Duluth, September 12, 2025 – Duluth City Council member Jamin Harkness, who currently serves in Post 1, is seeking re-election this November, highlighting community engagement, balanced development, and public safety as cornerstones of his campaign.
Harkness, first elected in 2021 and serving since January 2022, said he is proud of his first term and wants to continue building on Duluth’s momentum. “We’ve met with 53 of Duluth’s 80 neighborhoods so far, something the council hasn’t done in years,” Harkness told Georgia Asian Times. “We sit down with residents, share what’s happening in the city, and most importantly—listen. Community engagement is at the heart of good governance.”
A major opportunity facing Duluth is the redevelopment of the 110-acre Hudgens property, located near Northside Hospital on Pleasant Hill Road. Harkness sees the site as transformative for the city’s future. “We don’t dictate what gets built, but we collaborate with developers and the landowners to make sure what’s created benefits the community,” he said.
Harkness advocates for what he calls “balanced housing”, combining affordability with executive-style homes to attract medical professionals and working families. “Duluth already has a good supply of affordable housing,” he explained. “What we lack are executive homes. If we want Northside Hospital to expand here, we must provide housing opportunities for doctors, nurses, and hospital staff.”
Public safety is another key point of pride for Harkness. He cited statistics from the Duluth Police Department showing a 36% reduction in crime over the past four years—a result he attributes to effective leadership and resource management. “We achieved this without increasing the number of officers while our population grew. That’s efficiency,” he said. Harkness also noted his role in supporting the appointment of Duluth’s first female police chief.
On infrastructure, Harkness points to the city’s stormwater projects as crucial but often overlooked work. “It’s not sexy—you don’t put a plaque on a sewer pipe,” he joked. “But investing in stormwater management prevents flooding and ensures we can sustain growth. We’ve allocated $3.5 million to these projects in the past four years.”
As Duluth continues to diversify, Harkness said inclusivity is already embedded in the city’s growth. “I am an openly gay Christian man, married for 10 years, and I married an immigrant. I understand the challenges different communities face,” he said. “Our role is to create a safe, respectful environment where businesses—whether Korean, Latino, or otherwise—can thrive. The evidence is clear: minority-owned businesses are flourishing in Duluth.”
He also emphasized his commitment to working alongside Gwinnett County on broader development projects, including the redevelopment of Gwinnett Place Mall into a global village concept. “While the mall isn’t in city limits, we support the county’s vision of housing and green space that reflects our region’s diversity,” he said.
Reflecting on his first term, Harkness said his approach is about stewardship rather than radical change. “When I ran in 2021, I didn’t run to reinvent Duluth. We already had a thoughtful plan called Forward Duluth. My job is to keep us on that intentional path.”
With challengers Shafayat Ahmed and Sarah Park entering the race, Harkness said he welcomes debate but urged voters to look at results. “I’ve missed only two council meetings in four years, and I put in the work to understand this job before running,” he said. “Duluth deserves leaders who are informed, engaged, and committed to the long-term health of the city.”
