Retired Conservative U.S. Army Officer Mike Russell Is Running For Atlanta City Council President

Mike Russell, a retired US Army officer with no formal political experience, announced Wednesday he’s running for Atlanta City Council President.

Russell is Black and identifies as gay, two distinctions that aren’t necessarily barriers to winning the head council seat. But in heavily-Democratic Atlanta, the self-avowed “common-sense conservative’s” political leanings might be.

“I think it’s a challenge,” said Russell. “I know I have an uphill battle.”