Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed endorses Keisha Lance Bottoms for mayor

AUGUST 18, 2016 — Georgia State University President Mark Becker (left) and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed shake hands as Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms (right) looks on following an announcement on Aug. 18, 2016, that a deal had been reached for Georgia State and its development partners to purchase Turner Field, the 20-year-old former Olympic stadium and former home of the Atlanta Braves. Councilwoman Bottoms is also director of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. The Rec Authority and the Braves are fighting over money now that the team has left Atlanta for Cobb County. (Photo: Hyosub Shin/ hshin@ajc.com)

Credit: Hyosub Shin

Credit: Hyosub Shin

AUGUST 18, 2016 — Georgia State University President Mark Becker (left) and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed shake hands as Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms (right) looks on following an announcement on Aug. 18, 2016, that a deal had been reached for Georgia State and its development partners to purchase Turner Field, the 20-year-old former Olympic stadium and former home of the Atlanta Braves. Councilwoman Bottoms is also director of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. The Rec Authority and the Braves are fighting over money now that the team has left Atlanta for Cobb County. (Photo: Hyosub Shin/ hshin@ajc.com)

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said Wednesday morning that he wants City Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed him as the city’s next mayor.

Speaking during a V-103 radio show, Reed said Bottoms is "absolutely the best candidate" among the large field of hopefuls.

The mayor’s endorsement comes in the middle of a race where up to 13 candidates are vying for the city’s top post.

Why the Atlanta mayor’s race is worth knowing

The next mayor will impact all of metro Atlanta, and the economy of the Southeast. In our series Election 2017, we examine how a lack of affordable housing means fewer new companies – and new jobs – moving here.

Visit Politically Georgia at http://www.myajc.com/georgia-politics/