Stephon Ferguson

Stephon Ferguson

Education

Associate

Georgia Perimeter College Georgia State University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Contact

Personal website

Stephon Ferguson was a candidate for District 2 representative on the Atlanta City Council in Georgia. Ferguson was defeated in the general election on November 7, 2017. Click here to read Ferguson's response to Ballotpedia's 2017 municipal candidate survey.

Biography

Ferguson holds associate degrees in theater and film from Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia State University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Elections

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Atlanta, Georgia (2017)

The city of Atlanta, Georgia, held a general election for mayor, city council president, three at large council members, 13 by district council members, and two city judges on November 7, 2017. Amir Farokhi defeated Lauren Welsh, Zelda Jackson, Stephon Ferguson, and Nicholas Mulkey in the general election for District 2 seat on the city council.

Atlanta City Council District 2, General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Amir Farokhi	55.30%	5,356
Lauren Welsh	30.29%	2,934
Zelda Jackson	7.82%	757
Stephon Ferguson	3.76%	364
Nicholas Mulkey	2.81%	272
Write-in votes	0.02%	2
Total Votes		9,685
Source: DeKalb County, Georgia, "Election Summary Report, November 7, 2017, Unofficial and Incomplete," November 7, 2017 and Fulton County, Georgia, "November 7, 2017 Municipal General and Special Elections," accessed November 7, 2017 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

Campaign themes

2017

See also: Ballotpedia's municipal government candidate survey

Ferguson participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of municipal government candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what his top priority would be if elected, the candidate made the following statement:

“	Housing (Get rid of Homelessness and increase Affordable Housing)	”
—Stephon Ferguson (October 18, 2017)

Ranking the issues

The candidate was asked to rank the following issues by importance in the city, with 1 being the most important and 12 being the least important: city services (trash, utilities, etc.), civil rights, crime reduction/prevention, environment, government transparency, homelessness, housing, K-12 education, public pensions/retirement funds, recreational opportunities, transportation, and unemployment. This table displays this candidate's rankings from most to least important.

Issue importance ranking
Candidate's ranking	Issue	Candidate's ranking	Issue
1	Homelessness	7	Unemployment
2	Housing	8	Public pensions/retirement funds
3	Civil rights	9	Environment
4	City services	10	Government transparency
5	K-12 education	11	Crime reduction/prevention
6	Transportation	12	Recreational opportunities

Nationwide municipal issues

The candidate was asked to answer questions from Ballotpedia regarding issues facing cities across America. The questions are in the left column and the candidate's responses are in the right column. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions.

Question	Response
Is it important for the city’s budget to be balanced?Answer options: Not important; Not important, but required by state law; A little important; A little important, but required by state law; Important; Very important	Very important
Which level of government do you feel should set a minimum wage?Answer options: None, Local, State, Federal	Federal
What do you think is the best way to improve a city’s public safety? Candidates could write their own answer or choose from the following options: Increased economic opportunities, Increased police presence/activity, Harsher penalties for offenders, Public outreach/education programs	All of the above. All initiatives must be implemented simultaneously.
How do you think your city should emphasize economic development? Candidates could write their own answer or choose from the following options: Changing zoning restrictions, Create a more competitive business climate, Focusing on small business development, Instituting a citywide minimum wage, Recruiting new businesses to your city, Regulatory and licensing reforms, and tax reform	All of the above.
What is the one thing you’re most proud of about your city?	The candidate did not respond to this question.
What is the one thing you’d most like to change about your city?	The candidate did not respond to this question.

Ferguson provided the following additional comments on his candidate survey response:

“	Stephon Ferguson has devoted his life to public service and to bringing people together. As a former United States Army Sergeant, minister, inspirational speaker, journalist, and author, his breadth of experience in communication and leadership has propelled him to great success in his community. From military troops to Georgia’s churches, radio stations to businesses, Ferguson has built a strong track record as a passionate and logical leader with the skills and abilities to unite people beyond their differences.	”
—Stephon Ferguson (2017)

Additional themes

Ferguson's campaign website included the following themes for 2017:

“	FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS Stephon Ferguson will ensure that the city of Atlanta will not hinder or damage the civil protections and rights of its people with ineffectual and harmful policies. Atlanta will maintain its reputation as a city for all, one that welcomes those of all races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socioeconomic standings. Our quality of life depends on improving the lives of those less fortunate, as compassion can heal the wounds of the past. The War on Drugs has been a colossal failure over the last decade, and it is time to take a step back and look at the situation before us. Stephon Ferguson stands with the Drug Policy Alliance for enacting common sense regulations that limit hard drugs on the street while giving nonviolent marijuana offenders a fair judgment. Just like Prohibition in the 1920s, efforts by the government that restrict nonviolent activities leads to wasted money, ruined lives, and lost opportunities. With better drug policies, we can undercut corruption, gang violence, distrust of law enforcement, and the breaking for HIV and AIDS research, so that millions of affected Americans can hope to find better treatment and care through long lives. He will also support the use of marijuana as a medical treatment, as research has shown that its main active ingredient provides relief for a number of chronic illnesses. He also understands that addiction is a disease, and must be treated with care, not ostracism. Opioid and painkiller addiction is on the rise across America, and Ferguson supports funding for treatment and rehabilitation centers to care for affected individuals so that they can get back to their work and families. Stephon Ferguson has spent his entire life spreading the message of freedom and equality. Discrimination and racism are showing their ugly faces again, and it is Ferguson’s personal mission to honor King’s memory by fighting for racial equality. Just as Dr. King stood for the rights of all Americans, Ferguson will fight for the righs of all. He will protect the right to vote for all Americans, the right that so many in centuries past have fought for. As long as there is even one disenfranchised, discriminated, or oppressed individual in this country, Stephon Ferguson will know his job is not complete. A CITY OF CULTURE for its beautiful venues, receptive audiences, and aura of culture. Stephon Ferguson will work to make Atlanta the #1 destination for art and culture in the world, and that starts by celebrating what the city has to offer today. Funding for the arts is declining in other cities, but Ferguson will ensure that artists, athletes, and entertainers get the financial support they need to continue their passions and share them with the city. A SAFER ATLANTA at night. Stephon Ferguson will invest in smarter and newer police technologies, better training for patrolling officers, and increasing police transparency with the citizens they protect. Ferguson will ensure that Atlanta’s finest will get the resources they need to do their job appropriately while also holding them accountable for the great responsibilities they possess. Ferguson will collaborate with the Atlanta Police Department, the Atlanta Police Foundation, and other security organizations to maintain a strong relationship with the people that protect us. He will also make sure recruiting practices will focus on hiring the best candidates this city has to offer, as well as making sure that the next generation of security forces are trained, prepared, and ready for any situation. By providing our police with the tools, funding, and personnel it needs, Atlanta will maintain its reputation as one of the safest cities in the country. He will also support and develop community programs for youth before and after their first encounter with law enforcement. This will allow young people to understand the seriousness of the law as well as have a better understanding of how the justice system works.	”
—Stephon Ferguson (2017)

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Stephon Ferguson Atlanta City Council. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Stephon Ferguson - Google News

See also

Atlanta, Georgia	Georgia	Municipal government	Other local coverage

External links

Suggest a link

• Atlanta City Council
• Campaign website