Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat aiming for the Georgia governorship, has been under considerable ethics scrutiny throughout her time in office. Yet, this scrutiny hasn’t deterred her ambition for higher office.
Prior to her gubernatorial run, Bottoms faced criticism for her use of public resources. This included mailings filled with taxpayer-funded photos of herself and city-funded travel expenses that even covered airfare for her husband’s Super Bowl trip.
She also encountered backlash due to her connections with a contractor who had her first consulting contract while she led the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA). The CEO of this contractor contributed to her campaign shortly before she assumed office as mayor.
Jennifer Ide, a former leader on the Atlanta City Council and chair of the City Council Ethics Committee during Bottoms’ tenure, expressed concern about her past controversies, particularly regarding alleged compensation schemes with contractors. Ide noted that these issues should raise red flags for voters.
During her time with AFCRA, Bottoms signed a contract with a company named Conreal, which, curiously, was awarded a considerable contract just shortly after she had signed others. This contract, valued at just under $100,000, was followed by a $2.4 million contract awarded to Conreal, even though its bid was notably higher than its competitors’.
There seems to be some ambiguity regarding whether these contracts followed appropriate procedures. Kyle Gomez Reinweber, the policy director for a watchdog organization, stated that serious ethical concerns had been raised about the contracting process.
Not only was there a potential lack of board approval for the contracts, but the founder of Conreal also raised funds for Bottoms’ mayoral campaign after securing a lucrative contract. This involvement has led some, like Humberto Garcia—a local resident and anti-Buckhead City movement figure—to suggest that deeper investigations could reveal unfitness for office.
Moreover, Bottoms’ tenure is marked by various ethics-related incidents, including a $37,000 fine for campaign finance violations and accusations regarding misuse of public funds for personal benefits like her husband’s Super Bowl airfare.
Both Ide and Garcia pointed out that Bottoms’ previous behavior might undermine her capability to effectively serve Georgians if elected governor. Ide asserted that campaign contributions shouldn’t lead to uncertainties about a candidate’s integrity.
The Democratic primary for Georgia’s governor is set for May 19th. Current polls indicate Bottoms leads among candidates, with former state lawmaker Michael Thurmond trailing behind.
