Creative Loafing endorses Kasim Reed for Atlanta mayor
October 13, 2009 at 10:00 am by Thomas Wheatley in News
KASIM'S OUR MAN: Reed deserves the edge for his clear-eyed, pragmatic vision of Atlanta’s future
Even as it heads into the final days before the election, the Atlanta mayor’s race remains, as it has for months now, a showdown between three well-funded, skilled politicians, who are followed some distance behind by an earnest outsider. Voters seem largely indifferent and indecisive — perhaps because there’s a tough choice here, but also some easy ones.
First, the easy. Jesse Spikes has an impressive background as a Rhodes scholar and a Harvard-educated partner in a well-connected law firm, and he’s picked up some support as a none-of-the-above candidate. But his entire message is that City Hall “needs to get its financial house in order,” while providing no evidence to suggest he has the skills to perform that task.
On the other hand, front-runner Mary Norwood is a small bundle of near-manic energy who’s spent the past four or five years tirelessly engaged in unofficial campaigning, visiting neighborhood groups and holding town-hall meetings across the city. She’s forged personal connections with voters from Buckhead to Ben Hill, who perceive the councilwoman as someone who truly cares.
Unfortunately, her skill as a campaigner obscures the fact that, during two terms on Council, Norwood has been strikingly ineffective. She’s never chaired a Council committee; she endlessly laments her inability to gain access to city documents; she concedes that Mayor Shirley Franklin has spoken to her only a couple of times in eight years; and she complains that her legislation is often ignored by city department heads.
Norwood’s cultivated image is that of a powerful rabble-rouser who’s been thwarted in her efforts to challenge the status quo. But the reality is that Norwood is considered a lightweight inside City Hall because she has a tendency to flit from one issue to the next, often taking reactionary positions based on superficial information, seemingly unable to maintain the focus needed to craft thoughtful civic policy.
And Norwood’s campaign platform is financially irresponsible. She calls for a large increase in public-safety spending, but dismisses the city budget as incomprehensible, readily admitting she’ll have no clue how to fund her initiatives until after she’s sworn in. However well-intentioned, Norwood lacks the temperament, analytical thinking, leadership skills, and, frankly, the vision needed to succeed as mayor.
Now comes the hard part. The thin sliver of the electorate that’s turned out for any of the dozens of mayoral forums have seen each event turn into a duel between Council President Lisa Borders and state Sen. Kasim Reed, both natural politicians who are well-matched in rhetorical skill and stage presence.
Borders, a former Cousins Property executive turned Grady fundraiser, and Reed, a partner at a national law firm, possess a seemingly encyclopedic grasp of city government and an impressive command of policy minutiae. Both have an unflappable professionalism that would serve them well as the city’s top executive. And both have laudable resumes and the kind of high-level connections in the public and private sectors that are essential to the position. In short, Borders and Reed are both highly qualified and capable candidates for mayor — plus, they have similar plans for boosting public safety.
But we believe Reed deserves the edge for several reasons: his strong record of leadership as a minority-party legislator; his solid relationships with state lawmakers; and his clear-eyed, pragmatic vision of Atlanta’s future.
If you’ve followed Reed on the campaign trail, you know he hasn’t promised any revenue initiatives of the scale of Borders’ point-of-sale tax collection proposal. But the Borders plan, while intriguing, could be well beyond any mayor’s ability to deliver. Reed, by contrast, has chosen to focus on cost-cutting reforms he could reasonably enact, such as scaling back Atlanta’s ruinous pension liabilities, reining in employee overtime and using fewer outside lawyers.
Nor has Reed shied away from offering specific changes he’d implement as mayor, from trimming the city’s IT department to replacing the private contractor handling worker’s comp claims for police. We’re confident Reed would make the tough decisions needed to fund his most ambitious proposal, to reopen the city’s shuttered recreation centers and expand their hours and programs to give Atlanta’s inner-city youth an alternative to the streets.
