ATLANTA — Atlanta’s mayor is answering questions about speculation that she may join the Biden administration.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said as of right now, she’s staying right here in Atlanta.
“I have one job and that’s as mayor of Atlanta and I’ll continue to do that job. If anything happens, I’ll let you know, but right now my focus is on Atlanta,” Bottoms said.
President-elect Joe Biden has said he’s not focused on his domestic cabinet right now, so there has been no talk about who’s in or out yet.
Bottoms supported Biden early in the presidential race, so it seems she would be an obvious pick for his administration.
“Has he called you?” Huddleston asked Bottoms.
“He has not,” Bottoms said.
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The mayor said she’s more concerned about the rising COVID-19 numbers across the country. Bottoms said she has no plans to make any citywide changes, but she wants people to keep their guard up.
“And just be thoughtful of people in our community who may not be as strong as some others. Think about our children with asthma, those with underlying health conditions, which are very prevalent in our community.”
Bottoms said the virus continues to take its toll on her family. They got the virus back in July.
“My husband still has a lot of lingering health conditions," she said. “He continues to struggle with migraine headaches. He continues to be fatigued. His loss of smell comes and goes."
Bottoms told Huddleston that she wants Atlantans to stay vigilant and consider a virtual Thanksgiving this year to protect vulnerable populations like the elderly.
“One of my kids asked me today would we be having a Zoom Thanksgiving the way we did a Zoom Easter, and that’s what’s going to happen in my household, I’m sure,” Bottoms said.
Bottoms said so far, she hasn’t received any reports that local hospitals are running out of COVID bed space.
“Normally Dr. (Carlos) del Rio will let me know when we have challenges, and other doctors in the Atlanta area will let me know as well, when we’re getting into a dangerous space. As far as I know, we’re not there yet,” Bottoms said.
Cox Media Group
