‘Able’ Mable Thomas ready to endorse Mary Norwood?
This is no-jolt Friday, but here’s a little something to get you started:
The Atlanta mayoral campaign of Councilwoman Mary Norwood has scheduled a 3 p.m. press conference for today, and there’s every chance that former state Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas of southwest Atlanta will be there with her endorsement.
This is significant. Thomas is a grass-roots activist with an important GOTV network that, while small, could make a large difference in a low-turnout race.
Thomas challenged U.S. Rep. John Lewis in the 2008 Democratic primary – fallout from the congressman’s initial decision to support his friend Hillary Clinton in the presidential contest.
Lewis won handily, but Thomas pulled 6,839 votes out of Fulton County, about 17 percent. Assume that most of those votes were cast from within the city, south of I-20. And those could be votes that Norwood needs in 11 days.
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
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
53 comments Add your comment
Dash Riptide
October 23rd, 2009
8:34 am
Norwood appears to be going for broke to avoid a runoff. If the strategy fails (and I think it will), she runs the risk of losing momentum while her ultimate challenger goes for broke with renewed energy. I would have held back on the Thomas endorsement, but maybe it will pay off. We’ll know soon.
thc
October 23rd, 2009
9:00 am
for as many people that follow able mable, twice as many distrust her. she could end up getting some votes but lose more in the process. able mable doesnt even poll that well in the areas that the should.
Big Jon
October 23rd, 2009
9:05 am
I think Mary Norwood is a Good Person. I endorse her also and I am a complete nobody but, my vote counts. Go Mary G0!! Have A Great Day Everybody!!
Jackalope
October 23rd, 2009
9:06 am
I mean COME ON PEOPLE.
Can you at least admit Norwood is running a kick-ass campaign? There are always these BS detractors on here talking smack NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES.
Just admit it. She. Is. Running. The. Best. Campaign.
wae
October 23rd, 2009
9:14 am
We all would have been better served with a better selection of candidates. NOT IMPRESSES…
Wow, Just Wow
October 23rd, 2009
9:37 am
I’m with you Jackalope. She’s just running a better campaign and right now she has good momentum. Unless she’s caught with a small girl or a dead boy…
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 23rd, 2009
9:43 am
Thomas was correct to go against Lewis for his support for the Senator from Pocantico Hills rather than for an inspired Constitutional Law professor and decent family man.
Her potential support for Bush cousin and Roman Catholic carpetbagger Mary Bush Norwood, however, is not only incorrect, it would be an affront to everything Atlanta has achieved following Dr. King, and helping to make the anointed Barack Obama president, and would raise questions as to her future electability.
Donny Fairplay
October 23rd, 2009
9:54 am
I can’t wait to hear why Mable will say she endorsed Norwood. Most people distrust Mable and a little bit of everyone is certain that Mary bought the endorsement. The next disclosure should be interesting.
ATL resident
October 23rd, 2009
9:57 am
Able Mable Thomas’s endorsement of Mary Norwood is indicative of what Norwood is … an enabler for neighborhood activists, conspiracy theorists and contrarians.
Yes, Norwood has run a good 8 year campaign for Mayor. But, she still is NOT the best person for the job.
Betsy
October 23rd, 2009
10:03 am
That witch Norwood is buying the Black vote left and right. First it’s The Beautiful, and now it’s Able Mable “Her Career is a Fable” Thomas. Next, she’ll blanket the West End with free Popeye’s coupon and she’ll have this election sewn up.
Why
October 23rd, 2009
10:21 am
I agree with Betsy. Norwood has done nothing in 8 years as a council member and she will do even less as a Mayor. She has let it be known that she does not understand finance because she has no idea what happened to the finances in 8 eight years. If the city’s finance are run like Enron then does that makes her one of the CFO’s?
Roc
October 23rd, 2009
10:26 am
Jesse Spikes is the smartest guy in the field. Why don’t people vote for the best candiddate as opposed to some career politician that’s looking for a promotion? This guy is walking away from a high-paying job to serve the citizens of Atlanta. He’s got a very unique skill set that will allow him to run circles around his opponents when its time to get the job done.