As a legislator, Reed has ranked among the most effective policymakers in the Senate. Despite being a partisan Democrat, he’s been successful working with — and sometimes around — Republicans to get things done, such as restoring tax allocation district funding and securing the low-interest state loans that allowed Atlanta to launch its sewer fix. It could be said that Reed has capably served as the city’s de facto floor leader.
By all accounts, Borders has been a strong and engaged City Council president, but the position is not one that lends itself to a tangible record of accomplishment that can rival Reed’s. And the relationship of mutual respect he’s cultivated with the state’s GOP leaders will be critical to helping move Atlanta forward on such vital regional issues as transportation planning, water resources and even Beltline funding.
None of the candidates are perfect or has the management experience that Franklin brought to the job. Borders is rightly criticized for supporting a tax hike to end police furloughs — after she opposed a similar measure aimed at preventing them. And Reed has been attacked as representing a potential continuation of the Franklin administration and Atlanta’s long history of political patronage.
Certainly, Reed has been close to Franklin, whose two mayoral campaigns he managed. But he’s also been critical of Franklin’s failings and seems intent not to repeat her mistakes, such as retaining an underperforming police chief. In fact, as head of Franklin’s 2002 City Hall transition team, he helped lay the groundwork for her successful first term and gained valuable insight into city operations.
Our main concern with Reed is that he can be too politically calculating, more interested in outmaneuvering his opponents than achieving a beneficial goal. You sometimes need to play that game to survive at the Capitol, but it won’t work at the city, where taxpayers demand transparency and honest communication.
If caring about people were all it takes to be mayor, then Norwood would get our vote. Borders also seems drawn to public service, as a continuation of her family’s legacy, while Reed seems motivated by personal ambition at times. Still, we believe that he has the strongest record of achievement and the right skill set for being an effective mayor of Atlanta.
Here’s the complete list of CL’s endorsements in the 2009 Atlanta elections.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
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October 13th, 2009 at 10:55 am
How could Creative Loafing support such a crook! Http://notkasim.blogspot.com Everyone knows that he has his hand out already and is just licking his lips for the first payment as Mayor.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:56 am
CL, I am so disappointed in this endorsement. After thoroughly reading through this piece, I have to say, that giving the endorsement to Reed (after such a narrow “edging out” from Borders) is highly questionable. I almost want the AJC to give an endorsement, particularly since both CL and the Sunday Paper have dropped the ball on endorsing candidates. Boo hiss boo!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Wow, we agree on this one!
That probably means you must change, or at least reconsider, your choice. lol
October 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I think that Norwood should have got it.
“She calls for a large increase in public-safety spending, but dismisses the city budget as incomprehensible.”
It would have benefited the public had the writer of this article undertaken their due diligence to add up how much Kasim’s plan is going to cost and whether or not all of his cost cutting techniques will cover the balance. THEY WONT!!!
No one works harder than that Norwood lady. REAL Atlantans know that.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:11 am
A great analysis. Anyone who went to the Arts and Culture Mayoral Forum would recognize that Mary Norwood came across as a total lightweight.
I would have been for Norwood up to last night, but she looks like she would be a totally ineffective leader.
Lisa and Kasim both seem energized and would make inspirational leaders, but Kasim seemed most likely to be a leader in the field of Arts and Culture, so great pick Creative Loafing!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:16 am
“Norwood is considered a lightweight …because she has a tendency to flit from one issue to the next, often taking reactionary positions based on superficial information, …”
A fitting describing John Q. America if ever there was one.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:30 am
William, just because Kasim comes off like a leader of “art and culture” doesn’t mean he’ll come of like a competent mayor. Please!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:37 am
This is highly disappointing. The editors at CL openly admit that Reed is too “politically calculating” and that he’s part of the Franklin’s inner circle of friends, yet they consider him good for Atlanta. This city needs more than another crony politician using Atlanta as a stepping stone for political gain. I guess I’ll continue to get my news from the AJC and leave the restaurant reviews and concert listings to CL.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I hear that Kasim’s staffers prefer the Wendy’s near their campaign office, James. :)
October 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
The Vote-O-Meter sees the mayoral race as very tight going into the final weeks. It forecasts that if the mayoral election were held today, the votes would be Mary Norwood 35%; Lisa Borders – 33%; Kasim Reed – 27%; Jesse Spikes – 3%, Kyle Keyser – 2%; Peter Brownlowe – 0%. Norwood’s lead continues to decline but she is keeping her strategy of trying to make no blunders. Borders remains potent but Reed is gaining traction. Spikes is out of the race. Keyser is keeping his small but fervent group. Brownlowe does not show up on the charts.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
This is exciting!
