A heated race in Atlanta City Council District 5 took an interesting turn this week when the incumbent, Natalyn Archibong, took two of her opponents to court — openly gay Christian Enterkin and Matt Rinker — and accused them of slander and libel.
The judge threw the lawsuit out on Friday, but the accusations made by Rinker that Archibong has missed some 80 to 90 percent of City Council meeting between 2011 and 2012 was found to be "mostly false" by the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Politifact.
Atlanta City Council District 5 incumbent Natalyn Archibong is suing her two gay opponents, accusing them of libel and slander, according to a report by CBS Atlanta.
CBS Atlanta reports:
Archibong is seeking a temporary and permanent restraining order and an injunction that would in effect silence Matt Rinker and Christian Enterkin days before the election on Tuesday.
A ruling is expected this afternoon.
Running on the platform of that he touts as direct democracy, Jon Jones said he is vying for the Atlanta City Council District 5 seat as a way to give constituents a direct role in what legislation is passed that directly impacts their lives.
Jones would also be the first openly gay black man elected to the city council. Alex Wan, seeking his second term as the District 6 representative, was the first openly gay man elected to the council as well as the first Asian American. Lesbians have served on the council, including Cathy Woolard, who was president of the council, and Anne Fauver, who also represented District 6.
Matt Rinker will challenge incumbent Natalyn Archibong for the District 5 seat on the Atlanta City Council. If elected, he would become the second openly gay man to serve on the council.
All City Council seats as well as the mayor’s post are up for election this year on Nov. 5. Archibong, a bankruptcy attorney, confirmed she is seeking re-election for a fourth term.
Rinker, 35, of East Atlanta, said Feb. 5 he is challenging Archibong because he feels she has not done a good enough job to eliminate crime in the District 5 neighborhoods including East Atlanta, Cabbagetown, East Lake, Kirkwood and Reynoldstown.
Matt Rinker believes the Atlanta City Council can do better when it comes to stopping crime in neighborhoods and he believes District 5 incumbent Natalyn Archibong is not doing her job.
That's why he wants it.
Rinker, 35, who described his job as a real estate professional, announced formally Feb. 5 his bid for the seat in the upcoming November election. Rinker is gay and this is his first run for political office. District 5 includes East Lake, Cabbagetown, Kirkwood, Reynoldstown, Edgewood and East Atlanta where gay bars Mary's and My Sister's Room are located.