Kasim Reed

Georgia State Senator Kasim Reed Tops the Field with Over $500,000 in Campaign Donations for the Quarter
Kasim Reed for Mayor, Inc. Reports Nearly $1Million in Total Funds Raised for 2009 Campaign; Momentum Builds as Campaign Announces Strongest Finance Report to Date

ATLANTA, July 7, 2009—State Senator Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta), a leading candidate for mayor of Atlanta, today announced that his campaign has raised over $500,000 in contributions—more than any other mayoral candidate in the field for the last three months. The campaign finished the quarter, its strongest fundraising period yet, with a diverse list of over 800 contributors.

“I am deeply humbled by the outpouring of support our campaign has received,” said Sen. Reed. “Every dollar contributed is not only an investment in my candidacy, but an investment in Atlanta’s future.”

Kasim Reed for Mayor, Inc. reported $507,206 in cash contributions for the period ending June 30, 2009. The campaign has raised $965,526 in cash contributions to date. With over $436,000 in actual cash on hand, the campaign has received hundreds of donations from people who contributed less than $200.00.

“Our work certainly does not end here,” said Tharon Johnson, campaign manager. “We are re-doubling our efforts to ensure we have the resources necessary to take our message to every corner of the city. This overwhelming support gives us strong momentum going into the next phase of this campaign.”

“As mayor, my job will be to lead our city as we face our toughest problems such as keeping our city safe, expanding opportunities for job creation and improving the quality of life for our children,” said Sen. Reed. “Now more than ever, Atlantans deserve and expect strong, proven leadership that will deliver on the promises of safe neighborhoods, smart growth, and open government."

The financial disclosure represents the first reporting period following the close of the 2009 Georgia legislative session. In accordance with state law, Sen. Reed did not conduct any fundraising efforts or accept contributions during the session.

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Statement from Sen. Kasim Reed on City Council Budget Vote

“Today the Atlanta City Council took a first and necessary step toward improving public safety. This budget should put an immediate end the police and fire furloughs across the city,” said State Senator Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta), a leading candidate for Mayor of Atlanta.

“In the last two weeks, our campaign collected more than 5,000 signatures from Atlanta residents calling on the Council to restore our police and fire departments to full strength. This was a clear signal to the Council that public safety must be our top priority and I'm relieved to know that we are putting protecting our families first,” Sen. Reed continued.

“While I believe that we could have bridged the budget gap with a 1 mill increase, I urge the Council to show fiscal discipline and prudence as we begin the process of rebuilding the city finances and repairing the damage to our sense of community.”

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Kasim Reed for Mayor Launches Final Push to Gather Petition Signatures to End Furloughs at 5 Points Marta Station
Senator Reed Pushes the City Council to Take Action as Home Invasions and Armed Robberies Reach Epidemic Levels

(ATLANTA) June 25, 2009 – State Senator Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) will meet morning commuters at the Five Points Marta Station tomorrow to gather more signatures for the petition to end furloughs for police officers and firefighters in Atlanta, the campaign announced today. Campaign volunteers will continue the effort over the weekend in a final to push gather signatures ahead of the City Council meeting scheduled for Monday.

In the last four months alone, there have been at least 12 armed robberies in the neighborhoods surrounding Georgia Tech’s campus. Most of the victims were students. For the first time in 40 years, the city recorded a murder in Piedmont Park.

According to a recent FBI report, Atlanta had an increase of 7.6 percent in property crimes such as burglaries, thefts and larceny in 2008 from 2007. This is compared to a decrease of 1.6 percent in similar property crimes across the country during that same time.

Sen. Reed will present the petition to the City Council at their budget meeting when they convene at 9:00 am on Monday, June 29, 2009.

“After the spate of violent crime across Atlanta, this petition should send a clear signal to the City Council that they must stop the furloughs and restore our police and fire departments to full strength,” said Sen. Reed. “The city's budget shortfall and its impact to public safety represent real problems that require real leadership. Ending the furloughs is an important first step toward improving public safety.”

View Entire Press Release Here: http://kasimreed.com/Public%20Safety%20Petition_62509.pdf >

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State Senator Kasim Reed Urges Immediate Action to End Furloughs for Police Officers and Firefighters
Sen. Reed Launches Public Safety Petition Campaign at West End Fire Station #7 Press Briefing

(ATLANTA) June 11, 2009 – Atlanta mayoral candidate State Senator Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) will launch a citizen petition urging the Atlanta City Council to end furloughs for police officers and firefighters, the campaign said today. Sen. Reed and community leaders will host a press conference on Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m. EST to discuss the petition and address the current public safety crisis. The briefing will be held at Fire Station #7, located in the city’s historic West End community.

“The Atlanta City Council can and must act to end the furloughs of every single police officer and firefighter,” said Sen. Reed. “The city's budget shortfall and the impact to public safety represent real problems that require real leadership.”

To view Senator Reed's petition to end the furloughs for Atlanta's police officers & firefighters, visit our campaign website: http://www.kasimreed.com

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Tharon Johnson to Lead Kasim Reed for Mayor Campaign
Former District Director to Congressman John Lewis Takes the Helm of State Senator Kasim Reed’s 2009 Campaign for Atlanta Mayor

(ATLANTA) April 29, 2009 – State Senator Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) today, named Tharon Johnson campaign manager for his mayoral campaign. Johnson, 31, will direct every facet of the campaign, including field outreach, communications and fundraising. Prior to joining the campaign, Johnson was District Director for Congressman John Lewis.

