Why (sigh) love escaped Shirley Franklin at Atlanta City Hall

No doubt you have always wondered whether Shirley Franklin ever found love while she was mayor of Atlanta. The answer is a complicated “no.”

Franklin explains on Blogging While Blue, while pondering over that illicit romance between ex-Wall Street Journal reporter Gina Chon and the man who might be the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq:

As a divorced woman serving as the city’s CEO, I was not faced with Chon’s ethical dilemma. Maybe I was too old. In fact, fostering any personal relationship was nearly impossible. The scrutiny and eagle eye attention from the public can be a deterrent for any prospective suitor.

“This is just one more disadvantage of being a baby boomer or, more accurately, an aging woman. This may sound strangely personal to some readers, but running for office can be a personal relationship bust. Truth be told, from my experience, personal/romantic relationships are difficult to establish and are virtually nonexistent.

“Often times it wasn’t clear to me if any social inquiry was professional, personal or political. So, “No thank you” became the safe answer to any flirtatious inquiries. But I loved the job and for eight years there was little room for anything other than the work. Good thing, because I definitely didn’t find love in the workplace.”

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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