist.

In the Austell City Council Ward 1 race, Marlin Lamar, an engineering superintendent, defeated Ikaika Anderson, who works for a catering company.

Fayette County

In the race for mayor of Peachtree City, incumbent Vanessa Fleisch defeated Eric Imker.

Staff writers Arielle Kass and Meris Lutz contributed to this report.