Will new city council bring new direction? Probably not, many say | www.myajc.com

What’s old is new again on the Atlanta City Council, which begins another term in January with only two fresh faces on its 16-member board.

Mary Norwood returns to City Hall after ousting Aaron Watson in the November election, and Andre Dickens will replace H. Lamar Willis.

But will the duo’s arrival change the direction of the council, which in recent years has largely sided with the mayor on such important issues as building a new Atlanta Falcons stadium and pension reform?

Probably not, political observers and current council members say.

“I think you’ll see tighter votes,” posits Steve Anthony, a Georgia State University political science lecturer. “(But) this wasn’t like the Atlanta school board — not enough change-over in approach to really flip outcomes.”

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