Anti-crime activist enters Atlanta mayor race

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kyle Keyser, co-founder of Atlantans Together Against Crime, is running for mayor.

Enlarge photo

Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com, AJC In this photo taken on March 27, Kyle Keyser was spearheading Atlantans Together Against Crime.

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The 35-year-old anti-crime activist, bolstered by the voice of 10,000 members of ATAC, said he is uneasy about what the impending city election has to offer thus far.

“Everybody recognizes their talent,” Keyser said of the candidates currently in the race. “But the sentiment is, how can we roll the dice when the city has such a dire situation?”

He filed his intent to raise campaign funds with the city on Monday, city officials said.

And Keyser said he began fund raising online Tuesday morning, first to collect enough money for the $4,425 application fee, then for campaign dollars.

He has until Friday to raise the application money.

“In just a few hours, we had about 30 percent of the funds,” Keyser said.

The film producer began speaking out against public safety in January after the murder of a Grant Park bartender John Henderson.

High-profile crimes such as Henderson’s death have, in recent months, given some residents a perception that crime is on the rise in Atlanta.

Keyser said the city needs direction that he hasn’t seen, either in past administrations or in the candidates currently in the race.

“City Hall and the candidates have aligned their messages to keep public safety the central message,” he said.

“Past mayors have said similar things, and nothing has happened. I want to believe in the candidates ... ”

Keyser compared running the city to making a film, and said he would be the director.

“The director ultimately has the vision, but is responsible for bringing the talent to execute that vision,” he said.

At best, Keyser said he wants to bring a fresh perspective to the race for mayor of a city he feels hasn’t lived up to its full potential.

“It’s a world class city that hasn’t been self-realized,” he said.

And worst-case scenario?

“At the very least, it can be a statement. People are fed up.”