Cathy Woolard won’t run for mayor
February 6, 2008 at 5:41 pm by Scott Henry in NewsFormer Atlanta City Council President and ex-congressional candidate Cathy Woolard is usually mentioned any time talk turns to next year’s mayor’s race. And up until the beginning of the year, she was indeed planning to make a bid for the city’s top post. But Woolard now tells CL she’s out of the running.
Just days ago, we got a press release that Woolard — a busy lobbyist for Planned Parenthood, Georgia Equality and other groups — is taking a job with CARE after the end of the current legislative session. The job title is “executive V.P. for global advocacy and external relations,” but, being cynical, we wondered if it might be a temporary gig until her campaign kicks in.
Actually, Woolard explains, it’s a significant career change.
“If this position works out, I won’t be running for mayor,” she says. “I had to make a choice and this was just too great an opportunity to pass up.”
In her new job, Woolard will control marketing, fundraising and policy for the Atlanta-based global relief organization. She will oversee a whopping $600 million operational budget — nearly as large as the city budget. The move isn’t really an about-face for Woolard, who had previously done a tour of duty with the Peace Corps, has studied international economic development and made a career in public policy.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Too bad. Cathy is a great candidate and an excellent politican. I don’t know if she could win for Mayor but it would make it a good contest. Oh well. Good luck Cathy. We miss you!
Looks like it will be Mayor Borders. I don’t see anyone challenging her seriously (since Clark Howard appears to be staying put). That’s not a bad thing. Lisa Borders is smart and has done a pretty good job as City Council President.