Facebook ‘withdrawal’ from race is bogus, Atlanta mayoral candidate says
Supporters of upstart Atlanta mayoral candidate Glenn Thomas saw a surprising message on Facebook this morning: He was dropping out of the race.
Not true, Thomas told my AJC colleague Eric Stirgus.
“After much thought and prayer, it is with much regret that I withdraw my candidacy for mayor of Atlanta,” said an announcement posted from Thomas’ Facebook account. “While my decision is not an easy one, due to personal reasons, it is one that has to be made.”
The candidate said someone apparently hacked into his computer system.
Thomas said the campaign is investigating and may ask police to get involved. He said one e-mail included some threatening language involving his family.
Thomas, 31, a former city employee, has campaigned on a platform that he will bring sweeping change to City Hall. He’s made fans at debates with his tough talk questioning how the city got into a budget crisis.
Thomas, a political newcomer, has shown little fundraising prowess, raising questions about the viability of his candidacy.But Thomas has said he’s a grassroots candidate and money shouldn’t be the litmus test of his campaign.
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
19 comments Add your comment
SpaceyG on Twitter
June 16th, 2009
9:30 am
Oh yeah, there are droves of hackers just standing by to f with a total nobody’s FB page. Jim, where do you find these clowns?!
Devin Barrington-Ward
June 16th, 2009
10:10 am
Yeah because all of the “somebodys” in the mayor’s race are totally qualified. Stranger things have happen stop being rude SpaceyG. He is a candidate in the race who has a couple of thousands of friends on facebook and has won a sizable following out in the streets and debates because he has message of commonsense approach to the city issues.
Just because “SpaceyG” does not know who Glenn Thomas is does not mean that the people who are supporting him don’t. Fortunately the world does not revolve around you.
The Dream Team
June 16th, 2009
10:11 am
Wake UP Call! Lisa, Mary, and Kasim let the voters decide who will be the next Mayor of Atlanta and stop these amateurism antics and advise your staff that they are playing a dangerous game. I find it hilarious that you would each have the same slime-ball on payroll. You may also want to review you staffing plans EACH of you have a mole operating in your campaigns. Politics 101
Furthermore, Lisa and Kasim you both will NEVER be Mayor of Atlanta, because you are disingenuous and have delusions of grandeur. Mary will also get 20% of the African-American vote. Not because she is a great candidate, but largely due to the fact that Blacks are sick of elitist, pompous, arrogant, self-serving black leadership, which has further disenfranchised our communities! No jobs, exorbant foreclosures, and HIGH CRIME.
Shirley Franklin did not make any of us proud. She made us weep.
Glen, I applaud your efforts and campaign to take these monsters! Remember the reason they fear you and Jessie Spikes is because they realize the two of you will stripe away too many black votes, thus eliminating the potential for a Run-off which they will also lose by large margins. Mary will get 70% of the white vote and 20% of the black vote. Thus, keep up the good work. Mayor Norwood for Mayor! Kudo’s we get a 2-for-1 with Clair Muller for President.
The Dream Team
cyber jockey
June 16th, 2009
10:22 am
Hack is a incorrect term to describe this incident. A competent journalist should check the origin of this term to understand that malicious acts are not acceptable in the Hacker Community.
The candidates page has been compromised, probably due to his own failure to secure it. It is unlikely that serious computing skills worthy to be called a HACK were employed.
The AJC should clarify the meaning of the term HACK and adhere to the strict meaning in all editorial decisions.
J.D.
June 16th, 2009
10:47 am
Finding out what somebody’s Facebook password is and using it is due to lax user security and would hardly qualify as “hacking”.
Will Jones - Atlanta
June 16th, 2009
12:00 pm
I look forward to the debates. Thomas may be the man for Atlanta.
Barry
June 16th, 2009
3:03 pm
I am surprised that none of the candidates are asking the real question as to how Atlanta got into the mess it is in with laying off employees, furloughs, and now wanting a tax increase. It is obvious that mismanagement within the Franklin administration, which includes
Kasim Reed, who was her campaign manager and political advisor, unprofessional, dumb witted, consultant dependent, cronism, budget busting, ineffective management among department heads led to this administration wanting to hold the ccitizens of Atlanta and the City Council hostage by sayin if we do not raise taxes we are going to cut more services, especially police. This threat is insulting the citizens Atlanta’s intelligence. And we need not vote for any candidate who has been sleeping in the bed with this administration. We need a change. In fact , Kasim Reed prided himself on selecting the directors in this administration through him heading Franklin’s transition team.
