BRN Candidate 2025 Scorecard Report
Introducing the Beltline Rail Now Candidate Survey and Scorecard.
One of Beltline Rail Now’s core purposes is to educate the public about the transit component of the Atlanta Beltline, a transformative, multi-generational redevelopment project. Ahead of the City of Atlanta’s November 4 municipal elections, our goal is to help voters understand where each candidate stands on advancing rail along the full 22-mile Beltline corridor.
Transit consistently ranks among voters’ top issues, and Atlanta residents have repeatedly demonstrated support for mass transit expansion at the ballot box. With Election Day on November 4 and early voting available October 14–31, we want to ensure all voters can make an informed decision about candidates running for office.
We invited all 46 candidates for Mayor, City Council President, and City Council to participate in our 2025 Candidate Survey. Twenty-two candidates responded, which we consider a strong showing, especially given that seven of the fifteen City Council seats are running uncontested. The survey included multiple-choice and open-ended essay questions designed to gauge candidates’ understanding of and commitment to Beltline rail and broader transit priorities.
This conversation is critical. The next City Council will play a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of Beltline rail’s “death by delay,” perpetuated over the past 15 years. The next council must also take a stronger hand in prioritizing and implementing voter-approved More MARTA projects, which have been stalled for nearly a decade.
The Survey and How We Scored It
The survey included 15 questions on topics such as prioritization of rail-specific projects, the relationship between MARTA and the City of Atlanta, and broader visions for Atlanta’s transit future. Each candidate’s responses were reviewed by a panel of five BRN board members and volunteers using a rubric based on BRN’s pro-transit values. Scores on the essay questions were averaged to create a total of 115 possible points. BRN Chair Matthew Rao did not participate in scoring deliberations.
Based on their results, Beltline Rail Now is acknowledging the highest-scoring candidates in two categories:
Pro-Transit (90+ points)
Transit-Supportive (80–89 points)
Pro-transit Candidates demonstrated exceptional understanding of the issue, clear conviction about advancing Beltline rail as soon as possible, and a commitment to lead on the issue if elected to public office.
Pro-Transit Candidates
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Kelsea Bond | District 2 | 109 points
“I believe that our city is decades behind where it needs to be on public transit, which will only exacerbate traffic issues, affordability, and the impacts of climate change as our city grows. Given this urgency, we can't afford to wait for the next Mayoral term to start on rail …”
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Rohit Malhotra | City Council President | 105 points
“I believe it is essential to deliver on Beltline Rail. It has been promised for years without a clear implementation plan, but it represents a transformative opportunity to connect neighborhoods, reduce inequities in mobility, and finally …”
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Matt Rinker | Post 1, At Large | 105 points
“Finding transit solutions is one of the top priorities of why I am running for Post 1. Atlanta can't afford to keep making promises without delivering. Beltline rail is not just a transit project but is also a commitment to equity mobility and a bright future for Atlanta …”
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Jacob Chambers | District 2 | 103 points
“My transit plan is to connect MARTA heavy rail with Beltline Rail and a redesigned bus network focused on frequency, all supported by a connected, protected grid of bike and scooter lanes. This ensures that people who want to walk, bike, or … “
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Delvin Davis | District 12 | 103 points
“Building BeltLine rail on the Eastside now will strengthen connectivity, provide immediate benefits to residents, and demonstrate our commitment to completing the full 22-mile loop. It is possible-and necessary-to advance both the Eastside and Southside transit investments …”
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Andre Burgin | District 11 | 97 points
“I am a strong believer in Beltline Rail. I believe it's Atlanta's gateway to becoming a truly world-class international city. The economic multiplier effect would be transformative - generating increased property values, business development, and tourism revenue that … “
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Eddie Meredith | Mayor | 93 points
“The decision (by Mayor Dickens) to not prioritize Eastside beltline rail is a profound misstep. The Eastside segment is the most shovel-ready, funded, and impactful corridor-failing to act now is a betrayal of past promises and future generations. My leadership will bring …”
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Rebecca King | District 7 | 91 points
“The BeltLine was never just a trail system; it was conceived as a transformative transit loop to connect people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and opportunity. I support building rail along the full BeltLine, with urgency and accountability, with an all for one and one for all approach … “
Transit-Supportive Candidates
Charles Bourgeois | District 9 | 89 points
Helmut “Love” Domagalski | Mayor | 88 points
Jamie Christy | District 7 | 87 points
Jason Dozier | District 4 | 87 points
Liliana Bhaktiari | District 5 | 85 points
Courtney Smith | District 2 | 84 points
Stephanie Flowers | District 12 | 83 points
Juan Mendoza | District 1 At-Large | 81 points
At this time BRN is not endorsing candidates. Our goal is to provide an independent, transparent-centric metric that helps voters make informed choices based on candidates’ demonstrated understanding of and support for rail and mass transit.
Why Now?
For Beltline rail to become a reality and for Atlanta to achieve equitable, connected, and sustainable mass transit, we need a strong majority of at least 8 transit-focused councilmembers on the City Council committed to making it happen. If the Pro-Transit candidates in City Council races were elected, that would happen.
If Mayor Dickens follows through on plans to sideline the 2.25-mile Streetcar East Extension, which includes the first Beltline rail segment, it could delay rail implementation to the next mayoral administration or even longer. This would break his core 2021 campaign promise, reaffirmed in his 2022 inaugural address, to put rail on Beltline rail during his time as mayor. Without decisive action now, groundbreaking could slip well beyond 2030, meaning yet another generation of Atlantans will be left waiting.
Atlanta is already a decade behind. It is time to build Beltline rail-now.