Mary Norwood joins TV race, and promises to drive her own ‘98 Buick
With less than a month out, Atlanta mayoral candidate Mary Norwood this afternoon launched her first TV ad – emphasizing her status as an neighborhood advocate and promising to driver her ‘98 Buick Century instead of a big, chauffeur-driven SUV.
Campaign manager Roman Levit put the one-week buy behind the 30-second spot at $90,000.
See it here:
In the ad, Norwood, who was not top-rated by a group of Atlanta business leaders last week, says she “stood up: to “pay-to-play” practices by developers, forced an audit of the watershed department, and intends to make sure corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
Given the need for cash, Norwood is the last of the three candidates who are likely to be on TV in the next month. But the production value in this commercial is high — and seems to match message and candidate pretty well.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
39 comments Add your comment
Collin
October 7th, 2009
3:59 pm
We all know Borders is all about developer and Republican cash. Go Mary!
http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0523.html
Atlanta Shield
October 7th, 2009
4:02 pm
Mary is believable when she says she won’t stand for pay to play politics…can’t say the same for Ms. Cousins (Lisa Borders). The only problem is that I just don’t think she’s a leader. Leaders find ways to get things done and she just wasn’t effective in the City Counsel.
Work-To-Play
October 7th, 2009
4:05 pm
Nice ad! Now, if she could just learn how to speak authoritatively in public and to debate.
Voter
October 7th, 2009
4:07 pm
Hopefully Mary Norwood will drive her ‘98 Buick to a Sylvan Learning Center so that somebody can teach her how to read a budget. Good lord, I’m afraid for the city if this woman wins.
Bad B
October 7th, 2009
4:13 pm
Enter your comments here
UhOhSpaggetiOh
October 7th, 2009
4:14 pm
What’s funny is that Lisa Borders’ personal car is a big SUV.
I'd rather have
October 7th, 2009
4:15 pm
I’d rather have Mary than this crook. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNzsjuAzGJA
Citizen A
October 7th, 2009
4:17 pm
Norwood seems honest. I’m still undecided, but after reading the article Collin posted above and considering Borders’ checkered past, she’s a definite NO. Republicans like Tom Bell don’t invest that much in someone unless they know they’re going to get a return.
UhOhNo
October 7th, 2009
4:20 pm
Actually what’s funny is Kasim and his entertainment lawyer sports car convertable. Mayor for Atlanta my a#s. Mayor for rappers and thugs.
Silent Majority
October 7th, 2009
4:21 pm
Real cute @I’d rather have. Make fun of Kasim Reed’s name and make a bunch of baseless claims. The Borders Campaign needs to grow up. No wonder your losing so much ground.
SUV
October 7th, 2009
4:22 pm
This is cute, but Atlanta needs more than a quirky housewife hosting bake sales and neighborhood book clubs to get back on its feet.
KasimReedForMayor
October 7th, 2009
4:23 pm
what’s up with that beverly hillbillies banjo strumming? was that to convince us that she’s not a rich white woman from buckhead who says that “everyone of Atlanta’s communities is diverse.” Give me a break Mary Bush Norwood. Folksy didn’t work for Palin and it won’t for you.
Donny Fairplay
October 7th, 2009
4:25 pm
what does a buick and hugging black people have to do with running the city?
Nina
October 7th, 2009
4:27 pm
The production value was much better than the Borders and Kasim ad. Funny that she didn’t mention crime or the budget tho, maybe she’s waiting or the next commercial.
Kasim on Developer's D
October 7th, 2009
4:28 pm
All of Kasim’s thug support has no idea that they are getting played by him. If any of his support could read, they would see that Kasim is in the pocket of developers. If he gets elected, who do you think he is going to repay, the idiot who holds the sign or the republican developer who bankrolled his campaign? His entire support from dumb Atlanta is being fooled! Look at the numbers. He has raised more money from developers you idiots!
