A councilman’s endorsement in the ATL runoff for mayor
The end of campaigning for some Atlanta city council members now allows them to dip into the mayor’s race between Mary Norwood and Kasim Reed, according to my AJC colleague Eric Stirgus.
Reed got an unexpected nod Wednesday at the Atlanta Hotel Council’s monthly meeting from Councilman Ivory Lee Young, whose district includes several overwhelmingly African-American neighborhoods just west of the Downtown Connector.
Council members have largely been mum about their choice for mayor. For example, Councilwoman Clair Muller, who’s in a runoff for City Council President, declined Wednesday to say at the same luncheon who’s her choice for mayor.
Young, however, said he was going with Reed over Norwood. This, despite the fact that Norwood and Young have served together eight years on the council.
“Study the record and you will find the truth,” Young said, asserting Norwood hasn’t accomplished much on the council. “(Norwood) has been the hardest-working member we have (on the council). The reality is it takes more than hard work.”
Norwood and Reed are both vying for the now-prized endorsement of outgoing City Council President Lisa Borders, who finished a distant third Tuesday in the mayor’s race. So far, no word from Borders.
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18 comments Add your comment
Jamesbrennandoyle
November 4th, 2009
7:07 pm
Ivory is a nice guy….but he drives by abandoned houses everyday and nothing is done about it..he cleans up the neighborhood three weeks before his election…Nice guy but woefully disorganized. He keeps his house nice but does not put pressure on his neighbors to do the same. The house next door to him is a code enforcement nightmare..if you cant keep your street together how can you run a whole district?????
When Norwood wins in the runoff you will be sorry you said these words. And next time your running how about consistently keeping our neighborhood in better shape?? Nice guy…but wrong guy. Darrien Fletcher took 21% of the vote with little publicity. Vine City/English Avenue/Knight Park/Howell Station will eventually have a new councilman….wait and see. Its not about color its about effectivenes
hello
November 4th, 2009
8:41 pm
Isn’t Young black?
Bert
November 4th, 2009
9:11 pm
Borders’ endorsement is almost worthless. She can’t deliver a tepid following.
If she wants a future in this town, she should pick a candidate, do an endorsement by Friday and campaign actively for her pick.
Get It Right
November 5th, 2009
12:13 am
Wow, how little we know, Ivory is a nice guy… he is accountable, and reachable. It was Ivory who responded to the excessive abandon houses by assisting us in securing funding to assist the city with the demolition of abandon properties in his neighborhood. If one really knew the history of our beloved community they would understand that change is a working process that must respect everyone rights, like the individual who owns the house next to Councilmen Young. One cannot impose their values. Should they pressure their neighbor or be a good neighbor and discern the facts before judgment. I hope that Mary Norwood is not one whom will use the office of the mayor to attack / punish those whom express their views and choices. Just , the thought of one not being able to discuss the pro and cons without fear of reprisal. Makes me wonder…..We need to look closely at both Norwood & Reed….What have they accompished….that what a run off is about voters having a chance for a closer look…Is not that the gift of democracy
sure your right
November 5th, 2009
12:35 am
…but there
are some that would like us not to evaluate the facts. These are serious times and require a mayor who can get the job done let the people hear…how they have led.
sure your right
November 5th, 2009
12:35 am
Enter your comments here
Gracy
November 5th, 2009
1:30 am
I think the truth will now come out about Mary. There is definitely something about Mary. Maybe she is just a busy body. It seems that way to me.
