Franklin says she's voting for Reed

By Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After months of declining to endorse anyone, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin now says she will vote on Tuesday for former state lawmaker Kasim Reed to succeed her.

"I think [Reed] has the best set of skills," Franklin said in an interview with CNN that aired Monday evening. "He has really been there to do some tough things [at the Legislature]. He has Republican and Democratic support. ... Even though there are other candidates who have obviously some strengths, I think through it all, he has the best chance of working in the region and the state."

Reed managed both of Franklin's successful mayoral campaigns in 2001 and 2005 and helped the mayor with legislation at the Capitol that resulted in money for Atlanta's ongoing $4 billion water and sewer improvements.

For months, Franklin refused to say which candidate she supports. She's been clear she wouldn't endorse the front-runner, Councilwoman Mary Norwood. Franklin wrote a blog entry on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Political Insider column last week saying that Norwood has not demonstrated "vision, competence or integrity in her public life."

The mayor has also been critical of Norwood for not voting in June with the majority of the council in favor of raising taxes, which Franklin said was necessary to end furloughs on police officers.