Franklin criticizes Norwood’s comments on city’s finances

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By ERIC STIRGUS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is not happy about what one candidate who wants her job is saying about the city’s finances.

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Atlanta Mayor Franklin said Monday that Chief Financial Officer Jim Glass, hired in November, has made significant improvements to the city’s financial practices.

Rick McKay, AJC Atlanta Mayor Franklin said Monday that Chief Financial Officer Jim Glass, hired in November, has made significant improvements to the city’s financial practices.

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The mayor released a statement Monday urging Mary Norwood, a councilwoman, to alert law enforcement if she’s aware of any fraud or criminal activity inside City Hall. Otherwise, Franklin said, “to publicly assert criminal activity in the absence of proof violates basic principles of fairness and decency.”

During a debate Sunday, Norwood on several occasions compared the city’s finances to Enron, whose name has become synonymous with corporate crime.

“The Enron-type of accounting we have had has compromised our citizens’ safety,” Norwood said when asked how she would pay for more police officers.

Norwood tried to defuse the situation in a statement late Monday.

“What’s important here is not a common figure of speech, but the fact that the city’s finances are a mess that is just now starting to be cleaned up after years of mismanagement,” Norwood said.

Norwood has said she voted against raising property taxes the last two years largely because she said it’s tough to decipher the city’s budget numbers.

Franklin is prohibited from running for a third term. The mayor said in a radio interview last week she’s “less inclined” to endorse Norwood, who is leading the polls.

The city’s internal auditor released a report in April 2008 that found overbudgeting and staff miscalculations.

Franklin said Monday that Chief Financial Officer Jim Glass, hired in November, has made significant improvements to the city’s financial practices.