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Soror Franklin Re-elected mayor of Atlanta. Go Soror Franklin!
Atlanta mayor untouchable after 4 years
By TY TAGAMI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/09/05
More jobs, thriving businesses, fewer homeless people and better public schools.
Those were Shirley Franklin's central pledges in seeking another four-year term as Atlanta's mayor.
And Tuesday, the politician seen as one of the nation's most respected big-city mayors appeared well-positioned to deliver on those promises. Early results showed Franklin far outdistancing her lesser-known rivals.
Many observers saw Franklin's re-election as a sure bet. Some of the wealthiest names in the city and state supported her campaign, and it didn't hurt that U.S. News & World Report recently named her one of America's "best leaders." That recognition came months after Time magazine called her one of the country's five best mayors.
Franklin, 60, came to office four years ago promising to restore confidence in City Hall and to make Atlanta "proud." She helped the city overcome some of its most entrenched problems, gaining supporters and critics along the way.
The mayor balanced the budget by cutting jobs and raising taxes. She initiated a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the city's crumbling sewers. She took on homelessness, calling for cooperation from the private sector to establish a 24-hour service center for the needy. And recently, Franklin gave high school seniors a hand in planning their futures, helping some to find jobs and others to attend college.
Despite the volatile partisan politics common today, Franklin, a Democrat, worked well with Republicans, who in recent years gained control of the Governor's Mansion and Legislature. While state Democrats' fortunes waned, her influence seemed to grow.
When the city needed help funding its massive sewer overhaul, she secured it from Gov. Sonny Perdue, who offered low-interest loans. She persuaded the Legislature to let the city put a sales tax for sewers on the ballot last year. Three of four voters favored the penny-on-the-dollar tax.
Bobby Kahn, chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party, attended Franklin's election night celebration Tuesday. "The mayor's very influential in this state, and she's a voice nationally on a lot of important issues," Kahn said.
Despite her political clout, Franklin, who can't seek re-election to a third consecutive term, says she is satisfied running the diverse city of 400,000. And she consistently refuses to speculate how far her popularity might carry her beyond Atlanta.
"I've served four years, and I'm expecting to serve another four. I don't know what I'll do four years from now," she told the Journal-Constitution recently.
Opponents were nonthreatening
Franklin's position seemed so strong in the run-up to Tuesday's election that no formidable opponent rose to challenge her. Her rivals included food stand vendor Dave Walker, who said he couldn't just let Franklin "walk in and be coronated," utility consultant Glenn Wrightson and write-in candidate James Harris, a member of the Socialist Workers Party.
Amy Owen of Inman Park said she cast her ballot for Franklin so she could finish the job she started.
"I think she's made some good changes," said Owen, 31, "and she needs more time to accomplish the things she wants to do."
The big question is how accommodating the new City Council will be to Franklin's policies. Up to now, she has been able to get much of what she has wanted from the 15-member council.
Just Monday, the City Council overwhelmingly endorsed the Beltline project she championed, a $2 billion proposal to add parks, trails and transit in a ring around the central city.
To ensure she will have a strong hand going forward, she endorsed, donated to and even campaigned for several council candidates — all but one of them incumbents. Their opponents in many cases were critical of her administration.
Support of new council critical
With next year's budget looming, the mayor will need the new council's support. She said she plans to urge more spending on services that touch the public, such as police, fire and code enforcement. She said she also wants to spend taxpayer money promoting the city, investing in the new branding campaign that was created with business boosters.
"The city ought to contribute to the branding campaign," Franklin said last week. She said the city also should work with the state to bring more jobs to Georgia.
Franklin's politics, particularly her pro-business policies, haven't pleased everyone. People in poorer parts of Atlanta complain they are ignored. Residents complain they are being squeezed by rising bills from the city's sewer overhaul and rents that grow with property values.
Panhandling ban stirred critics
The mayor's recent successful efforts to ban panhandling downtown agitated some advocates for the homeless, who claimed it was draconian.
Franklin said she is trying to help the downtrodden, and wants to boost the standard of living while creating 2,000 units of "affordable" housing per year.
The mayor said she also will work with leaders from around metro Atlanta and the state to solve regional problems, such as inadequate transportation systems. She also said she will work with the public school system to improve graduation rates.
Although Franklin won't talk about her future, other leading Democrats say she can go as far as she wants after Atlanta.
"She's earned her spurs by service and leadership," said Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), chairman of the House minority caucus. "What the future holds is up to her."
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