Please don’t fall for the political racket where politicians make you think you must vote for some “experienced” politician. Its called job security for them. Its time for a new direction. Its time for new approaches to problem-solving. Its time for Spikes.
Please take a look at his credentials. They speak volumes.
Betsy
October 23rd, 2009
10:33 am
Unfortunately Roc, that volume is turned to ZERO. To be a Rhodes scholar, he is clearly being lead by a confederacy of DUNCES. Have you seen his website? His piss-poor commercial? And in debates and forums, he vacillates between being a catty outsider and a mush-mouthed orator. Empty phrases with half-hearted rhetoric don’t mean jack when you’re last place in the polls and being shown up by a crime-focused ex-cop and a gay filmmaker who doesn’t pay his bills. Jesse should do the smart thing and drop out of the race.
William
October 23rd, 2009
10:37 am
It will be difficult for a white woman to win in Atlanta! The minority only votes for the minority. That is how we got people like Mckinney elected. No one in Atlantal care about electing the best person but rather who would stock the pockets with cash.
Audrey in Georgia
October 23rd, 2009
10:41 am
I have heard black people say they are tired of black politicians and they are going to vote for Norwood.
They remind me of “colored people” telling the “massa” they do not want to rule themselves. Instead,
they would rather go back to being ruled by the “massa.” Man Up People! This is not a reason to
vote for Norwood. Vote for the best candidate. Do not be afraid. Now is not the time to give in to that
old, shufflin” negro stereotype. Vote for the most articulate, intelligent, and highly qualified candidate.
Norwood IS NOT that candidate.
Betsy
October 23rd, 2009
10:44 am
Slave references, Audrey? Jesus, I know Norwood’s the worst for Atlanta, but you really took it to a whole ‘nother level. Brava.
PoliticOracle
October 23rd, 2009
10:57 am
@Jackalope,
Actually Norwood isn’t running the best campaign. I’ll credit her with strong momentum, but that is not the same as running a good campaign. Her momentum and excitement is centered around her race, but her campaign isn’t the best by far. Reed is actually running the best campaign. I don’t like the guy, but as a relatively unknown candidate that who came in the race in March 2009 he has raised the most money, gotten the most endorsments and had the most consistent campaign leadership. Norwood, just hired her manager in August. Borders, revamped her staff in the summer and has gone quiet. While Reed has been steadily increasing in the polls and making himself know to super-voters in Atlanta.
Norwood should be polling at 60% as long as she’s been running. She started having meet-and-greets in 2006. Hell, she should be the “annointed one”, but she’s not because smart voters that dont need her beautiful meals or for her to give money to their local church/civic group are looking past the hype and rhetoric at an empty record. She has also sat by and been complicit in the morass of Atlanta for the past 8 years without really taking a serious leading stance on anything. She never has galvanized her colleagues for anything and every smart politico knows that a governmental CEO is only as good as the legislative body that supports him/her (Mayor, Governor, POTUS, County CEO etc.)
Nice try Jackalope, but you really should study Atl politcs and politics in general a little better.
AND NO I AM NOT A STAFFER!!! SO DONT TRY TO SPIN THE CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY BEFORE YOU LOGICALLY ADDRESS MY POSITIONS.
merlot winters
October 23rd, 2009
11:37 am
@ William: Empirical data shows that white voters are more likely than minorities to vote for a candidate of their own race-
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/White+voters+cross+the+aisle+to+elect+white+candidates.-a0153748340
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/0/6/8/0/4/p68047_index.html
From the NY Times Article linked above by Political Insider-
Steve Suitts, an Emory lecturer, wrote in an op-ed article Wednesday in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “White voters, not black voters, end up voting most often for a candidate of their own race in the South.”
Betsy
October 23rd, 2009
11:51 am
PoliticOracle, if you think Reed is running the best campaign in the city, you’re sorely mistaken. Have you seen that hovel of an office. It’s in the WEST END for crying out loud. No wonder his staffers are getting carjacked; they set up shop in one of the most dangerous parts of the city. He has not raised the most money (Norwood has). Nor has he gotten the most endorsements (Borders has). He has had the most consistent campaign staff, but that Black Panther party specializes in thug dealings and covert ops behavior, so it’s no wonder he’s got Southwest Atlanta under his thumb. He had a paddywaggon of them rolling through my Buckhead neighborhood this past weekend, and it was absolutely terrifying. Is this supposed to make me cast my vote for him? Absolutely NOT.
