Friday, March 27, 2009
News Lisa Borders to re-enter mayor's race – Updated
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Four weeks ago, Borders told us she was “reconsidering” a run for mayor. Well, sometime between then and now, she quit reconsidering and decided to jump back in. Maria Saporta reports on Borders' turnabout in today's Atlanta Business Chronicle and our own sources confirm that the Council president is indeed back in. A formal announcement is expected sometime next week.
Borders' re-entry could up-end the mayor's race – or maybe not. Before she pulled out last August for family reasons, Borders was routinely described as a front-runner, yet she'd raised a mere $300,000 during more than a year as a declared candidate. She's now a good six months behind the current front-runners, Councilwoman Mary Norwood and state Sen. Kasim Reed, in terms of fund-raising and campaign events. Still, I'm told that a certain former top executive (of a company whose initials are GP) canceled a Norwood fund-raiser last week when he heard Borders was getting back in.
But the news will certainly affect the down-ticket city races. I'm waiting to hear back, but I understand Councilman Ceasar Mitchell has already dropped his bid for mayor and is shooting instead for the president's seat. (He's taken down his campaign website for retooling.) Councilwoman Clair Muller, who was aiming to retire from her Buckhead post after 20 years, has also expressed interest in the job. And we've heard that state Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, is likewise eyeing the position.
Meanwhile, there are rumors floating around that two former Council members want to run for the at-large seats soon to be vacated by Norwood and Mitchell. One is Michael Bond, who's turned up at seemingly every public meeting in recent weeks. The other is Derrick Boazman, who's been keeping his public profile aloft as host of a morning show on WAOK radio. The third at-large post is held by Lamar Willis, who once had hopes of running for mayor, but could now be lucky just to keep his seat.
Apart from that, all we know is that Jim Maddox, who was first elected to the Council in 1977, apparently won't leave office until he's carried out in a pine box.
Comments (10)
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Very interesting! On Ceasar Mitchell: That would make sense for him at this point. I see his personal website's down. His website www.caesarformayor.com is still working though as of 628pm EST. (YES the website address spells his own first name wrong-- not a good sign.)
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It is great we have another candidate in the race for mayor. Now, we need to ensure all candidates make their views and positions known to us, especially their plans to carry out their visions and promises. Lofty words are great, but pragmatism, integrity, and creativity are far better.
Even more interesting than the Borders news is this: *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* Contact Barbara Payne, Executive Director Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation 404-869-6066 office John Sherman, President 404-233-2997 HB 63 Unfair to Atlanta Taxpayers! Yesterday afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee introduced and approved of a substitute in House Bill 63, the new Tax Allocation District legislation sponsored by House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart. As HB 63 was moving through the House at both Committee and on the House floor, it was made clear that HB 63 was not intended to operate retroactively. Representative Ed Lindsey even confirmed this issue by way of a question to Chairman Ehrhart on the House floor. Representative Lindsey wanted to make sure the Atlanta Public School Board would be required to publicly re-authorize its financial participation in the Beltline TAD. However, the Senate Committee substitute, approved yesterday, inserts retroactive language into the Bill, the purpose of which was to allow some $20 million of illegally collected educational tax dollars in the City of Atlanta to be "cleansed" of their existing unconstitutional taint, and the Atlanta Public School Board would therefore not be required to publicly face the taxpayers in voting again to participate in the Beltline TAD. The Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation has received information that the Senate substitute was made at the request of Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate Casey Cagle. The Taxpayers Foundation finds this legislative maneuver to be an outrageous abuse of the Atlanta taxpayers. The retroactive language benefiting the Atlanta School Board, inserted by the Senate substitute at the apparent request of Casey Cagle, should, for the benefit of all Atlanta Taxpayers, be immediately removed from HB 63.
This is related to HB 63's impact on Atlanta. Also will impact Gainesville. What is Casey Cagle up to? This is a very disturbing development. I thought the Lieutenant Governor was a champion of education, particularly education in the Gainesville area. It would appear Mr. Cagle's proposed substitute to HB 63 (see attached) approved March 26 at the Senate Finance committee would pull "local control" out from under Gainesville City Schools, in terms of its ability to opt out of the existing TAD agreement with the city, which the school board approved by resolution yesterday. The new subparagraph (g) of 36-44-9, inserted at the apparent request of the Lieutenant Governor, needs to be removed from HB 63 before this bill moves any further through the General Assembly. Gainesville citizens voted over 60% against Amendment 2 last fall. Nonetheless, it seems the Lieutenant Governor wishes to shove this down everyone's throats. This is scandalous. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Chairman Ehrhart, Casey Cagle's senate substitute to HB 63 is about to "blow up" in someone's face. The Gainesville school board has just decided (yesterday) to opt out of certain TAD agreements. See links below. Is this just a coincidence, Gainesville school board accidentally getting caught up in the Atlanta Development Authority's money grab? Would the Senate substitute to HB 63 require them to stay in against their will? Probably would, unless they sue to have the whole thing declared unconstitutional, which I imagine they will. This is outrageous. They are opting out because they are running out of money, cuts from the state, etc. Looks like Hall County school board is re-thinking also (last article). This just flies in the face of the Amendment 2 "local choice" trash.
CL: Is what Dave Walker reports on above correct? It's hard to beliive. I thought Casey Cagle was pro-education and for local choice. This change at the Senate is just the opposite. What's going on?
I am glad Borders is getting back in the race. Kasim A.K.A. Kwame Reed does not have a chance nor the Southern Belle Mary Norwood would have one if Borders is the race. Mary Norwood solution to everything is to form a task force. Come on Mary...do better. Kasim "just" moved to Atlanta so he doesn't have a clue how the city really operates. Change Atlanta people!
Want a change to the unreponsive and unaccountable government of the City of Atlanta? Norwood is the only choice. Lisa Borders was put back in the race because the black power structure feared being dethroned. Ms Borders is a smooth talker, but it would be more of the same.
can someone explain how lisa borders would be different than shirley franklin in a significant way?
I have seen Norwood speak ONCE in the last 4 months I have been watching the Council and Committees. That one time was last week, the week before I was blasting her about it on the Sunday Paper with my candidate reviews. Obviously I wasn't the only person who felt that way. When she DID speak it sounded like a mouse and when she went in front of the Council she was shaking like a leaf. She is the LAST thing we need. Lisa is the second to last I only like her more cause she is a very strong speaker she just lacks content. At least she could be given a script. I think Felica Moore is the strongest Council Member there is IMO. She is on Finance Exec, Committee on Council and the Transportation Committee's. I can't think of 3 more important things to give a hoot about. Norwood is on the Community Development and Zoning two things we have had an over abundance of. She's gonna blow it in the debates anyway. For lack of option I would go with Kasim Reed only because he understands the State Legislature which is where we really need to be represented.
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