I welcome any candidate with the guts to tell the truth and question this matter, and come and voice their conclusion to the people. That is how they will win and/or gain support in this years mayoral race. If glenn Thomas and other mayoral candidates attack this issue, our city will be on its way back to recovery. They just have to be bold and attack!!!!!
Edwina Moss
June 16th, 2009
3:24 pm
Don’t tell me — was his password “password”? While this is hardly a hack, the obvious white-knighting to Thomas’ defense shows his few supporters are out there trying to mitigate the small shockwave of risk this announcement (or unannouncement) may have garnered. Thomas does seem to be the only candidate asking how we got into this mess, but so what? Thing is, we are in a mess, and we need to get out of it. It’ll take more than letters to Obama to get us out of it. I don’t have any picks for mayor yet, but I’m not seeing what I like thus far out of any of the front-runners.
Also, Devin Barrington Ward is a kid (19-20 years old) working for the Thomas campaign as a political consultant, surely as some sort of springboard to his campaign to run for GA Senate in 2012. SpaceyG, from what I’ve heard, has had decades of experience in the political scene here in GA as well as years of work in the social media space. I think SpaceyG’s calling it like she sees it, so I’m sticking with age/experience over a retort from the campaign’s employee. (Besides, us seasoned ladies gotta stick together!)
The Dream Team
June 16th, 2009
5:43 pm
AGE + EXPERIENCE DOES CLEARLY DOES NOT REFLECT = WISDOM
SO what this young man is KID. This is the type of rhetoric that disgusts me. A group of high school students could do a better job of running City Hall!
The current administration is a JOKE and Repulsive. The fact that Ceasar Mitchell and H. Lamar Willis would even attempt to seek public office following the recent allegations is unconscionable and an embarrassment. I applaud any young person that wishes to engage the political process at such an early age. That is exactly what we need. Maybe if we spent more time grooming young men like Devin Barrington-Ward we would not be in this mess. The age and years of political experience among the current City of Atlanta administration clearly did not help to avoid the train wreck that has occurred. The problem is that the old guard refuses to recognize when there time has come and gone. They are pompous, arrogant, and self-serving.
Therefore let’s lift UP, GROOM and NURTURE our young people versus blaming them for the mistakes that have occurred before their conception and certainly exceeding their pay grade!
Devin, keep up the good work. Mayor Norwood for Mayor! Kudo’s we get a 2-for-1 with Clair Muller for President.
The Dream Team
lizzie
June 16th, 2009
6:06 pm
Does someone want to talk about the issues in this race or is slamming the candidates and their supporters the best Atlanta voters can do? Earth to Dream Team, this race is just starting and Norwood won’t make the cut.
Will Jones - Atlanta
June 16th, 2009
7:36 pm
Norwood will make the cut unless Thomas is meant to be the next mayor for the greatest city in the world.
Gabriela McNicoll
June 17th, 2009
10:10 am
I don’t believe Mr. Thomas’ supporters (and we are more than just a ‘few’) are afraid that a fraudulent announcement of withdrawal will sink his campaign, but rather the criminal lengths supporters of other candidates will go to undermine healthy competition. I would prefer no more criminals run our great city. It wakes me up at night to contemplate the lack of integrity and honesty in Atlanta politics. Glenn Thomas is the breath of fresh air this city needs. I prefer not to be the cynic that SpaceyG seems to be.
Reimer
June 17th, 2009
10:53 am
How about this whole story is a hoax??? Maybe drum up a little news because no one knows who the hell he is???? sounds more likely to me. Seriously, if threats are made against my family… I don’t need to THINK about getting the police involved. Smells fishy to me.
Gabriela McNicoll
June 17th, 2009
11:49 am
A hoax? Really? Do you think people running & working for campaigns aren’t capable of dirty tricks or criminal misconduct? Have you read the news in America in the past 200 years?
