Doug Shipman, the founding CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and former head of Woodruff Arts Center, has made the unexpected decision not to seek reelection as Atlanta City Council President.
Shipman, who previously won the 2021 council president runoff against a longtime councilwoman, secured the second-highest political ranking in Atlanta, trailing only the mayor.
His decision, announced in February, surprised many colleagues at City Hall as Atlanta approaches another election season.
The resignation opens up a coveted position responsible for directing discussions during city council meetings and acting as a mediator between the council and the mayor’s office.
Shipman expressed that while he loves his job, family medical issues have taken precedence over his political aspirations.
“It’s an easy decision in a tough situation — I’ve got a very tough family health situation that is going to take a lot of my time to deal with, and so it’s really just a reorienting of priorities,” Shipman stated.
He explained further, “I enjoy the role of City Council president, and I enjoy politics, but it is an emotional job.”
In a lengthy interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Shipman reflected on legislation that has shaped Atlanta during his tenure.
He expressed particular pride in the city’s response to the challenges posed by the end of the pandemic, stating, “At the end of the day, I think that what people wanted — especially coming out of COVID — is some level of connectivity back to their city.”
Shipman observed that political leadership during this term has focused on addressing citizens’ needs and fostering community spirit.
Advocates who frequently visit City Hall have noted a welcome change in the atmosphere since Shipman took office.
Michael Halicki, president and CEO of Park Pride, remarked that the dynamics shifted from distrust and contention to collaboration, highlighting Shipman’s commitment by asking, “What can we do together?”
In 2022, under a new council president, with six new council members and a first-term mayor, Atlanta’s city government began transitioning back from virtual meetings to in-person sessions at City Hall.
Shipman faced numerous challenges, including the brewing controversy surrounding the city’s public safety training facility.
Though the training facility project was initially approved by the prior council, the funding vote became contentious, leading to lengthy public comment sessions filled with critical and sometimes angry responses.
Despite the tensions, Shipman noted that the primary concern extended beyond the funding debate; it was also about ensuring the safety of lawmakers and residents attending the meetings.
On June 5, 2023, hundreds of residents filled the council chamber, voicing their opposition to the training center during a meeting that extended for over 14 hours.
Council members faced hostility, evidenced by booing, jeering, and even confrontations during public comment periods.
Rohit Malhotra, founder and executive director for the Civic Center for Innovation, praised Shipman’s ability to bridge the gap between the public and City Hall.
“(Shipman) created a space where people felt comfortable enough to come to City Hall and feel like they could speak,” Malhotra noted, emphasizing the importance of this accessibility.
During the intense debate over the training center, Shipman took on the dual role of managing the council’s proceedings while fielding communication from the media and opponents.
He remarked, “People have a lot of frustration that they want to get out, and public comment is one of the safer, better ways for them to get it out.”
Atlanta City Council member Matt Westmoreland emphasized that maintaining order during these emotionally charged meetings is a crucial leadership trait.
“People who come to address us are often coming because they are heartbroken by something that’s happened in the city, or they’re very angry about something that has happened,” Westmoreland explained.
He acknowledged that managing such passionate citizens is a difficult task, one that Shipman has succeeded in during his term.
The heated debate around the training center culminated in legislation that stirred political contention in Atlanta for over two years.
Amidst this turmoil, council members received online threats, and police had to station vehicles outside their homes for security.
Shipman speculated, “My sense was that the threats were not coming from folks in Atlanta — they were not coming from folks that I knew who were in the movement, even the ones who I knew were very upset about what was happening.”
Amid such uncertainties, the presence of patrol cars caused curiosity for Shipman’s young daughters, prompting him to reassure them of their safety.
As he navigated the often tumultuous relationship between City Council and the public, Shipman also focused on strengthening the connection between the executive and legislative branches of city government.
Mayor Andre Dickens praised his relationship with Shipman, stating, “Having served on council for eight years, I know how tough that job can be at times.
I deeply value my relationship with City Council and the Council President.”
Following their election, Shipman and Dickens opted to revive practices from former Mayor Shirley Franklin and former City Council President Kathy Woolard, including bi-weekly meetings without agenda or staff present.
Shipman shared, “There are some things that people can see that we don’t necessarily agree on — there are more things that people don’t ever see.
But I’m pleased that it hasn’t ever spilled out into us calling each other names on the radio.
I think that’s the stuff people didn’t want.”
Despite their long-standing acquaintance of nearly a decade, Shipman mentioned how their new alliance became vital for tackling external pressures, especially from powerful Republican state lawmakers pushing legislation against city interests.
To mitigate unfavorable proposals, the city usually enlists a lobbyist during the Georgia General Assembly’s session.
This helps prevent legislation targeting Atlanta, such as state takeover proposals concerning Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport or punitive measures against cities with homeless populations.
However, in opposing a Republican-led initiative to make Buckhead its own city — an effort that could have cost Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools millions in tax revenue — Shipman and Dickens strategized a different approach.
Dicens engaged in discussions with Governor Brian Kemp, House Speaker Jon Burns, and Lt. Governor Burt Jones, while Shipman took the podium in Senate committee rooms to testify against the proposal.
Shipman remarked, “Everybody was trying to take a different piece of the puzzle to show why this was going to be a bad idea.
It was very strategic.”
Shipman began his term with a focus on providing a “fresh” approach to city governance, frequently attending council committee meetings and actively questioning city agencies and department heads.
His colleagues have recognized him as one of the most engaged council presidents, contrasting with others who limited their roles to simply overseeing meetings.
As council president, Shipman votes on legislation only in the event of a tie, yet he is second in line to the mayor and would need to step up if the mayor were to leave unexpectedly.
Recognizing his family obligations and the possibility of not fulfilling his commitment over the next four years, Shipman expressed his reluctance to ask voters to take that risk.
Shipman stated, “I really felt like … there was the potential that I would not be able to fulfill that commitment.”
Halicki noted that Shipman’s leadership style would be missed, underscoring the significant change in leadership within the city during his tenure.
“There has been a marked difference in the leadership within the city,” Halicki stated.
“I think that Doug Shipman did a great job with rallying folks together around what we can do together, as opposed to this idea of what we can take credit for doing things in isolation.”
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