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Georgia Equality, the statewide LGBT advocacy group, has announced their support for Lisa Borders for mayor and Ceasar Mitchell for city council President.

If you need the latest on either the mayoral or city council race, Scott Henry abides.

Here’s Georgia Equality press release:

At a time when public safety and the need for strong leadership are on the minds of all Atlantans, the Georgia Equality Board of Directors has voted to endorse Lisa Borders in the 2009 election for Atlanta Mayor, as well as Ceasar Mitchell for the position of Atlanta City Council President.

Borders, the current City Council President, stands out among a group of highly-qualified mayoral candidates running this year. The Georgia Equality Board of Directors found Borders to be the candidate with the best fluency and understanding of the issues important to LGBT Atlantans, as well as the candidate best-equipped to govern a city in need of a decisive leader with keen insight into public safety and municipal management.

“Lisa Borders’ commitment to LGBT rights is part and parcel of who she is as an individual and as an Atlantan,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality. “Right now, the entire community, including LGBT Atlanta, is looking for a mayor who will make this city safe, and do so with integrity. When she is elected Atlanta Mayor, Lisa will use the office to advocate strongly for a state-wide hate-crimes law including sexual orientation and gender identify. Further, she has pledged to hire a new police chief who will be sensitive to LGBT civil rights and maintain an LGBT community liaison position within the Atlanta Police Department. Lisa Borders will bring change to the city’s police leadership and will make certain that the city’s public safety program is listening to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.”

Borders has shown strong leadership on LGBT issues throughout her tenure as City Council President, actively engaging LGBT business owners and working to help bring the Atlanta Pride Festival back to Piedmont Park in 2009. Further, after the Atlanta Police Department’s recent raid on The Atlanta Eagle bar, Borders forcefully called upon the APD to conduct a full investigation into the incident. Borders’ actions showed an unflinching dedication to professionalism and a willingness to question even those who have supported her, given that she had won the Atlanta police union’s endorsement only days before.

“Lisa Borders’ track record of doing the right thing during difficult times shows she is the candidate who will best lead Atlanta in the days ahead,” Graham said. Border’s support earlier in the year for an emergency tax increase that prevented city firefighter stations from being furloughed further underscored the candidate’s deep dedication to public safety, despite the election-year timing.

Borders’ strong backing for same-sex marriage and her ability to talk comprehensively about the needs of LGBT Atlantans stood out to the Georgia Equality Board of Directors. Borders has hired LGBT employees for her staff and appointed LGBT Atlantans to municipal positions.

“In a city where LGBT individuals make up well over ten percent of the population, it is good to know that Lisa Borders will work to ensure the city government appreciates the rich diversity and talent that Atlanta has to offer,” Graham said.

The Georgia Equality Board of Directors deeply appreciates the support for LGBT rights demonstrated by the other candidates running for mayor, especially former-state Sen. Kasim Reed and City Councilwoman At-Large, Post-2, Mary Norwood. Reed’s consistent voting record at the Georgia Capitol in favor of LGBT rights should be applauded, while Norwood’s commitment to civil rights is exemplary.

In the City Council President race, Georgia Equality’s Board of Directors chose to endorse Ceasar Mitchell, a current City Councilman At-Large, who once held the position of City Council President when the post was vacant for a short time. Mitchell has long worked to cultivate a strong relationship with LGBT Atlantans, attending various non-profit and civic engagements devoted to civil rights.

“Ceasar Mitchell is strongly committed to protecting existing domestic-partner benefits for Atlanta city employees, while also working proactively to urge the state Legislature to pass anti-bullying legislation,” said Graham, the Georgia Equality executive director.

Mitchell also recognized that the city has room for improvement in how it supports transgender Atlantans through municipal policies, a topic on which Georgia Equality would like to see the entire city government focus more intensely in coming years.

Georgia Equality is confident that Borders and Mitchell will work together effectively and efficiently to address the city’s needs, especially when it comes to public safety.

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Tags: 2009 City Council President's race, 2009 City Council races, Atlanta City Council, Ceasar Mitchell, City Council President Lisa Borders, georgia equality, jeff graham, LGBT, Lisa Borders, mayor-race.