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Political Insider

Of brothers and Cousins in the Atlanta race for mayor

2:36 pm October 27, 2009, by jgalloway

Updated at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday:
One of the testier exchanges from this morning’s V103/WAOK mayoral debate was prompted by a member of the audience, who noted that Kasim Reed’s brother already works in the Office of Contract Compliance, which oversees the program to make sure that firms owned by minorities and women get 35 percent of the city’s business.

Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest? she asked. This was Reed’s answer:

Am I going to fire my brother if I win the office of mayor? I do not plan on firing him. I will recuse myself from any work involving him. He [has] worked for the city of Atlanta for several years and has done so in an honorable fashion.

I don’t believe that me becoming mayor should require me to fire my brother. But if anyone, including the people on this stage, have an allegation they want to make of impropriety, they should have the courage to stand up and make it, instead of throwing out dirt and hoping that it sticks.

My brother has behaved in an honorable way. I love him. He is the closest person to me. And I believe he has done an outstanding job as an employee of the city of Atlanta.

Tracy Reed is the candidate’s older brother, and has been working in the office for 10 years – before Shirley Franklin took office, Kasim Reed spokesman Reese McCranie said.

After defending his brother, the mayoral candidate turned the question on rival Lisa Borders:

You also ask whether it is a conflict. I would say first of all, no it is not a conflict. Because I have never worked for the city of Atlanta at any time in my entire life – as opposed to Ms. Borders, who worked for Cousins [Properities] for almost the entire time that she was president of the City Council.

And Cousins has received a multi-million dollar construction management contract within the last 20 months. At no time has she attempted to recuse herself from matters involving Cousins. …If we’re going to have a conversation about conflict, everyone up here needs to have that conversation as well.

Borders gave a brief answer, but quickly tried to turn the question back to the matter of the Reed brothers:

As president of the City Council, I worked at Cousins for three years out of my five years. And every time there was any conversation about Cousins having an opportunity to participate in the city, I have in fact recused myself.

I have never voted on anything that had anything to do –

“She does not vote,” Reed interrupted. Borders continued:

– with Cousins Properties and the city. What I would also say is that I have not had any relative of mine working in the city. And I would tell you that it is, in fact, a direct conflict to have a sibling or a parent or anyone in your family working under your supervision.

So that is a difficult situation for any candidate. And my concern would be that we always have a very ethically safe and sound city. We have the most stringent ethics legislation in the country today. [I have made] a pledge that, if elected, that no employer – current or former – would have the opportunity to have a contract with the city of Atlanta.

But Borders said she would observe all legalities, which presumably means she would not sever the Cousins contract to which Reed referred. One wonders whether she would allow that Tracy Reed has something of an employment contract with the city, and whether – as Reed suggested – it, too, should be respected.

On Wednesday, Cameron Golden, director of investor relations and corporate communications for Cousins, sent the following note:

I am writing regarding your recent blog post titled “Of brothers and Cousins in the Atlanta race for mayor,” in which you review the V103/WAOK-FM mayoral debate on Tuesday, October 27.

The post includes dialogue between Lisa Borders and Kasim Reed in which Mr. Reed cites “Cousins’ multi-million dollar construction management contract with the city,” as an example of Ms. Borders’ failure to recuse herself from matters involving Cousins.

Cousins does not have a multi-million dollar construction management contract with the city. Mr. Reed may have been referring to our contract with The Center for Civil and Human Rights, a 501 (c)(3) organization. Cousins (in partnership with Gude Management Group) has a project management contract with the Center, but no contracts with the city.

In August 2008, the Atlanta City Council approved a bond issue providing up to $40 million for the Center as part of the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) program for public purpose projects. The Westside TAD was approved by the City Council, long before Cousins was involved with the Center.

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41 comments Add your comment

Krooked Kasim

October 27th, 2009
2:40 pm

http://www.notkasim.blogspot.com Do not vote for Kasim “hip hop” Reed!

Sam

October 27th, 2009
2:43 pm

What else can Lisa Borders do besides repeatedly vow never to enter into a contract with any current or former employer. Talk about beating a dead horse!

Betsy

October 27th, 2009
2:44 pm

“Am I going to fire my brother if I win the office of mayor? I do not plan on firing him.”

That’s all I needed to hear. A vote for Khasim is a vote for nepotism in City Hall. Khasim has two other brothers as well. Maybe they can fill a Council spot!

Sara B.

October 27th, 2009
2:46 pm

Given the push back from pundits and opposing campaigns, I’ll make sure that I never aim high and succeed in my professional career for fear of being labeled a puppet. These claims about Cousins and Lisa Borders are misleading and offensive, especially to successful and educated women. Go Lisa! I voted early and I’m telling all of my friends about you!