Hmm
October 7th, 2009
4:28 pm
@Silent Majority: at what point did the video that you’re referencing “make fun” of Reed’s name? Also given that Reed has paid ethics fines, does have a brother in contract compliance via his strong Shirley Franklin alliance, and did in fact recruit Chief Pennington…exactly which claims are baseless? Please explain.
KasimTheOnlyChoice
October 7th, 2009
4:31 pm
Mary Norwood is a racist and Lisa Borders is barely a Black person. She didn’t go to an HBCU like Kasim and she has business dealing. That’s shady if you ask me. Did you see Borders with Black people in her commercial? No! Kasim is clearly the only choice.
NewA
October 7th, 2009
4:39 pm
@SilentMajority The reason I left the Reed camp was because of the dirty politics. After we threw the first stone when we were ordered to give flyers to the homeless promising free beer, I had to leave. Also, I know those videos are coming from a campaign but it is not one of the major 4.
Work-to-Play
October 7th, 2009
4:42 pm
@KasimTheOnlyChoice: You could not be more ignorant. The sentence, “Mary Norwood is a racist and Lisa Borders is barely a Black person” is not only incorrect, it is also absurdly ironic and inherently racist in and of itself. Read a book and open your eyes to the world that exists beyond your bubble. I’m Black, didn’t go to an HBCU, and will be voting for Lisa Borders.
FYI
October 7th, 2009
4:48 pm
For anyone who hasn’t caught on…The posters using Kasim Reed’s name are not Reed supporters. Nice try…
Shin Jasher
October 7th, 2009
5:06 pm
Late to the party, as usual. Sorry y’all. I got stuck behind Mary’s clunker on Peachtree.
Angry Taxpayer
October 7th, 2009
5:11 pm
Seeing this add and reading the article on the front page of the Atlanta Business Chronicle regarding who is getting the big corporate, city vendor and out of state contributions (not Mary!) – it is pretty clear that if you want someone with the exclusive interest of the citizens it is Mary Norwood. She has more individual contributions ranging from $2 up than all other candidates combined. Every zip code and over 3,000 of them. These are voters – not vendors.
The other campaigns should not under estimate the grass roots nature of her campaign and her support. Mary’s supporters will turn out from across the City. An excellent opportunity for a redo of City Hall as usual. God knows we need it!
KasimTheOnlyChoice
October 7th, 2009
5:19 pm
Lisa Borders is in the developers’ pocket. She used to work for a development company for goodness sake, isn’t it obvious yet?
Wow, Just Wow
October 7th, 2009
6:05 pm
The ad was surprisingly good. No matter what side you’re on, you gotta admit it was better than the Reed and Borders ads. Well scripted and produced. It pllayed to Mary’s strengths. The Border ad looks like a PowerPoint presentation and well, the Reed ad was staged with paid staffers (recognize anyone???). The ironic thing is that the white guy who was robbed at the headquarters is the same guy in the ad, nodding at Reed about public safety. SMDH…
sammye
October 7th, 2009
6:25 pm
I agree with the Angry Taxpayer. Don’t underestimate Norwood. She’s managed to avoid taking any responsibility for a single problem she’s identified or explaining her violation of the City Ethics Code. She is ashrewd cookie. She admits she doesn’t understand the city budget, questions the CFO’s integrity at a forum and then apologizes profusely in private phone conversation and explains she has the answers for improving city government without ever providing evidence or offering best practice. She says she’s purple whatever that is. Mary for Mayor? You have got to be kidding. She has a lot to say and little to show for her leadership in 8 years. Sometimes she is so anxious to talk or write a statement she misrepresents or twists the facts. The next Atlanta mayor has to work for Atlanta in Washington,DC, under the Gold Dome, across the region and the globe. This is 2009 not 1950. Atlanta’s future is interconnected with the future of billions of others not just the residents of Atlanta. For all those who support Norwood for Mayor, I ask. Would you hire her as an executive running your multi billion company? Would you offer her a partnership in your law or accounting firm? Or would you send her to represent the city’s long term interests in meetings with the Congress or the Cabinet or in the world’s capitals. Atlanta has prospered in recent years only when our leadership is respected in all quarters of the country and the world. If you want to turn back the clock to the Campbell years (Norwood has lots of Campbell workers on her paid campaign staff) then vote for Norwood. Campbell was known for his grassroots connections until his last day in office. Norwood is too much like Bill Campbell for me… her grassroots rhethoric sounds like “Big Hat No Cattle”.