October 13th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I wuz wrong – and glad to say it! CL makes the right mayor pick for some of the right reasons: Reed is indeed way the best on cutting pension cost, re-starting rec centers, record of effectiveness at Capitol …
October 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
What is the Vote-O-Meter, and why should I care? Is this another Creative Loafing thing?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Finally. Between fear of offending anyone (AJC) and unhinged pathology (Sunday Paper), we have reasonable journalists willing to sort through 47 or so mayoral forums and give us an idea of who they believe will run the city best. No I don’t need CL to tell me who to vote for (I am voting for Lisa) but I certainly don’t mind another well-considered opinion. Thanks Thomas, Scott, Mara, et al.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Oh and Dale, why am I not surprised we still cannot agree?
October 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I love you too, douchebag. :-)
October 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Paul, you are such an ignorant fool. Kasim Reed is already accomplished and wealthy.
Why would he be “licking his lips for his first payment” after taking more than a million dollar pay cut to serve as mayor.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Very disappointed in CL. Can anyone explain how Reed will pay for 750 additional police officers when a grant from the federal government for just over $11M will cover and additional 50 officers? Very irresponsible of CL not to weigh through the BS and pandering to get to the truth. Kasim, are you reading this? Please explain how you will pay for the additional police officers? You failed to answer that same question at the Spelman forum. Still waiting for an answer…
October 13th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Vote-O-Meter: tsk tsk tsk
You were doing pretty well for a while there.
Some things to consider:
- Norwood has more cash on hand than all the other candidates combined
- Lisa has gone dark (off TV) she literally does not have enough money to pay the bills, let alone TV
- The poll leaked to Galloway by the business community showed Norwood with a 20 point lead
If you honestly think anyone on the planet can make up ANY points (let alone double digits) with NO substantial TV advertising – you’re delusional. And I don’t think you are.
Norwood is going to come within a couple points of winning outright and will take all that momentum into the run-off
October 13th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I think the Vote-o-meter is a scientific poll, just with a low sample size. Maybe I am wrong…
October 13th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
@ SAMiAM: Talk about going dark, Norwood has been so far under the radar it’s amazing. But also a great strategy considering the candidate in distant third is doing his best to peck away at the second place candidate. The Norwood camp knows the more they keep her out of the spotlight the better her chances. A couple of more televised debates and people will see Norwood as the unqualified, unorganized, candidate that she really is. She openly says she doesn’t understand the city’s finances. Are you kidding me? I would hope that Atlantans are much brighter than you think they are!
October 13th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I think the Vote-o-Meter is the bunk.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
This is a beautiful photo of Kasim.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
WOW! I am shocked by the endorsement. Very informative article. After reading it, I have to go with Reed as well.
Regarding the Vote-o-meter, looks like Norwood is on the decline. And, if Borders is going broke, she may be in big trouble…
Reed just may beat the odds and end up in the run-off. If so, Norwood better watch out… Considering that he has proven the capability to out-raise her and will devastate her in the one-on-one debates, I think Reed will pull it out…
October 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
pull it out?! run for the hills, girls! ya’ll know he’s the raping type.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Atl by way of TX – She does not say she doesn’t “understand” them. She said she doesn’t “trust” them. She was quoting the current CFO (Jim Glass) who said HE didn’t trust the numbers yet.
So no, I’m not kidding. And you are either a paid blogger for one of the camps or you didn’t actually do any research.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Folks, we’ve had so many “vote-o-meter” questions that I feel it necessary to provide a disclaimer of sorts. From what I understand, it’s a made-up term that a frequent commenter to this site applies to his own thoughts about local politics. It has nothing to do with CL and does not represent any actual poll results.