Mary

October 27th, 2009
2:47 pm

Norwood at her best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS0ekhf6PHM

Krooked Borders

October 27th, 2009
2:48 pm

Wow! Look what I found!
http://therealtruthaboutborders.wordpress.com/

Betsy

October 27th, 2009
2:48 pm

Sara B., that does seem to be the case. The sexist misogynists did the same thing to Hillary against B. Hussein Obama. Soon as a woman breaks through the glass ceiling, she’s gotta worry about falling back on the shards.

Parc

October 27th, 2009
2:50 pm

Kasim vows to end nepotism, cronyism, and corruption at City Hall out of one side of his mouth and refuses to fire his brother working with airport contracts out of the other. That is the definition of a conflict of interest and goes runs directly in opposition with a real sense of ethics. Vulgar hypocrisy anyone?

Lisa Lisa

October 27th, 2009
2:52 pm

I hear Norwood can’t remember if she voted for Bush or not. LOL

Anonymous Midtown Resident

October 27th, 2009
2:57 pm

Kasim was dishonest in that exchange. He knows isn’t a conflict right now– but if he wins it *will be* a conflict. That was the point. Then he accuses Borders of something he later admits isn’t a conflict! He conceded the Council President doesn’t vote. If she didn’t vote to approve the Cousins contract, so where’s the conflict? He is an attorney and should know better than to deal in half truths and political gamesmanship. We can all see it going be the same old crooked contracting office under Kasim and his family. How disheartening.

MG

October 27th, 2009
3:00 pm

Is it nepotism if he has worked for the city 10 years?

Nepotism is hiring a brother because of your power… he’s already there.

OneChris

October 27th, 2009
3:06 pm

I cannot stand the Good Old Boy network. The brother would need to resign to allow Reed to be mayor.

Tea 4 2

October 27th, 2009
3:09 pm

Where is Clark Howard when we need him?

Bert

October 27th, 2009
3:13 pm

Krooked Kasim needs a life. Kasim Reed must have either kicked his butt or made love to his mother.

Solutions Voter...

October 27th, 2009
3:16 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koAFMYEvzXc

newA

October 27th, 2009
3:35 pm

If Reed’s brother worked for the city prior to the election, how is it even worth consideration. So if any of Obama’s family members work for the Federal Government in any town, they should be fired now that he is President???

Goofy conversation…

AngryVoter

October 27th, 2009
3:35 pm

Having a sibling working at City Hall isn’t a huge scandal.

There is a huge difference, though, between recusing oneself from any discussion involving one’s employer and not voting on an issue, even without taking into consideration the fact that Borders didn’t vote anyway. In her position, Borders had tremendous influence in shepherding the conversation and votes. She should have recused herself from anything having to do with Cousins rather than try to mince words now.

What’s next, Lisa, telling us it depends on the definition of “is” or keeping your fingers crossed behind your back so the statement doesn’t count? We deserve better.

Webster

October 27th, 2009
3:36 pm

@MG – No, you are incorrect. Nepotism is showing favor to a family member for reasons other than that family member’s merit. Heading Shirley Franklin’s transition team and leveraging that position to appoint your brother (and two frat brothers — FYI) as key players in the office of contract compliance at the airport is, in fact, blatant nepotism. Kasim Reed is and will remain a Maynard machine politician.

AH

October 27th, 2009
3:38 pm

So the only way for poor Tracy to keep his job is for Norwood to win.

If Lisa wins – he is out ’cause he is Reed’s brother.
If Reed wins – he will eventually have to let him go ’cause that is just to much of a distraction.
Support Tracy Reed – vote Norwood.

Solutions Voter...

October 27th, 2009
3:38 pm

Lisa says Kasim is corrupt, Kasim says Lisa is corrupt….I believe both of them. This city needs a mayor without political baggage and with the free will to get things done and that is Jesse Spikes!

AngryVoter

October 27th, 2009
3:38 pm

SarahB – How is it offensive to suggested the people signing your large paycheck might be influencing what you do? Educated or not, your livelihood is your livelihood.

Lisa

October 27th, 2009
3:40 pm

So, AngryVoter, let me get this straight. You and the rest of Kasim’s cartel cite Lisa’s lack of official voting as a failure to take a stance and furthermore evidence of her inefficacy at City Hall, yet when it comes to the Cousin’s contract you offer that she has a “tremendous influence in shepherding the conversation and votes.” Convenient double-speak. You are pathetic and transparent.

RUKidding

October 27th, 2009
3:41 pm

While we are talking about family getting hired. Doesn’t momma Ox work for an insurance company?

Jackalope

October 27th, 2009
3:42 pm

Norwood has already responded to the Presidental question:

- Norwood voted for Obama
- Norwood voted for Kerry
- Norwood voted for Gore
- Norwood voted for Clinton
- Norwood voted for Perot

Norwood has openly supported gay marriage
Norwood has openly supported a woman’s right to choose
Norwood initiated the in-fill ordnance (and ticked off a lot of Republican developers)

Try and stick a big “R” on her all you want, but it aint working baby, that’s why she up in the polls by 20 points.