Paige
October 7th, 2009
6:44 pm
I think the “Mary Norwood” Detroit-style car logo at the bottom of the YouTube screen is an interesting touch. I just hope she doesn’t base her financial plan for Atlanta on GM’s business model.
Justin Time
October 7th, 2009
7:16 pm
Mary Norwood has pulled the wool over older black voters eyes with her folksy, Miss Daisy routine. I certainly hope they wake up and smell the decpetion before election day. In politics, the word is . . . PANDERING. She voted for McCain/Palin for goodness sake!! Put the bingo chips down & WAKE UP!!!!!!
Politics At Its Finest
October 7th, 2009
7:30 pm
There is a reason she didn’t do much talking in her commercial but had a raspy black woman speak.
There is also a reason she only showed black people in her commercial.
Say what you will…. but she will need black voters in her camp for her to win….which she doesn’t have.
Nice attempt on her part. She knows her weakness (public speaking, city issues, black votes) and has addressed them.
Will she still fall short in all of those areas? Probably.
I give her a 3.5 stars out of 5
Snorewood
October 7th, 2009
9:43 pm
Does anyone remember Norwood’s proposal to cap all development within the city of Atlanta to 10 stories or some such in a lame attempt to appear like some populist hero? She saw that Lizzard Coyle was making hay over Wayne Mason’s development proposal (heaven forbid anyone want to live next to a nice amenity like an urban park unless you live in a single-family home) and wanted to cash in. That’s been Norwood’s schtick: bandwagon chasing.
Sad thing is, the competition is even weaker. Dave Walker could probably run the city better than these three stooges.
Seriously
October 7th, 2009
11:33 pm
Cute ad Mary, but is “cute” enough for our city’s future?
2009 is the year that the crazy old lady is THE CANDIDATE!!
Wake up, Atlanta. These are serious times that deserve a serious Mayor.
Calling Margie Lott………
newA
October 7th, 2009
11:50 pm
This is goofy, just plain old goofy. She will get rolled over in the run-off.
firstborn40
October 8th, 2009
5:45 am
well atlanta…the candidates that you have to choose from has made their cases over the last month or so in forums, etc…hopefully you were able to attend one, or are attending one of the few that are left. the choices are clear…so instead of bashing…find out whose platform really speaks to your goals and values as a resident in this city. borders and norwood were ineffective in their previous stints with the city council…and please stop being racial…we as americans can no longer afford prejudice and racially-based situations…we are all in this together…@ kasim on developer’s d -thugs have a right to vote too and there are white thugs like there are black ones and which part of atlanta is dumb atlanta?
this mayoral race was an equal opportunity race…those whose background and career could stand the scrutiny put up and the rest shut up…so take your pick! until now, i’ve always had to take my pick of the lesser of two evils…now it’s your turn!
get out the vote! YEA!
OTP Insider
October 8th, 2009
6:09 am
None of the 3 “front runners” inspires me to do anything but hurl.
Norwood is frenetic and clueless. She doesn’t acknowledge how she has participated in making the mess but wants voters to believe she’s got solutions. If she wins, she and the Buckhead Business Mafia (headed by Godfather Sam Massell) will run the rest of the city into the ground so that Buckhead can thrive.
The fact that Reed supporters keep harping on the HBCU thing says a lot about what’s wrong with the current administration and what’s wrong about Reed. Of course, Tech and Emory don’t have the market cornered on smart graduates and they both graduate their fair share of idiots. But, there have been plenty of HBCU grads in this administration that were dumb, lazy and incompetent. Not only isn’t it a ringing endorsement of HBCUs but that’s the LAST reason I would vote for ANY candidate running. Plus, Reed is just Shirley with a real set of “spherical objects”.