“Tharon is uniquely qualified to lead my campaign," said Sen. Kasim Reed. "I am confident that his passion, work ethic and intellect make him the right choice to lead this campaign to victory.”

Johnson brings a track record of success, having managed the 2008 re-election campaign of Congressman John Lewis and serving as political and field director for Congressman John Barrow’s 2004 campaign and the 2006 re-election campaign. Johnson also served two years as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman John Barrow. In 2002, he served as campaign manager for Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond’s statewide re-election campaign. Johnson has served as a political consultant on numerous campaigns for judges, state legislators, county executives, sheriffs and school board members.

“I come to this position mindful of the challenges that lay ahead for our great city,” said Johnson. “Sen. Reed's demonstrated leadership on the issues most important to us—including public safety, fiscal responsibility and job creation—make him the right candidate to move Atlanta forward."

Most recently, Johnson was selected by Metro Mix as one of the “30 People to Watch in 2009.” A featured leader in 2006’s “Who’s Who in Black America", Johnson has demonstrated leadership and commitment to his community through service in several organizations. Johnson currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia and has been elected by a powerful group of young leaders to serve on the Board of Directors for the Red Clay Democrats.

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Meet Me on the Steps of the Georgia State Capitol
At Midnight, on Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Dear Friend:

As the 2009 Legislative Session comes to a close, I want to personally thank you for your support as we confronted some of the most pressing challenges we face as a city. I am proud to have spearheaded efforts to improve the quality of life for all Georgians, including public safety, transportation and education issues. I sponsored legislation that, if passed and signed, will give you the choice this fall to put more police officers and firefighters on our streets. I know that the investments we make today will pay great dividends for our city’s future.

There is more work ahead.

When I announced my candidacy for mayor of Atlanta, I did so with the honor of knowing you were standing shoulder to shoulder with me. Today, I invite you to stand with me again. We will convene at midnight on Friday, April 3 – the last day of the legislative session -- on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol. Together, we will take the next step along the journey.

I hope to see you there, as we continue our campaign to move Atlanta forward, together.

Sincerely,

Kasim Reed Georgia State Senator
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Obama Consultants to Lead Reed Campaign for Mayor
February 26, 2009

Kasim Reed Lays Foundation for Victory
Two New Team Members Helped Guide Obama to Presidential Victory

(ATLANTA) February 26, 2009 – State Senator Kasim Reed, who has been fighting to improve public safety in our city through his work in the Georgia State Senate, today announced two major team members who will help lead his mayoral campaign to victory. Both team members played the same roles in the historic Obama for President campaign.

The Kasim Reed for Mayor campaign’s media consultant will be AKPD Message & Media, which served as the lead media consultant to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. The Chicago-based firm guided the President’s historic campaign from its start to its upset primary wins, through the toughest presidential nomination process in modern times, and to a smashing general election victory in November 2008. AKPD’s clients have included Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate race as well as U.S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (Illinois), White House Chief of Staff and former Congressman Rahm Emanuel (Illinois), and Governor Deval Patrick (Massachusetts).

(Read Entire Story in Blog Below)
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About Georgia State Senator Kasim Reed

Kasim Reed was raised in the Cascade community of Atlanta. He was educated in Fulton County’s public schools, where he graduated from Utoy Springs Elementary School and Westwood High School (now Westlake High School) and went to Howard University, where he received his undergraduate and law degrees.

Though Senator Reed is the youngest Democratic State Senator, he has well-established track record of legislative excellence. Kasim Reed was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1998 as State Representative for District 52. In the House, Kasim Reed served two terms as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Education Committee and Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee.

Kasim Reed has continued his successful leadership in the State Senate where he has served since 2002. Senator Reed is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus and currently serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Special Judiciary Committee, Ethics Committee, Transportation Committee and the State and Local Government Operations Committee.

Kasim Reed is a partner at Holland and Knight LLP, an international law firm with offices in Atlanta. In addition to his professional pursuits, Senator Reed has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to better his community at every stage in his life. As an undergraduate member of Howard University’s Board of Trustees, Kasim Reed created a fundraising program entitled the “Independence Initiative”, which The New York Times reported helped higher education “stand up to adversity.” Since its inception, this initiative has contributed more than $10 million to Howard University’s endowment. In June 2002, Kasim Reed was appointed as Howard University’s youngest General Trustee.

Kasim Reed served as campaign manager for Mayor Shirley Franklin’s first and second campaigns. Following her election in November 2001, Mayor Franklin selected Kasim Reed to serve as one of two Co-Chairs for the Shirley Franklin Transition Team. In this capacity, Kasim Reed chaired the search committee for selecting Mayor Franklin’s senior cabinet-level staff.

Senator Reed’s civic leadership and service have been nationally recognized in publications such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Ebony and Black Enterprise. He was selected as one of Georgia Trend magazine’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars” in 2001, as one of the Fulton County Daily Report’s “Lawyers on the Rise” and as one of “10 Outstanding Atlantans” by Outstanding Atlanta. Kasim Reed is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 1998 and Leadership Georgia Class of 2000. He is a Board Member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and Board Member of the Sunrise Bank of Atlanta. Most recently, Kasim Reed was selected as a Rodel Fellow by the Aspen Institute.

Kasim Reed is a member of Cascade United Methodist Church, pastored by Reverend Marvin Moss.

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