ATLANTA — With Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ announcement that she will not seek another term, who will run to take her place?
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot spent Friday speaking with some candidates and potential candidates about the race.
So far, only two candidates have filed paperwork and only one of them has officially announced.
But that field could grow exponentially.
“The voters will decide,” Bottoms said Friday.
Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed jumping into the race. He did not return Elliot’s calls or texts Friday, but did send a tweet about Mayor Bottoms, saying, “We are thankful for Mayor Bottoms’ service to the city of Atlanta. I know that she will continue to make a positive difference.”
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Elliot texted former state Sen. Jason Carter about his potential interest, and he wrote back and said he thinks everyone is thinking about it -- including him.
Other potential candidates include Mary Norwood, who lost the mayor’s race to Reed and Bottoms by extremely narrow margins.
Former Rep. Kwanza Hall and current city council member Antonio Brown are among the others interested.
Atlanta attorney Sharon Gay has filed the paperwork to run for mayor.
Atlanta City Council president Felicia Moore is the only announced candidate that would speak to Elliot on camera Friday.
“I am dedicated to being our next mayor for the city of Atlanta,” Moore said.
She told Elliot that she had planned to run against Bottoms but now that campaign will have to change.
“I’m focused on being the next mayor of the city of Atlanta, and so for me, whomever decides to run does not change the direction and focus that I have to win,” Moore said.
Moore announced that she’s already raised $500,000 for her campaign.
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