Former Atlanta mayoral candidate Mary Norwood, who lost to Mayor Kasim Reed in a 2009 run-off by just over 700 votes, qualified Friday morning to run for City Council.
Norwood is challenging incumbent Aaron Watson for her former seat, Post 2 At-Large, in the November election. Norwood was elected in 2001 and served two terms.
Norwood resigned from her position with the Fulton County Registrations and Elections Board before filing her declaration of intention papers to run Friday, she said.
“I have always felt my work at City Hall was important and it was an honor and privilege serving the city of Atlanta,” she said moments after qualifying.
Norwood’s campaign will soon kick off in earnest, she said. And Friday, she unveiled a revamped website, www.MaryNorwood.com, detailing how she plans to address public safety, fiscal responsibility, green space and transportation issues in Atlanta, she said.
While her race against Watson may not be as high-profile as her contentious battle against Reed four years ago, the mayor is likely to contribute a portion of his $1.6 million campaign war chest to keep Watson in office.
As of now, Norwood has zero dollars in her campaign as her paperwork was just filed. But with Jamie Ensley of the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans serving on her campaign, that figure is expected to grow quickly.
“Campaigns are always full of lots of energy and activity,” she said when asked about gearing up for another try at City Hall. “(Public service) is important work and a campaign is part of that.”
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