Frankly, I consider these comments a little misleading because they imply an inside knowledge of the races — but the aforementioned commenter hasn’t actually broken any rules, so we’ve let it slide.
So, readers should take the “vote-o-meter” for what it is: one man’s opinion about the race. (If I’ve mischaracterized the “vote-o-meter,” that man is welcome to use this space to correct me — under his real name, preferably.)
October 13th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Thanks for that clarification, Scott.
October 13th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
@by way of TX. I respect your push for CL to focus on the key issues and candidates’ platform positions. It’s that focus that puts me on Kasim’s side. (And nothing else, since I’ve never met the man personally and don’t expect to worship a lawyer-pol.)
Reed put cutting the gi-normous pension burden front and center of his platform, even though that has to turn off the cop and fire unions. At $100mm, plus a bunch more for an out of control retiree health liability, cuts there could potentially pay for a big increase in cop numbers. In any case, pension expense is the only realistic target for putting Atlanta’s house in order. Getting cops out of desk jobs etc. would also boost the number on the beat.
But by all means, Kasim should be called on to show his arithmetic.
Forget trying that with the other two, though. They don’t even try to answer questions. Lisa just parrots her canned speech, which sounds plausible until you realize that’s all she ever says. Mary says she’ll tell us when she gets into office.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
It’s Kyle Keyser for me.We need a fresh eye.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
^I pick Kyle as well.
2%? That Vote-o-meter could use a tuning.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
@SAMiAM: My research takes place in the way of attending forums and reading the candidates web sites. I heard Norwood say “Enron like accounting” “it’s nutty” “it’s a shell game” not the kind of quotes that instill any confidence in her ability to run the city. And no, I’m not a paid blogger but I do have a degree in journalism so I will take your jab as a compliment…thanks!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
@Borders on the ridiculous – never met him. HA! You’re obviously on the payroll.
Lets be real people. Kasim is a crook! Don’t get caught up Atlanta!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
@Borders…I haven’t heard any math from Borders that needs to be checked, but I will certainly keep my ears open. I am completely put off by the blatant pandering for votes like promising to hire 750 new officers and not mentioning how he will pay for it. Again, the article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle states a federal grant of just over $11M will pay for 50 new officers. How in the world will Reed pay for the other 700. I really do want to know…
October 14th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Scott: Spot on (other than the “a little misleading” comment).
October 14th, 2009 at 9:42 am
@TX I’ll make it short: what is it about Reed’s commitment to cut pension expense that you don’t understand?
October 14th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Evidently CL readers are voting Keyser. I am not surprised since CL handed him all the positive press he needed to launch a self important race to mayor. Why did CL bother endorsing anyone at all?
Seems like his mission and organization have more to do with him than it does about solving crime, so what did Keyser do to get so much last minute support?
October 14th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Wow! I just do not get CL endorsing a candidate and saying “Our main concern with Reed is that he can be too politically calculating, more interested in outmaneuvering his opponents than achieving a beneficial goal. You sometimes need to play that game to survive at the Capitol, but it won’t work at the city, where taxpayers demand transparency and honest communication.”
No thank you!!
October 14th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
@ Borders: I’ll keep it brief too…never said I didn’t understand it. My question was regarding a different issue.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
@NoWay
Looks like someone feels threatened! That’s a good sign for Kyle’s camp. :D
Listen: the truth is that us Keyser fans are voting primarily on the issue of crime. He has done far more to address that issue than any other candidate, in my humble opinion, including–get this–redirecting additional tax revenue to public safety. What a novel idea, right? If only it weren’t.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
someone remind me who stephanie ramage used to be and why she is so interested in kasim reed’s photo?
October 21st, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Kyle has the best commercial by far
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
The above alleged “Stephanie Ramage” is not me. I agree with CL’s endorsement, since it is also mine, but I’ve never said one word about the way Kasim looks because it is irrelevant. Call me if you need to. I’m at the Sunday Paper or email me at stephanieramage@sundaypaper.com
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I’m still not sure which one of you I should shoot.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Stephanie Ramage is here? I’ll call the janitor.