You might be an oracle hun, but my tea leaves don’t lie. I’ll keep sipping while you keep tripping.
Base
October 23rd, 2009
12:11 pm
Wonder what Mary had to promise/pay Able Marble for the endorsement.Able is only out for number 1.
BPJ
October 23rd, 2009
12:58 pm
Having Mabel Thomas endorse Mary Norwood gives new meaning to the old saw about politics producing strange bedfellows. A few years ago a proposal was made to take Mayor Hartsfield’s name off of the airport, replacing it with Maynard Jackson’s name. In the best Atlanta fashion, the dispute was eventually settled by having both men’s names on the airport. Here’s what Mabel Thomas had to say at the time (from the July 30th, 2003 AJC):
” ‘This really shouldn’t be about what the white business establishment would allow,’ said state Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas, a former Atlanta City Council member. ‘It’s really what the strength of the African-American community will allow. What will we stand for? The real deal is, we stood too long silent. Atlanta is being gentrified every day. So while you do still have a majority, as Maynard would say, use the power you have today.’ ”
“Some of the speakers during a two-hour public hearing at Atlanta City Hall used words like diversity and inclusiveness. But many refused to sugarcoat their sentiments.”
“Overwhelmingly, they urged removing William B. Hartsfield’s name and replacing it with that of Jackson, creator of a landmark affirmative action program. Hartsfield, mayor for two decades, who championed Atlanta as an aviation center, was either forgotten or dismissed as a symbol of Atlanta’s racist past.”
This was ironic and unfair, as Hartsfield was quite progressive for his time, and had won praise from, among others, Maynard Jackson’s grandfather.
The question for today is, why would anyone WANT the endorsement of such a person? Reed or Borders certainly wouldn’t. The calculation from the Norwood campaign seems to be that they can accept Thomas’s endorsement, freighted with racist baggage as it is, because Norwood is white.
Betsy
October 23rd, 2009
1:13 pm
How convenient…a press conference today, right after new poll numbers are out from Republican hack Towery’s group. There’s a lot of people in this race so far who are easily bought and sold.
A Correction
October 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
With all due respect, Jim Galloway is wrong. Mable’s power does not reside south of I-20. Her base is in the northwest corner of the city, in the English Avenue and Vine City areas (30318), the place that has sucked up more city cash than any other. Don’t believe me? Ask the development authority and the housing authority. Ask the feds. More money has gone into Mable’s stomping ground than any other place in the city, and what is there to show for it? Think about it. Heroin. Vacant houses. Prostitution. The worst crime rate in the city. You better believe she’s backing Norwood–Norwood is promising more money to be thrown after bad.
Those votes she got were anti-Hillary votes, they were not pro-Mable votes.
A Correction
October 23rd, 2009
1:32 pm
Betsy, what kind of game are you trying to play with those lies?
You don’t even read the paper where you post your comments!
Reed has raised the most money. Here’s a link to the AJC article from October 7:
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/10/07/reed-raises-1-4-million-in-atl-mayoral-campaign/
I don’t know about the endorsements, but frankly those are like you-know-whats: Everybody’s got one, but some are stinkier than others and so far Norwood’s are the stinkiest of all.
Not so Able Mable
October 23rd, 2009
1:33 pm
Its ironic that Mary would tout an endorsement from Mable Thomas seeing as how Mable has been part of the corruption party at the City. Creative Loafing covered it well. http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A312136
Disappointing. Mable has really become a “political prostitute.” I think her whole GOTV crew (for whatever that’s worth) is over there with Jesse. Until recently so was Mable. Unemployed politicians like her will do anything.
Jenny
October 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Looks like Norwood ‘bought’ this endorsement knowing that the new poll out today has Kasim Reed moving past Lisa Borders by a large margin and now coming towards Norwood.
