'Black agenda' memo stirs mayor race
By Ernie Suggs and Eric Stirgus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ajc.com
The issue of race has come front and center in what had been — until now — a rather low-key and plodding campaign for mayor of Atlanta.
On Thursday, responding to a strongly worded memo calling for city voters to elect a black mayor, each of the three top candidates responded by either downplaying race or tackling it head on.
The memo notes that for the first time since 1974, “African Americans could lose the mayoral seat in Atlanta, Georgia, especially if there is a runoff;
“Time is of the essence because in order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy we have to get out now and work in a manner to defeat her without a runoff, and the key is a significant black turnout in the general election,” the memo states.
The memo specifically endorsed City Council President Lisa Borders.
“She is the best black candidate in the race who has a chance to win the election because she can attract downtown white support,” the memo says. “And based on polling data drawn from a host of sources between May 2009 and July 2009, the numbers suggest Borders is growing stronger as we move closer to the election, while the most recent polling data suggests that the other black candidates are falling further behind over the same period.”
Borders and Sen. Kasim Reed each called news conferences denouncing the memo and the notion of electing a mayor based on race. City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, the only major white candidate, issued a statement Thursday saying she would continue to focus on crime and cleaning up the city’s finances. The statement never mentioned race.
“Mary’s take on all of this is that she is who she is and people are going to judge her on her ideas, value and ability. She thinks she is going to get a fair hearing from the voters in Atlanta,” said Norwood’s campaign manager Roman Levit. “Judge her on what she has done, what she can do and what she will do.”
Levit would not comment on whether race has become a distraction for Norwood.
“I am not going to characterize any emotions,” he said.
The controversy started this week when the memo penned by a group called the Black Leadership Forum started making its way around the city through e-mail. Aaron Turpeau, a longtime political insider and consultant, is the only member of the group who has been identified. He has acknowledged the memo — which he said is part of the group’s efforts to establish a “black agenda” — but denies writing it.
The document, which Turpeau calls a “white paper,” contains facts about the election campaign, but makes it clear that the city would be better off with a black mayor.
“By coming out for Borders now would eliminate Reed, [Jesse] Spikes and [Glenn] Thomas as viable candidates,” the memo continued. “Some would argue that if the polling data is correct then those candidates who are only polling at 8 percent, 2 percent and 1 percent . . . are already effectively out of the race.”
One group that received the e-mail analysis is Newsmakers Live, a predominantly African-American group that frequently invites local leaders to talk about major issues. “We thought it had merit from the standpoint that people should see it or hear it,” said Jim Welcome, Newsmakers Live’s publisher and executive director.
Welcome said Turpeau sent the analysis and believes it was “assembled by political scientists and activists,” but did not know whom. Turpeau declined to say who actually wrote the letter.
Regardless of who the author is, Reed urged the Borders campaign to denounce the e-mail, which he called “divisive” and “racist.”
“This campaign should be based on the merits of each candidate, not the color of someone’s skin,” Reed said at his news conference. “This kind of language and this kind of thought has no place in this campaign.”
About an hour later, Borders tried to distance herself from the memo.
“I recognize the constitutional right of every citizen to express their concern,” Borders said. “I reject the analysis offered by Aaron Turpeau. He is absolutely wrong. I oppose anyone, or any race, who would distract us from what is important today.”
Borders said she first got wind of the memo Wednesday afternoon. She said she had a conversation with Turpeau and told him that she was “incredibly disappointed.”
In her comments, Borders stressed that Turpeau is not directly involved in her campaign, though he is one of her supporters. On Borders’ last campaign disclosure form, a company owned by Turpeau made a $500 contribution to Borders’ campaign.
Borders added that she has actually been trying to talk about race in Atlanta since 2007, but that no one wanted to listen.
“This is a conversation that needs to be had,” Borders said. “I am the best person, uniquely qualified to lead this discussion. This does not damage my candidacy.”
Spikes, another African-American candidate, said he believes some Atlantans will vote based on race, but insisted he’ll campaign on showing he’ll be the best mayor for all residents. “I’m here to represent the whole city, black, white and everyone in between,” Spikes said in an interview.
Glenn Thomas, the fifth candidate mentioned in the e-mail, also harshly criticized the idea of a plan to unite against a candidate based on race.
“I am disheartened and appalled by the comments made in the memo,” Thomas said. |
