State Sen. Kasim Reed is running for Mayor of Atlanta and whether he wins or loses, there is one absolute certainty. . .
. . . Reed will have to give up his seat in the state Senate the day he qualifies as a mayoral candidate later on this year. The state Constitution mandates it.
As a registered voter of the state Senate district Reed represents, I’ve been paying close attention to the Atlanta Democrat’s actions even to the point of speculating when he would give up his seat. Logically, I thought that Sen. Reed would likely step down in 2008 so that he could focus on raising money and running for mayor full time.
Obviously, I was wrong.
The current speculation, from at least one individual who has spoken with Reed, is that he will step down at the conclusion of the 2009 legislative session. If this conjecture is correct, then voters in the 35th state Senate district –which includes south Fulton County and a portion of Douglas County– will likely head to the polls over the summer to fill the vacant seat.
South Fulton businessman Benny Crane has indicated that he is running for the seat.
Crane, who was a leading advocate for the City of South Fulton, would be making his second run for the state Senate. In 2002, Crane finished third in a field of five for the 35th district seat left open when Donzella James became a candidate for Congress.
Former state Sen. Donzella James has also hinted that she may run in the special election.
James served eight years as the state Senator from the 35th district during which she chaired the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee. Whether she was running for re-election to the state Senate or seeking a higher office, James has appeared on the ballot consistently since 1994.
The issues in the 35th district will be centered around the economy (the loss of jobs from the Hapeville Ford Motors plant closure & the high foreclosure rates in the area), education (the continuing achievement gap between schools in north and south Fulton counties) and crime
The campaign is going to be very fast and the eventual victor will be the person who has their team ready to hit the ground running the second Sen. Reed vacates the seat.
Any questions?
Full Disclosure: I’ve been talking to Benny Crane on and off about this race for the last eighteen months including putting him in contact with some direct mail firms and voter file vendors.
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I asked Kasim about when he would step down this summer at one of Dee Dawkins Haigler’s events at Manuels last summer and he told me that he would serve out the 09 legislative term and then focus on running for mayor.
Shock …. Andre getting paid again to promote someone’s political campaign.
I don’t know anything about this Crane guy, but I know all I need to know about him now.
I wish politicians at the national level were forced to resign when they want to run for another office. This past campaign season was a joke with 3 Senators campaigning for over a year (some 2 years) while getting paid and then going back to their old job after losing.
I’d like that kind of job security.
at least Kasim is not as big of a criminal as Vernon Jones, Decaturguy.
Contact: Carrisa Baptiste
Campaign Manager, Sneed For Senate 35
[email protected]
South Fulton Resident George Sneed Declares Intent to Run for GA Senate District 35 Seat
ATLANTA – Jan. 31, 2009: On the principles of leadership, common sense government and accessibility to the constituency, George Sneed today announced a campaign to succeed Kasim Reed in the Georgia State Senate. Reed currently represents the 35th District and is expected to resign at some point to further his campaign for mayor of Atlanta.
Sneed, 37, filed paperwork with the State Ethics Commission in late December, 2008. He will file with the Secretary of State upon Senator Reed’s resignation. Sneed has organized an online information campaign at http://www.georgesneed.com.
“I want to be the next State Senator of District 35 because I’m qualified to lead on the issues of healthcare, education, and economic development” Sneed said. “Our campaign is an inclusive tent and recognizes that we all want safe neighborhoods and good schools for our children.”
Sneed is a registered nurse and 12-year resident of Fulton County. He currently resides in the area near Camp Creek Marketplace with his wife Carmen and daughters Chloe Summer and Maria Nicole. George is an active member of the Fulton and Douglas County Democratic Parties and was selected in 2008 as an Obama Fellow, representing the South Fulton County area. Other affiliations include Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Auburn University Diversity Alumni Council.
Georgia Senate District 35 is the state’s second-largest district by land mass and spreads across Fulton and Douglas counties.
All communications are provided by friends of George Sneed for Senate 35.
South Fulton businessman Benny Crane has indicated that he is running for the seat.
All this guy has to do is walk around and repeat his name coming and going : Remember, Benny Crane. (just like “Denny Crane” on Boston Legal)
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