Betsy
October 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
A Correction, I don’t have to read the paper to know that I’m right. Why do you feel the need to refute the truth? Ugh…
If endorsements are like “you-know-what’s”, then you can stick your opinion there as well. Honestly, the nerve of some people.
Not so Able Mable, you are right on the money.
Truth be told
October 23rd, 2009
2:12 pm
What you people are missing is that Reed and Borders are the candidates of the special interests – developers and bond lawyers, and Mary is the candidate for the taxpayers and neighborhoods.
You can call her all the names you want, she is representing the people’s interests at City Hall. She’s been doing this tirelessly for 8 years and people know it.
Borders and Reed can’t come out of their corporate boardrooms every 4 years and convince the voters to vote against their own interests.
Anyone who doesn’t believe that Shirley hasn’t been cooking the books and withholding financial information from City Council, just isn’t paying attention.
I’ll take Mary any day over two corporate shills.
craig
October 23rd, 2009
2:30 pm
Norwood is complete moron that acts like she is running for Mayor of Springdale and not Atlanta, I’m going with Kasim Reed.
Jackalope
October 23rd, 2009
3:41 pm
HOLY CRAP – GLENN THOMAS THE FORMER MAYORAL CANDIDATE JUST ENDORSED MARY NORWOOD FOR MAYOR.
PoliticOracle
October 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
Where is this news coming from Jackalope?
dgroy
October 23rd, 2009
4:33 pm
Someone please tell me one thing good that has come from Atlanta having a black mayor for the last thirty five years. All I see are budget deficits and finances in shambles, corrupt, stupid mayors and their cohorts, crumbling infrastructure, property taxes through the roof, water bills that are obscene, more crime, etc., etc. No, I don’t live in Atlanta, thank goodness.
Jackalope
October 23rd, 2009
4:35 pm
@PoliticOracle: He did it at the Press Conference where Able Mable Thomas also endorsed Mary. Able Mable was leaked to the press, but they kept Glenn Thomas a secret. I got a call from someone who attended the presser – there was an audible gasp (this person told me) when Glenn Thomas walked in the room.
ATL resident
October 23rd, 2009
5:33 pm
dgroy: you don’t live in Atlanta so all you know is what your boob tube tells you is going on in Atlanta. Well, it ain’t reality.
ATL resident
October 23rd, 2009
5:34 pm
Who cares about Glenn Thomas? He was a non-candidate from the start.
Base
October 23rd, 2009
5:53 pm
Able Mabel is a racist!
Jackalope
October 23rd, 2009
6:20 pm
ATL – he’s a smart guy and he’s going to be a great politician. He’s trusting his instincts and endorsing the winning candidate. And he’s the first actual former candidate to endorse another candidate.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
October 23rd, 2009
6:25 pm
New bit of Atlanta “geography” to explain the hype surrounding Mary Bush Norwood’s candidacy for Mayor of Atlanta: Guess whose mansion on West Paces Ferry Rd. is sporting a Norwood for Mayor sign?
Shall the rich buy Atlanta from its People?
merlot winters
October 23rd, 2009
10:19 pm
@dgroy – In your crude fixation on the color of the mayors for the past 35 years, you missed the metro area’s tripling in population, the growth of Atlanta media, banking, and technical empires, an intown building boom and population explosion that has not lost steam, the home of the 100th Olympics, Georgia Dome, world’s largest airport, the growth of the largest transit system in the southeast, etc., etc.
PoliticOracle
October 23rd, 2009
10:32 pm
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Merlot Winters. Great handle by the way.
Teela
October 23rd, 2009
11:06 pm
Oh God, where do I begin?
I’ve only been here 40 years but I can’t believe how little Atlanta politics has not changed.
Mable Unable is a crumb chaser of any political power that will allow her to continue her career.
And yes, 30318 is her turf and look at the situation there. Where the >>_____>>> is all the Fed money going?
Mary should have her head examined…this is rank opportunism on her part. And blacks should know that Mary will serve their interests very well, because she is REALLY a white liberal. She knows that the basis of her running for office is the work she’s put into the ‘black’ southside community.