The Sphinx
June 17th, 2009
6:28 pm
First of all, SpaceyG and cyber jockey are absolutely correct about what really is a hack/hacker. Also, most hackers aren’t really hackers as they crackers. Allow me to briefly explain. Hacker seeks to arbitrarily bring harm to people either by accessing personal information for illegal gain, or attacking a site just to be mean. A cracker on the other hand would be more of cyber vigilante, that accesses a site in what they deem is for the greater good (i.e. removing child pornography sites, etc.) So in this case either a “hacker” seeks to do harm to the candidate because of ignorance, or it is a “cracker” that seeks to spread truth about the candidate.
As for the notion that this is a publicity stunt…It’s not that outlandish of a notion. I have heard the same regarding Lisa Borders and the break-ins to her homes may have been staged to get sympathy and votes. The stakes are high people, politics brings out all kinds of things. These people will do anything to get elected.
As for Devin, he no longer is a part of the Thomas campaign as he was discovered to be a possible mole for Kasim’s campaign. Yes, his greed and attempt to hustle the campaign for money exposed him early on. This game is not for kids.
And finally, as regards Mr. Thomas, this whole ordeal could go either way for him. From what I know he has made some noise at various events and could be considered a “spoiler” in this election. On the other hand, this ordeal could make his campaign transparent and present the questions as to whether he is even a viable candidate or even give a glimpse into what kind of mayor he would be. I’ll explain. If his campaign becomes transparent people will see that he has no money, and even less involvement from volunteers and supporters. His staff is skeletal at best, he has replaced both campaign managers and deputy campaign manager. The ability to manage, raise money, influence and persuade speaks as to how a candidate will perform as mayor when it comes to influence and persuasion as relates to the city council, business community, taxpayers and overall growth of the city. Mr. Thomas trumpets his budget experience and ability to bring the city from its crisis; however, his own campaign is in the negative. This is all just food for thought…I wish everyone the best, truly.
Oh before you all get over analytical over this comments, I do not work for or support any campaign or candidate; so I could run down the cons for all the front runners Norwood, Reed, and Borders. LOL
herbK
June 17th, 2009
8:43 pm
“Norwood will make the cut unless Thomas is meant to be the next mayor for the greatest city in the world.”
What city would that be, will? You can’t be referring to the dump called Atlanta, so I would like to know.
Reimer
June 18th, 2009
11:50 am
re: Gabriela McNicoll “A hoax? Really? Do you think people running & working for campaigns aren’t capable of dirty tricks or criminal misconduct? Have you read the news in America in the past 200 years?” Did you READ my comment…. yes I believe in dirty tricks and misconduct and staging things to serve ones own purpose of getting some NEWS. Pretty sure you answered your own questions.
Reimer
June 19th, 2009
11:21 am
re: Gabriela “It wakes me up at night to contemplate the lack of integrity and honesty in Atlanta politics”. whoa it’s called Ambien. What keeps me up at night to think that the guy running for mayor is only THINKING about contacting the police when threats are made against his family. What would Jesus do?
Keisha Waites
June 29th, 2009
12:55 pm
While I am not familiar with Mr. Thomas’s campaign or political positions, I felt it necessary to speak to the legitimacy of his claims. Individuals and special interest groups seeking to attain and hold on to power will go to any length to achieve their goals. In my previous efforts to become engaged in the political process I have personally experienced the following: my home has been broken into twice, my phones have been wired taped, individuals have joined my campaign payrolls while working for my opponents, and I have also been followed, intimated, and harassed. Sitting elected officials have violated elections laws by campaigning directly in front of voter polling places encouraging the support of their endorsed candidate. On past election dates, I have witnessed a local member of clergy utilize her church vans on election day to campaign in support of a candidate which is in direct violation of federal election and IRS laws governing the church tax-exempt status. Although political activity of churches claiming a 501 C3 status is strictly prohibited, prominent members of the Atlanta clergy have participated in this illegal activity and were compensated.
While I am remaining neutral in supporting any mayoral candidates, I feel Mr. Thomas’s allegation regarding his campaign media tools being compromised may have some merit. I have personally experienced and witnessed the work of these individuals and groups to silence the voice of those who seek real change. Truth cannot be silenced.