Richard Rose can not immediately recall Atlanta ever having this many candidates qualify to seek the office of mayor. Fourteen had paid the fee and signed the necessary paperwork to qualify by the end of the day Friday.
What's even more interesting to Rose, president of the Atlanta NAACP, is that all 14 candidates have confirmed their attendance at a political forum on Tuesday, August 24th.
"We won't get to ask all the questions to each of them this time around", Rose tells Audacy Atlanta's Maria Boynton, adding they're planning at least a second forum. "Next time we'll be able to evaluate the candidates about how they are polling. This time we're taking all those that qualified."
According to Rose, because of the large number of candidates, the question and answers will continue online.
There were 11 candidates in the race to replace Mayor Kasim Reed 4 years ago.
Tuesday's forum is a collaboration between the Atlanta NAACP, the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Atlanta, and Friendship Baptist Church located at 80 Walnut Street NW, the site of the forum.
Rose says the groups are also planning a forum with the candidates for Atlanta City Council President.
Candidates for Atlanta Mayor
Antonio Btown
Andre Dickens
Kirsten Dunn
Nolan English
Sharon Gay
Mark Hammad
Kenny Hill
Rebecca L. King
Felicia Moore
Kasim Reed
Walter Reeves
Roosevelt Searles III
Glenn Wrightson
Richard N. Wright
Candidates for Atlanta City Council President
Natalyn Mosby Archibong
Courtney English
Sam Manuel
Mike Russell
Doug Shipman
Candates for Atlanta City Council
Post 1 At-Large
Michael Julian Bond
Alfred “Shivy” Brooks
Brandon Cory Goldberg
Todd A. Gray
Jereme D. Sharpe
Victor D. Tate
Post 2 At-Large
Sonya Russell-Ofchus
Matt Westmoreland
Post 3 At-Large
Jacki Labat
Ralph Long
Jodi Merriday
Keisha Sean Waites
Sherry B. Williams
District 1
Clarence Blalock
Nathan Clubb
Russell Hopson
Kelly-Jeanne Lee
Jason Winston
District 2
Amir Farokhi
District 3
Byron Amos
Erika Estrada
Brandon Graham
Keona Jones
Elijah Porter
Ken Wainwright
District 4
Rogelio Arcila
Larry B. Carter II
Jason Dozier
Kim Scott
DeBorah “Sister” Williams
Cleta Winslow
District 5
Samuel Bacote
Liliana Bakhtiari
Katie Kissel
Mandy Mahoney
Doug Williams
District 6
Justin Critz
Courtney Jenee DeDi
Kathryn Voelpel
Alex Wan
District 7
Howard Shook
District 8
Mary Norwood
District 9
Dustin Hillis
Devin “Barrington” Ward
District 10
Andrea L. Boone
Jason Hudgins
District 11
Marci Collier Overstreet
Ron Shakir
District 12
Antonio Lewis
Joyce Sheperd
Jenne Shepherd
Listen to full interview with Richard Rose below.