Borders is just going to be Cousins Properties’ “working girl”. All of that being her own person stuff will go right out the window if Cousins yanks her leash. Regular, working Atlantans will be worse off but, hey, you’ll have lots of pretty, new (and vacant) development.
The only one who isn’t part of the problem is Spikes. He just hasn’t said much about how he will be the right solution.
Good luck, Atlanta voters. No matter what happens, you’re gonna need it.
Fred
October 8th, 2009
7:00 am
Given the current condition of most of Atlanta’s intown roads, I am amazed that the Buick has lasted. Guess she has not driven down Piedmont Roads thru Midtown like me. Pothole, after Pothole and steel plate. It makes me embarrassed to call Atlanta a world class city.Additionally, let me mention the potential damage to my vehicle due to the depth and sheer number of potholes. It’s called Asphalt. I’ll vote for you if you can just get that one road paved. I could talk aboutcrumbling sidewalks and police protection but we can save that for later.
Your morning jolt: Kasim Reeds leads ATL field in contributions -- and in spending, too | Political Insider
October 8th, 2009
9:47 am
[...] A keen observer of Councilwoman Mary Norwood’s new TV ad, in which she promises to drive her own ‘98 Buick instead of a city-chauffered SUV, notes that in several frames, the Atlanta mayoral candidate appears to be violating the state’s mandatory seat-belt law. [...]
James Doyle
October 8th, 2009
10:37 am
To anyone that compares Mary to Palin. Mary voted for Obama. Borders is a crook, Kasim in qualified and likeable but I have never seen him in my neighborhood (Vine City). Mary is not a racist, mary is not an elitest, and yes Mary does actually drive that old Buick everwhere she goes. Lisa Borders has a driver. Never seen Kasim get into a car so I cant comment. Mary cares about community and it shows from her resident support. Looking at the numbers it is obvious that the support for Reed and Borders lies outside of town. Mary Norwood cares about the residents of the City of Atlanta. Mary Norwood is not concerned with anyone else at this point. She focuses her energy on the residents and the City of Atlanta. Mary is very frugal and it shows from the fact she has the most money left out of any candidate. You can tell how a City will be run by looking at how the campaign finances are run. Lisa spent 50k more than she raised for the same time period. Mary has enough money left to run commercial till the whole state of georgia knows her name. I do not think that any other candidate can say that. Good luck to all the other candidates…..they are gonna need it.
No special interest
October 8th, 2009
11:18 am
Mary has a successful career in the media business…maybe why ad was professionally produced. See question #2 for Mary business background.
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache%3AoAHBcXlyRTAJ%3Abeeverywhere.tv%2Fbetteratlanta%2Fquestionnaire%2Fquestionnaire%2520-%2520Mary%2520Norwood.pdf+Mary+Norwood+work+history&hl=en&gl=us
Cary Aiken
October 8th, 2009
12:23 pm
It is a refreshing development that we have a leading candidate committed to the concerns of citizens, not special interest groups, as her top priority. And, yes, I have seen this Buick all around Atlanta. Mary Norwood has demonstrated time and again her commitment to our neighborhoods.
sammye
October 8th, 2009
3:36 pm
No question Norwood should be offered the position of Assistant to the Mayor for Community Relations. Isn’t that the position Franklin held in the Olympics? Just don’t ask Norwood to develop the city’s multi billion dollar budget since she admits she didn’t read it because she doesn’t understand it. Ok maybe she voted for Obama but in 2005 she voted for the pension changes that cost the city so much now. Quess she didn’t understand that either. Take your pick of the candidates but at least admit what Norwood admits about herself…. She says she’ll hire people who understand government and budgets and as Mayor she’ll attend the community meetings and let the hired guns explain what she can’t or doesn’t understand. Talking about turning the clock back. Norwood will be the first mayor who prefers cutting ribbons and kissing babies in almost 40 years. SMILE Atlanta!