City Council President's Race/Mayoral Race (Atlanta, Jackson: budget, expenses, business)

[Morehouse Guy]

Folks, I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the likely slate for the City Council President's job -- Claire Muller, Caesar Mitchell or Vincent Fort. Any opinion on the group? Individuals? Major challenges facing the next Council President? What it takes to be a successful one (in the opinions of voters)?

Also, we know the AJC has already anointed Kasim and Lisa the frontrunners, so how does a Jesse Spikes or a Mary Norwood navigate an already tilted playing field? Now, Mr. Spikes seems to have the perfect "outsider" credentials that should resonate in the current political environment (folks seem to be losing their patience with Mayor Franklin and by implication the Jackson machine that is likely supporting Sen. Reed and raise questions about the ability of the current political class (Reed, Borders and Norwood) to engage in the kind of fundamental reform the city needs) -- but will that be enough? Thoughts?

Lastly, no "DRAFT CLARK HOWARD" replies seeing as the guy is not running for anything.

Look forward to reading the responses.

[luckysnap]

I cannot imagine any competent, capable leader wanting to run for Mayor of Atlanta. It is a no win situation.

[Init2Winit]

Well said Morehouse!

I admit that I'm a little biased (I work for Jesse Spikes for Mayor, Inc.), but I think that given the level of discontent amoung many voters in Atlanta (and the President Obama's recent historic election on a paltform of "change"), career politicians may find an electorate hostile to "business as usual." In other words, how can we trust the same people who got us into this predicament, to get us out? (Sound familiar?)

As was said at last weeks mayoral debate, the job of the city council is to say, "no." To exercise that time-honored tradition of checks and balances within our government is something that the current City Council has failed to consistenly utilize. Whether or not you agree with all of Mayor Franklin's proposals, I think that it can be said that the current crop of City Council mayoral hopefuls appear as just a continuation of the same "failed policies" that have gotten us into this mess. More specifically, Mary Norwood's non-vote on the 2009 budget that passed is an indication of a lack of true leadership. Was she for it or against it? A non-vote! Yet she benefits from that same budget that, according to the City Council audit on expenditures, published in March of this year, she claimed over $60,000 in "expenses" on behalf of the "people" for the "common good." Council members already earn over $39,000 a year for what is described as a part-time job (they only meet twice a month), so do we really expect them to want to put an end to the gravy train? If you can't stand up for a simple up or down vote while you're in City Council, how can we expect you to stand up to all of the varying self-interests as Mayor of Atlanta?