Vincent Fort eyeing Council president’s seat
March 31, 2009 at 6:47 pm by Scott Henry in News
I recently related the rumor that state Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, is considering a run for Atlanta City Council president, now that Lisa Borders is re-entering the mayor’s race. Well, yesterday I tracked Fort down at the Capitol and asked him if the rumor is true.
He was cagey about it – admittedly so – but I came away with the strong conclusion that he is indeed weighing a run for the position. He may ultimately decide against it, but for now I’d say he belongs firmly in the “possible” column – which was where Borders herself was until last week with regard to the mayor’s race.
“My heart’s always been with the city of Atlanta,” he said.
As a politician, Fort has always been a bit of an odd bird. Like former Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas and ex-Councilman Derrick Boazman, Fort has presented himself as a rabble-rouser who’s not above getting arrested in order to draw attention to some populist cause, such as his battle against the restructuring of the Grady board.
However, unlike Thomas and Boazman, Fort isn’t simply a professional protester. He can also be an effective lawmaker, such as when he successfully shepherded sweeping anti-predatory lending legislation through the General Assembly a few years back.
The Council president’s job isn’t an obvious fit for an outspoken social activist like Fort. It really seems better suited to someone who excells at process and mediation. But that could change.
(Photo by Andisheh Nouraee)
March 31st, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I’ve been in Sen. Fort’s camp for years ever since he was my history professor back at Morehouse. I’m sure he’ll provide the council the same excellence he’s shown in the state senate and in the classroom should he so endeavor this move.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:10 am
I heard the same rumor last year but couldn’t make much of it.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:13 am
If losers like Fort, Boazman, and Bond make their way (back) onto the City Council it’s back to the future of the good ol’ Bill Campbell years. You can turn out the lights on any progress the city has made over the past few years (which is already regressing under Shirley’s second so-called term).
April 1st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
If Fort runs for council president then let’s open the Vincent Fort file shall we. A child out of wedlock, tax problems, and the list goes on and on. Please run for council president Fort…we are ready.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I believe the author is giving Fort a lot of credit for a bill he passed a decade ago and that was largely rescinded by other legislation just six months later. In the past ten years has any other bill he wrote been passed and if not what has he been doing?