ATLANTA – Things got heated in a press conference on Tuesday where Atlanta City Council President and former Mayoral candidate Ceasar Mitchell endorsed Mary Norwood as Atlanta’s next mayor.
In the beginning, Mitchell reflected on his time over the last decade and how two were seatmates for eight of them. Throughout his speech Mitchell focused on Norwood’s past record and said, for him, there is no other choice.
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“It’s about the issues for me,” Mitchell said. “I think Mary Norwood is someone who believes in the issues I believe in and she’s shown that.”
Norwood in turned thanked and praised Mitchell for his help and support over the years as City Council President.
Mitchell was pressed on why he endorsed Norwood and he continued to focus on the issues.
“Why are we talking about Democrat versus Republican rhetoric in a race that really should be about whether or not neighborhoods will be safe,” Mitchell said. “That’s what this conversation should be about.”
Near the end of the press conference, the two were asked about Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s distaste for Mitchell’s endorsement.
Earlier Tuesday, Reed had strong words when asked about Mitchell endorsing Norwood.
"Ceasar Mitchell endorsing Mary Norwood is one man, one woman, two losers."
Norwood responded.
“I am appalled,” Norwood said. “This mayor has demeaned the dignity of the office of mayor of a major U.S. city when he is so disparaging about two city-wide elected officials who have served this city honorably, successfully, with integrity, with fair play, with absolute transparency. We have done that.”
Norwood continued to say that there was no one she admired more than Mitchell.
“So Mayor Reed, this is not worthy of Atlanta. I won’t have it, no one I know in my campaign and all the people in this town who want to elect the next best leader for this city,” Norwood said. “We do not need a barnyard school-age bully running this city.”
She finished by saying, “Respect your position for a few more weeks and give us an opportunity for all citizens of this town to make important decisions about its future.”
“You have had your eight years,” Norwood said. “History will judge you and history will judge who the next mayor and the people who support her will be.”
Norwood will go head-to-head with Keisha Lance Bottoms in a Dec. 5 runoff to determine who will be Atlanta's 60th mayor. Both women are members of Atlanta's city council and were the top two vote-getters in the general election on November 7 from among a large field. However, neither was able to garner the necessary total of 50 percent plus one vote necessary to secure the victory.
Norwood previously ran for the mayor's office in 2009.
Watch full press conference below:
