ATLANTA
(Nov. 9, 2009)— Former
Atlanta Mayor and Ambassador Andrew Young and Cousins CEO and President Larry
Gellerstedt convened a group of prominent business and civic leaders this week
to pledge support for Kasim Reed’s campaign for mayor.
Those who attended the Forward Atlanta gathering
included Mayor Shirley Franklin, famed architect/developer John Portman,
legendary builder Herman Russell, Coca-Cola executive Ingrid Saunders Jones,
Brooke Jackson-Edmond, CEO, Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation; and accomplished
attorney Bill Ide. Paul Rosser, principal of architectural firm Rosser
International, hosted the meeting.
Reed surprised many by garnering 36 percent of the
vote in the Nov. 3 mayoral election. He faces City Councilwoman Mary Norwood in
a Dec. 1 runoff that will determine who will replace Franklin.
Young and Gellerstedt said Reed, an 11-year veteran
of the Georgia Senate, is the right person to be Atlanta’s 59th mayor because he
possesses the leadership skills needed to move Atlanta Forward. Specifically,
they mentioned Reed’s ability
to work with the General Assembly, his plan to stimulate economic development
in the city and his ideas to make Atlanta a safer city.
“Kasim
Reed is a consensus-builder who knows how to bring together people for a common
cause,”
Ambassador Young said. “He
has accomplished many things for city of Atlanta residents, including securing
funding for the Atlanta BeltLine TAD and water and sewer upgrades, and sponsoring
legislation for the merger of the city’s Traffic and Municipal courts. As mayor of
Atlanta, Kasim Reed will have a more direct impact and accomplish even more for
city residents.”
Gellerstedt, who previously supported mayoral candidate
Lisa Borders, said the time is now to get behind Reed. “Kasim Reed’s accomplishments are impressive,
and his ability to lead apparent,” Gellerstedt said. “I urge other business and civic leaders to support
Kasim Reed in the Dec. 1 runoff.”
Scott Taylor, president of Carter, said the meeting
shows Reed can bring together business and civic leaders from across the
city. “I was
inspired by what I saw at the meeting,” Taylor said. “Ambassador Young has recognized that Kasim Reed is
a visionary leader who will move Atlanta Forward.”
Others in attendance at the Forward Atlanta meeting
included John Shlesinger, vice chairman, CB Richard Ellis; Jerome Russell,
president – real
estate development, H.J. Russell & Co.; Scott Selig, vice president, Selig
Enterprises; Jeff Portman, president and CEO, AMC Inc.; Wayne Mason, real
estate investor; Hattie Dorsey, founder and former CEO, Atlanta Neighborhood
Development Partnership; Daniel Halpern, co-chair, Kasim Reed for Mayor; Peter
Aman, co-chair, Kasim Reed for Mayor; and Keith Mason, attorney at McKenna Long
& Aldridge and former chairman, Georgia Ports Authority.
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