ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has released a letter and video explaining her love for the city after the stunning announcement that she will not seek a second term as mayor.
Channel 2 Action News first broke the news about the decision Thursday night. She told supporters about her decision during a virtual meeting.
We’ll have continuing coverage of the mayor’s decision on Channel 2 Action News
Following the news, the mayor released a letter on Twitter titled “Dear Atlanta.” In it, she thanked the city for the honor as being mayor.
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“I love you Atlanta. Thank you for the honor of serving as your Mayor,” she wrote.
https://t.co/4yHFpvnVre pic.twitter.com/b7IJEIyojq
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) May 7, 2021
“Is she running for another office?” While I am not yet certain of what the future holds, I trust that my next season will continue to be one full of passion and purpose, guided by the belief that within each of us is the power and responsibility to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
For my children, it means working each day to make Atlanta a safe place that they can call home.
For our city, it means working without ceasing, to create the beloved community that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamt of, one absent of hatred, poverty, and prejudice.
For our state, it means doing all in my power to work against the backwards policies pushed by some of our state leaders, including to restore the integrity of what some have tried to strip from us all, the sacred right to vote.
For our country, it means working to advance the agenda of the Biden-Harris Administration. Despite the many unforeseen challenges that our city has faced, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished, together.
As I have done each day over the many years in which I have served in public office, through the remainder of my term, I will make every decision, keeping what is best for our communities top of mind, and will continue to work diligently to improve the lives of those in our city.
I love you Atlanta. Thank you for the honor of serving as your Mayor.”
Bottoms also released an accompanying video about the decision.
“As Derek and I have given thoughtful prayer and consideration to the season now before us, it is with deep emotions that I hold my head high, and choose not to seek another term as mayor,” Bottoms said.
[PHOTOS: Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms through the years]
Bottoms, the second Black woman to lead Atlanta, was first elected in 2017, beating then-Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood after the election went into a runoff.
Bottoms previously served as the executive director of the Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority under her predecessor, Kasim Reed.
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