Friday, October 30, 2009
News Mary Norwood reverses herself on police chief pledge
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 2:25 PM
For months now, Councilwoman Mary Norwood has insisted, promised, all but swore on the baby Jesus that if she's elected mayor, Atlanta's next police chief would be hired from within the ranks.
Despite her denials, many observers figured she must already have someone in mind. Otherwise, it wouldn't seem to make much sense to narrow your options like that. Sure, Pennington didn't work out so well, but it's considered a best practice for cities of our size to conduct a national search for such important positions.
Still, Norwood repeatedly defended her decision at one forum after another, explaining that she wanted a chief who was already familiar with the local geography. As she told the AJC: “It takes them a long time for them to figure out where Adamsville is, where Moores Mills is and Browns Mill is.” (Psst — that's why Al Gore invented GPS.)
Well, WABE radio reports that, just yesterday, Norwood flip-flopped and signed a pledge sponsored by a local human-rights organization stating that she'd undertake a national search for the next top cop.
To be fair, there were other items in the pledge — to hold police officers accountable for roughing up gay bar patrons, yadda yadda — but after hearing Norwood claim again and again that Atlanta needed a homegrown police chief, I'm shocked to see her ditch a central pillar of her campaign so readily.
Of course, she'd already gotten the Police Benevolent Association endorsement. What are they gonna do, take it back?
Comments (25)
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Woooow - flip flops and pandering abound. People are finally starting to call Mrs. Norwood out on her garbage.
Norwood is falling apart at the wrinkles. She's willing to say whatever and do whatever she has to to get elected including flip flop on one of the most important issues. The small group that endorsed her is sketchy and I can't help but wonder what ATLANTA police org would make her pledge to look OUTSIDE the city for a police chief.
To be clear, the official police union (1,100 officers) endorsed Lisa Borders! That's why I'm voting for Borders to secure Atlanta's communities, NOT Norwood to pander to whoever happens to be in front of her.
Reed, Ludacris, T.I, and Diddy. Yea Atlanta let's head down the thug leadership path. www.notkasim.blogspot
doesn't matter - norwood is going to be the next mayor of atlanta. let's hope she surrounds herself with competent advisers and managers.
That is the most -ss backward logic I could imagine. Competent advisers and managers!? She's supposed to be the chief adviser and manager. Good lord people.
lol, a mayor DOESN'T need competent advisors and managers? mmkay. interesting perspective. i'm not a fan, but face the facts - norwood is going to be the next mayor of atlanta. unless u know something that the rest of us don't?
Mary's unequivocal pledge to hire from within made no sense, even though I believe it would be great to hire the next chief from Atlanta's ranks. Does Mary's flip-flop indicate that she thinks she will win without a run-off, and she is already backtracking on things she committed to (e.g., no new taxes, more police, better services, etc.)? Is the reality sinking in for Mary that she might win and she will actually have to govern?
Mary won't make it over 50% - she is now losing ground from her 46% peak with the big reminders going out that she's a Republican and the questions about how she got endorsements from Shakedown Glenn Thomas and Able Mable. It was smart of Lisa to pay that darn rapper to endorse Kasim though!
Mary Norwood should have taken a hint from her fellow-Republican Dubya and issued a "signing statement" when she signed the pledge. She could then have said one thing while simultaneously intending something else. But you have to give Mary credit. The police chief is one area where she actually took a position, even if she really did not mean it (or perhaps she didn't know what it was she was repeatedly saying?). Huh?
I was indirectly involved in this so I would like to comment. When the 30 progressive organizations for police accountability asked for Mayoral candidates to sign the statement, I contacted the Norwood campaign and personally urged them to sign. Of course she is a strong supporter of the CRB and of investigating REDDOG; however, her campaign raised two concerns regarding the exact language of the pledge they were being asked to sign. One of these concerns was regarding the statement that the Mayoral candidates would support a search for a national police chief. Norwood's campaign director noted at that time that she had already stated her preference for a local police chief. I then communicated this back to Deepali of Atlanta BLOC who said that she did not think that was inconsistent because a national search could start locally and they did not disagree with her having a preference for a local chief. Then, Atlanta BLOC and the Norwood campaign had a conversation regarding the nuances of her support for the pledge, and agreed that her preference for a local chief would not preclude her from signing the pledge. Norwood also made sure to consult with the police union prior to signing on to the pledge. Mmkay? So anyway, have a great weekend everybody- hope to see y'all at Pride!
APNEditor.... Just wanted to clarify something you said. "Norwood also made sure to consult with the police union prior to signing...". Council member Norwood is not endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 623. We are the recognized labor union for APD and have over 1,100 members. Council member Norwood is endorsed by the PBA, which is not a union and is not recognized by the City of Atlanta as APD's union.
@APN – I have no doubt the whole thing went down very much like you describe. It doesn't matter. The bottom line is, by signing this pledge, Norwood threw one of her core campaign promises overboard. Having her campaign manager try to spin people into thinking that's not what she did is one thing. But if Mary has somehow fooled herself into believing she didn't flip-flop, that speaks to the quality of her judgment.
... and exactly how many of Atlanta's IBPO members are city of Atlanta residents (and therefore could actually vote in this year's election)?
@Inky, as the sister of a police officer, I can say that whether or not they live within the city doesn't invalidate their opinion about who is best suited to protect their interests, NAMELY THEIR LIVES. Those brave men and women protect our city everyday and know what is needed for their department from our next mayor. THEY DID NOT CHOOSE NORWOOD BUT LISA BORDERS. If Mary Norwood didn't value the IBPO's endorsement then she wouldn't have interviewed for it. Had she known more about what it takes to keep this city safe, she would have gotten it. She didn't.
Let it be said that Lisa Borders has earned the endorsement of the IBPO. She has opposed Chief Pennington and spoken out against his performance. She is the only candidate that can fund her public safety plan. She has a vision to keep Atlanta safe and with Atlantans support on Nov. W, she will be mayor of Atlanta!!!
@Donny - If the cop union supports Borders, the do-nothing rubber stamp of Shirley's admin who has been the last to criticize Pennington, it's because she won't touch their excessive pensions. For the residents that means still higher taxes and / or reduced public safety.
Did Mary Norwood kick your puppy, Scott Henry? Because it seems more like smear than reporting the way you protray her statements. Whole story was she was concerned whether there was a qualified home grown candidate. If I wanted distorted facts I would read the ajc...shame on you.
Mary paid Dave Walker $1,000 for 'outreach' in October. (Her disclosure is now on the city website. Page 11) Mary, where's your good judgment?
Holy shit! Mary paid Able Mable $1500 for 'consulting services.' Talk about pay to play. Mable's glowing endorsement of Buckhead Betty was of course entirely unconnected with this little gratuity. I haven't found a Glenn Thomas payment yet, but I'm beginning to expect it. No wonder Mary held her disclosure back until after yesterday's debate. Page 14 of her disclosure.
Not that I'm doubting you but would you mind putting a link to the disclosure on here? Shouldn't be to hard either use the CL website box or just paste it into the comment. thanks,
Mary's money to Able Mable and Dave Walker. Find it at pages 14 and 11 resp. of her disclosure http://www.atlantaga.gov/media/mc_disclosures_031009.aspx http://web.atlantaga.gov/eelections/pdf/NorwoodM102509.pdf
Lets compare... Mary Norwood paid $2500 to a couple of "rabble rousers". Kasim Reed receives campaign contributions from 19 airport vendors that likely owe their contract to his brother. Which one of these situations is most ripe for corruption if that person is elected mayor.
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