What?

October 27th, 2009
3:47 pm

@Jackalope – She conveniently recalled that after a day or two to think about it. I’ve been voting for 30 years now and I can say that it would be all but impossible for me to “forget” who I voted for in a Presidential election (unless of course, I was utterly incompetent). That is garbage, do not insult our intelligence.

Roekest

October 27th, 2009
4:04 pm

@ Tea 4 2

Clark Howard is busy at the HLN studio in the CNN Center helping them get better ratings than Wolf and Co.

The Late Maynord Jackson

October 27th, 2009
4:06 pm

All the black candidates are fine they will take care of MY family and political machine. A vote for that white girl is a vote against me.

Lisa

October 27th, 2009
4:11 pm

Late Maynard Jackson — Race Baiting 101. Is this the class and racial tact we can expect from Norwood and her supporters?

PoliticOracle

October 27th, 2009
4:17 pm

@The Late Maynord Jackson

Have some dignity and let the dead rest. That was a very ignorant post. Speak your peace, but dishonoring the dead is just a lack of home-training. I did notice you spelled the name wrong, maybe that’s sarcasm or a lack of spelling skills but either way its not funny.

MG

October 27th, 2009
4:17 pm

He was there BEFORE Shirly was mayor…

Still confused as to why this is a topic.

MG

October 27th, 2009
4:19 pm

Poor Tracy Reed… Word on the street is that he already QUIT his job to help with his brother’s campaign.

This is a distraction, people. Get real.

PoliticOracle

October 27th, 2009
4:27 pm

I have done some research and found that Tracy Reed was an employee with the City of Atlanta a few years prir to Mayor Franklin’s election, therefore Kasim Reed probably had little to do with his hiring.

I do think he should have to resign should Reed be elected though, we have got to maintain a high ethical order in Atlanta and an immediate family member on city staff is just too close for comfort.

TAKE NOTE REED CAMP. I HAVE ALREADY VOTED FOR KASIM, BUT THIS BROTHER ISSUE MAY BE CAUSE FOR ME TO RECONSIDER IF TRACY DOESNT LEAVE ONCE KASIM IS ELECTED.

PLEASE DO WHAT’S BEST FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE CITY AND DON’T ALLOW THIS ISSUE TO PLAGUE THE HARD WORK THAT LIES AHEAD.

Voter

October 27th, 2009
4:39 pm

If the man has been at his job for ten years I fail to see how that would be a conflict of interest for Kasim Reed.

PoliticOracle

October 27th, 2009
4:47 pm

@VOTER

Our city political leaders must bring confidence and morale back to city hall and way to start that is to hold yourself (Kasim) to a high moral standard. Even appearance must be taken in to consideration.

I’m sure Kasim has enough connections to help his brother find another well paying job in the private sector.

Betsy

October 27th, 2009
4:49 pm

When I was little, I got a job for my sister Betty down at the Dairy Queen selling Dilly Bars for 15 cents. Granted, this ain’t no ice cream shop, but Khasim’s brother working for the city and Khasim getting a kickback is one dilly of a deal!

Jackalope

October 27th, 2009
4:56 pm

Whoah BIG news!!!!

Newsmakers Live has just announced they will officially endorse Mary Norwood for Mayor tomorrow. THAT. IS. HUGE.

Jed

October 27th, 2009
4:57 pm

Look, I’m sure Reed is as dirty as the come, and I intend to NOT vote for him.
That being said, lay off his brother, Tracey, folks. If he truly has been employed by the city for 10 years, how could him keeping his job be a sign of nepotism? Nepotism is giving him a job AFTER being elected mayor. Seriously, there are bigger complaints to make people.

The Late Maynord Jackson

October 27th, 2009
5:08 pm

PoliticOracle……….truth hurts..

the Maynard Jackson Machine

October 27th, 2009
5:08 pm

How have 30 years of black mayorship in Atlanta helped the blighted, poor African-American communities of Vine City, Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh? They haven’t!

If you can’t trust your family maybe it’s time to trust your neighbors? Vote for Norwood or Spikes.

The Late Maynord Jackson

October 27th, 2009
5:21 pm

the Maynard Jackson Machine

October 27th, 2009
5:08 pm

My machine is to help family and friends not “poor people”, they are the ones who pay for our fun.

Donny Fairplay

October 27th, 2009
5:21 pm

@the Maynard Jackson Machine, to suggest Spikes or Norwood for the office of mayor as an alternative to actual public servants is like saying, “If you don’t like the cream in your coffee, you should try piss.” No thanks. Different doesn’t mean better.