Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta has confirmed the appointment of Courtney English as the city’s temporary chief of staff. English, already performing his duties as the chief policy officer, will maintain his current position alongside his new assignment. This development was announced on Monday. English steps in to fill the office formerly held by Odie Donald, who reconsidered his roles within the administration to undertake an opportunity as the chief administrative officer in Richmond, Virginia.
In his new role, English becomes an instrumental figure in facilitating the mayor’s legislative plans. His multi-pronged duties include maintaining a strong relationship with the city council and overseeing the functioning of the mayor’s executive offices. This major career shift comes as a significant enhancement to English’s prevailing role as chief policy officer.
The mayor’s executive offices perform a variety of roles, including but not limited to managing Legislative and External Affairs, Constituent Services, Communications, and Cultural Affairs. These offices also look after Sustainability and International and Immigrant Affairs. Additionally, they look over Special Events, advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and manage Film and Entertainment along with the Department of Labor and Employment Services.
The press release provided details about English embracing his new responsibilities as a natural extension of his role as the chief policy officer. In his current capacity, English is at the front line of the policy creation team. This team is known for being deeply involved in various salient policy initiatives of the Dickens administration.
Some of these initiatives are designed around important areas such as affordable housing and economic growth. Others involve devising policy approaches targeted at youth education and civic involvement, neighborhood remodeling, and establishing strategic alliances. These policies are vital in supporting Atlanta’s development and prosperity, epitomizing the fundamental tenet of the Dickens administration.
Mayor Dickens commended English’s contributions and achievements during his four-year tenure. The key achievements highlighted were the creation of substantial affordable housing in Atlanta – over 11,000 units, and the establishment of alternative law enforcement strategies which led to a decrease in crime rates.
English also pioneered a comprehensive strategy for youth engagement, tagged ‘Year of the Youth’. This initiative was recognized by the city for achieving an impressive 56% reduction in criminal activities involving the youth in the year 2023. These results underscore English’s commitment to the youth of Atlanta and their future.
Showcasing his confidence in English, Mayor Dickens stated, ‘From the very beginning of my term, Courtney has proven to be an invaluable counselor, an adaptable leader, and a fervent advocate of the innovative public policy programs that are propelling Atlanta forward.’ He further photographed English as a visionary with the experience and devotion required for his increased responsibilities.
In Mayor Dickens’ opinion, Courtney has continually inspired his team to commit to the city’s objectives. Appreciating Mayor Dickens’ continued faith in him, English responded, ‘I am deeply humbled by Mayor Dickens’ trust in me, and it gives me great honor to serve Atlanta under his leadership.’
In terms of his vision for Atlanta, English added, ‘My top priority is implementing the Mayor’s objective of making Atlanta the premier city for raising children in the U.S. And this will be achieved by effectively handling our public policy projects and legislative priorities.’ English promises to pay extreme attention to realizing this vision.
Looking ahead, English anticipates cementing his working relationship with the mayor’s high-ranking leadership circle in the coming months. English further expressed his zeal towards facilitating highly effective performance from the mayor’s executive offices. His goal is to ensure the administration’s activities align with the best interests of the city.
English is also keen on honing the relationships that Atlanta shares across different sectors within the community. These sectors include civic organizations, nonprofit groups, and various business entities. With his experience in policy-making and administration, English aims to further strengthen these partnerships, considering them vital to the city’s growth.