ATLANTA — Atlanta mayoral candidate Mary Norwood just received new support: former mayoral candidate Peter Aman and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.
The announcement comes just weeks before the runoff election.
[WATCH: WSB-TV to host a LIVE mayoral runoff debate between Mary Norwood and Keisha Lance Bottoms on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m.]
Franklin, who served as Atlanta mayor for eight years, says she spoke with most of teh other candidates, but withheld her endorsement until the runoff.
She said she believes Norwood is the very best person to become mayor.
“Mary Norwood has the skills, the talents and the temperament, the intellect and the ability to build the coalitions and partnerships we need from this point forward,” Franklin said.
Aman announced that if Norwood is elected, he would run her transition team.
Former Atlanta mayoral candidate Ceasar Mitchell, who has already endorsed Norwood, was also there for the announcement.
Norwood is facing Keisha Lance Bottoms.
At the news conference Monday morning, Franklin was asked why, as a black woman, she didn't endorse Bottoms.
Franklin said this mayoral election should not be about race.
"For me, race was not the first issue. I've said this over and over - character, transparency and integrity are the first issue for me. I don't get to those other issues until I am convinced that you've passed the first test. So for those who want to see this purely as race, I think that's a mistake," Franklin said.
Bottoms has received support from current Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, gubernatorial candidate Stacey Evans and former mayoral candidate Kwanza Hall.
- The city's last five mayors have been African-American
- The last 27 have been Democrats
- There have only ever been two Republican mayors of Atlanta. Shirley Franklin was the first female mayor of Atlanta. The next mayor will be the second
- Only four former Atlanta mayors were born in Atlanta
- Click here for more facts about Atlanta mayors
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