New Atlanta, New Day
November 5th, 2009
1:41 am
Clair Muller and Kasim Reed would be a good match. Seasoned/comprehensive and future forward/youthful “experience” in legislating compared to Mitchell and Norwood’s crooked ways of being just plain ole customer svc repsresentatives. I am going with Reed and Muller!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Done deal, I like this pair definitely!!! I love it. New Atlanta!!!
wow
November 5th, 2009
7:30 am
IT’S COMING TRUE….BLACKS KEEPING IT BLACK…NO MATTER HOW BAD IT IS….THE LEAKED MEMO OF KEEPING THE MAYOR BLACK IS TRUE……WHERE’S THE PROTEST OF RACISM????? WHITE PEOPLE, GAY PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR MARY…K REED IS PART OF THE RACIST PROBLEM!
lester
November 5th, 2009
7:33 am
yes, mary was on the council…..she has been trying..she really cares about the city…shirley and her pals voted her down every time. think about it people.
k reed is business as usual….does he think that we are so dumb that everytime he says “i’m a true democrat” that i’m going to vote for him?
Kris
November 5th, 2009
10:56 am
What a surprise? Andrew Young is only supporting Reed because he is BLACK.
Andrew Young is a racist!!!!
PoliticOracle
November 5th, 2009
1:01 pm
@Kris
Can you read? This post isn’t talking about Andrew Young. The endorsement came from Councilmember Ivory Young. You’re racist because you want folks to support Mary because she is white, despite her ineffectiveness on council. Mary sat there for 8 years and did nothing.
WHITE ATLANTA IS RACIST FOR SUPPORTING THIS WEAK CANDIDATE AT A 75% RATE.
AJ
November 5th, 2009
1:28 pm
We are Atlantans. We come from many backgrounds. We have many faces. We are diversity. We must all answer the questions which we all must acknowledge are the roadblocks and obstacles that prevent us from coming together and truly putting together a world-class city. On December 1st, ask yourself, “Do I feel safer in Atlanta now than I have in the past?”. On December 1st, ask yourself, “Why have we not completed the water/sewer projects now costing in excess of $4.5 billion dollars from which the debt has now given the city ‘junk bond’ status?”. On December 1st, ask yourself, “In the times of prosperity and economic growth, Where has all the money gone?” The answer is clear. The mayors office in this city controls all of the issues that give cause and answer to these questions. Shirley Franklin = Kasim Reed. Period. Choose true change and choose true accountability. Choose Mary Norwood.
peaches
November 5th, 2009
3:11 pm
You are not being real……check her records and than you will see….Polly just want a cracker……
peaches
November 5th, 2009
3:14 pm
if you really want change you will get rid of all involved in this administration and start a fresh……Norwood is old administration…you people has to realize the city council has just as much pull as the major…the major can’t do alot by her self….so if you are going to blame the major for anything that has happen in her years of office you also have to blame city council and Norwood is city council……Clean house and get some fresh meat in place so we can see what is really under the rug
Monica
November 7th, 2009
5:42 pm
Wow! Never thought I would see the day a that desperate Lisa would be selling herself to the highest bidder for her endorsement.
Wow….POLITICS!!!
Diane
November 8th, 2009
12:16 pm
The level of corruption at City Hall is absolutely staggering. You may ask why none of the council members have done anything about it. The city has been in a stranglehold grip by our present mayor, regarding everything from taking no bids for our huge sewer projects to spending God knows how much money to change the name of the airport. A city that’s broke doesn’t have the budget to fly the mayor and her retinue all over the world – twenty people or so per trip?
What we need is a more even balance between the mayor’s office and the council. We also need a more streamlined manageable council. There are two many representatives to faciliate quick decisions. The large council was an attempt to reduce racial polarization and make sure all neighborhoods got a fair shake. That’s been accomplished.
Unfortunately both Lisa Borders and Kasim Reed have strong ties to our current mayor. That said, if Kasim Reed is elected, you can expect more of the same. He and Mayor Franklin are both deeply involved with the airport.
Take a look at Mr. Reed’s voting record – you will be shocked by how times he didn’t vote and what he voted against. Why isn’t anyone publicizing this?
TELL THE TRUTH!
November 9th, 2009
2:34 pm
TELL THE TRUTH, MARY NORWOOD. YOU ARE A CLOSET REPUBLICAN! WAKE UP ATLANTANS!