But from where I sit and reside…..southwest Atlanta has a lot more Kasim Reed signs than Norwood. I think Norwood is going to be crying the day after the election and we are going to be saddled with another Shirley Franklin, but with testicles, not balls.
No real change at all..and what’s the story about his brother??? Nepotism already….or continuing?
RSC
October 24th, 2009
5:27 am
A runoff will happen. Norwood supporters had better hope it is with Borders, she will not beat Reed. Rather than swing for an outright victory, Norwood supporters would be better served to split their votes to ensure a runoff with Borders.
dgroy
October 24th, 2009
8:02 am
To – merlot winters
But, where are we now? If you don’t get a fix on the things I cited, it’s all gonna come crumbling down. It it weren’t for Buckhead (Oh, how I wish they were a city unto themselves) Atlanta would be a wasteland, not fit for human habitation……kinda like Detroit.
Norwood for Mayor!
October 24th, 2009
8:42 am
Norwood Unfiltered…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS0ekhf6PHM
GetReal
October 24th, 2009
12:21 pm
@Teela
I’m not going to accuse you of being an operative, but you sure sound like on.
I believe if you were really concerned about Reed’s brother keeping his job, you would dig deeper. City code bars family members of the mayor, city councilmembers and I believe high-level cabinet members from working for the city. Therefore, the moment Reed is sworn in as mayor his brother will have to move on.
I’m not yet totally convinced to vote for Reed but I’m getting close, because he seems to be the most substantive.
PolitOracle
October 24th, 2009
11:49 pm
Mary Norwood has not served Atlanta communities. She has pandered to and bought SOME neighborhood leadership, who can be as selfish as any politician. Any INSIDER watching Norwood’s Beautiful restaurant video can spot many of Atlanta’s neighborhood “leaders”, Most of these people are good people, but some are power-hungry folks that are disgruntled that the city, county and any other gov’t entity doesn’t bend over backwards for every demand they make, no matter how far-fetched they may be. I am a smart voter and will tell you that Mary WONT be our mayor. Not because she’s white, or a woman, but because she’s an ambulance chaser and reactor not a forward thinking or smart leader. Did I mention she’s a major panderer? She really doesn’t do well in the room with smart, independent people (white, black or other). FINAL THOUGHT: For every disgruntled, so-called neighborhood leader, there are 20 smart Atlantans that will vote for the best and brightest candidate. This person will have a proven record and they will be smart enough not to promise the world to folks when they haven’t delivered on much of anything. I am coming to know this person to be Kasim Reed. I was skeptical at first, but he has run a smart campaign and has stuck to the issues – all while challenging his opponents on substance. Nice try Norwood, but voters are smarter than you (think).
CAROLATL
October 25th, 2009
8:55 pm
Mary Norwood is breaking the law now then. Her niece by marriage is working in her office. Her other niece just left her office after working there for over 3 years. MARY NORWOOD IS ALREADY BREAKING THE LAW. DISGUSTING!!!! I HATE LIARS WHO PANTER VOTES AND ENDORSEMENTS FROM BLACKS WHO HAVE BEEN OUTCAST FOR THEIR CRAZY ANTICS. SHE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF SEEKING ENDORSEMENT FROM ABLE MABLE. MABLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULLYING IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND ALL OF HER OUTCAST CROONIES. SHE IS ANOTHER CYNTHIA MCKINNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW FREAKING STUPID MARY! I SEE WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW!!!!!!!!
trudytu
October 25th, 2009
10:53 pm
So what….Reed broke the law when he made sure his home street became a part of the city of ATLANTA…DID IT MEET THE DEADLINE in time for him to qualify,legally I wonder!!!!!!! HE IS QUESTIONABLE
dgroy
October 26th, 2009
7:28 am
merlot winters
October 23rd, 2009
10:19 pm
Granted, some “things” have happened in Atlanta since the “Black Uprising”; however, not all of them are good and the ones that are good were not because of the “Mayors” expertise…..most of them had no expertise that they could call on for theses kinds of major projects……they just happened to be there. Get real people…..it ain’t working, it has never worked and it will never work.
Boneyard Randy
October 26th, 2009
4:22 pm
If you want people to listen to you, you should learn how to spell first.