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Shirley Franklin

Candidate for: Mayor of Atlanta, GA
Election Date: November 8, 2005

FINAL RESULTS
Franklin: 91%
Walker: 6%
Wrightson: 3%


The Candidate

Shirley Franklin is running for reelection to her second term as Mayor of Atlanta. Winning city hall in late 2002, Ms. Franklin took the reins of a municipal government in virtual disrepair. Her administration replaced years of corrupt local leadership and inherited an $82 million budget deficit.

Ms. Franklin has proven more than equal to the challenge. Drawing from her years of experience as Atlanta's City Manager from 1982 to 1990 and as a key member of the 1996 Olympics Committee, she has turned around the city in little over three years. CNM's research finds Ms. Franklin to be a gutsy reformer who is not afraid of taking political risks in the name of needed change: weeks after taking office, Franklin cut 1,000 jobs from the city payroll, persuaded the City Council to approve several measured tax increases, laid off half of her staff and cut her own salary by $40,000.

Ms. Franklin carries the grit of an unabashed reformer and the negotiating skills of a seasoned diplomat - a rare combination in leadership. She is an emerging leader in the Democratic effort to reclaim the South, and, in April 2005, Time magazine named her one of America's top five mayors. She is the first black female mayor of any major southern city.


The Issues

Fiscal responsibility, government ethics, crime and cleanliness are the leading issues in Atlanta politics. Since taking office, Franklin has closed the $82 million budget gap through extensive cost cutting measures and a thorough review of city operations. She has also negotiated a more robust municipal employee ethics code through the hesitant minefield of Atlanta's City Council.

Crime dropped 12% in Atlanta last year under Franklin's watch. Her administration continues to lead imaginative initiatives such as the "Pothole Posse" to improve Atlanta's appearance.

Still, Shirley is not content with merely righting Atlanta's long-standing municipal problems. Having turned around this emerging southern city, she is now focusing on an ambitious business retention and job growth program that would add 60,000 local jobs in her next term alone.


The Race

Franklin is heavily favored in this fall's election. As of early October her only listed opponents are Dave Walker and Glenn Wrightson - both are considered fringe candidates.

Franklin officially announced her campaign on September 9th and is well-supported with $771,507 in campaign funds as of June 30th.


CNM Supports Shirley Franklin

While Shirley Franklin is not in need of financial support in her race for reelection as Mayor of Atlanta, she is fast emerging as a Democratic leader in the South. For her achievements during her first term as mayor, Franklin was awarded this year's John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by the JFK Library Foundation. She is the first sitting mayor to be so honored.

CNM believes it is essential to support and cultivate new progressive talent not just through committed fundraising, but also by giving local and statewide talent a national platform for their achievements and future ambitions. Such efforts are of profound importance in swing states like Georgia and its southern neighbors. CNM proudly endorses Shirley Franklin for Mayor of Atlanta. We anticipate a great future from this rising southern star.


Support Shirley Franklin for Mayor

CNM is proud to endorse Shirley Franklin for Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. We encourage you to give her your support.

Please contribute directly to Shirley Franklin's Campaign by clicking here!

You can also send checks to:
Campaign for a National Majority
Attn: Nathaniel Stinnett
6 Claflin Road, Suite 3
Brookline, MA 02445
Make checks payable to "Shirley Franklin for Mayor." Please include information about your occupation, employer, and address.*

*State law requires candidate campaign committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of individuals whose contributions aggregate in excess of $100 in an election cycle.