Cousins, CBRE Execs Join Carter to Support Reed for ATL Mayor

ATLANTA (Nov. 6, 2009)- Former Atlanta Mayor Ambassador Andrew Young and Cousins CEO and President Larry Gellerstedt convened a group of prominent business and civic leaders this week to pledge support for State Sen. Kasim Reed's campaign for mayor.

Those who attended the Forward Atlanta gathering included Mayor Shirley Franklin, famed architect/developer John Portman, legendary builder Herman Russell, Coca-Cola executive Ingrid Saunders Jones, Brooke Jackson-Edmond, CEO, Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation; and accomplished attorney Bill Ide. Paul Rosser, principal of architectural firm Rosser International, hosted the meeting.

Reed surprised many by garnering 36 percent of the vote in the Nov. 3 mayoral election. He faces City Councilwoman Mary Norwood in a Dec. 1 runoff that will determine who will replace Franklin.

Young and Gellerstedt said Reed, an 11-year veteran of the Georgia General Assembly, is the right person to be Atlanta's 59th mayor because he possesses the leadership skills needed to move Atlanta forward. Specifically, they mentioned Reed's ability to work with the General Assembly, his plan to stimulate economic development in the city and his ideas to make Atlanta a safer city.

"Kasim Reed is a consensus-builder who knows how to bring together people for a common cause," Ambassador Young said. "He has accomplished many things for Atlanta residents, including securing funding for the Atlanta BeltLine, water and sewer upgrades, and sponsoring legislation for the merger of the city's Traffic and Municipal courts. As mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed will have a more direct impact and accomplish even more for city residents."

Gellerstedt, who previously supported mayoral candidate Lisa Borders, said the time is now to get behind Reed. "Kasim Reed's accomplishments are impressive and his ability to lead apparent," Gellerstedt said. "I urge other business and civic leaders to support Kasim Reed in the Dec. 1 runoff."

Others in attendance at the Forward Atlanta meeting included John Shlesinger, vice chairman, CB Richard Ellis; Jerome Russell, president - real estate development, H.J. Russell & Cp.; Scott Taylor, president, Carter; Scott Selig, vice president, Selig Enterprises; Jeff Portman, president and CEO, AMC Inc.; Wayne Mason, real estate investor; Hattie Dorsey, founder and former CEO, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership; Daniel Halpern, co-chair, Kasim Reed for Mayor; Peter Aman, co-chair, Kasim Reed for Mayor; and Keith Mason, attorney at McKenna Long & Aldridge and former chairman, Georgia Ports Authority.