Hip-hop artist Ludacris gave him $2,500 last month, and his entertainment company added another $2,500. Clifford Harris, better known as T.I., gave him $2,000 in December. Atlanta movie mogul Tyler Perry gave $2,500.
The contributions to were reported in a campaign disclosure filed late Tuesday, and they represented mere drops in a sizable fundraising bucket that bankrolls the re-election campaign of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Disclosure reports show that since the mid-2010, Reed has raised more than $1.7 million. $1.2 million is sitting in his campaign’s bank account now.
Reed says his fundraising is, in part, supposed to send a message.
“What I’m focused on is letting everybody know that I don’t want any other job but the job that I have, and I aim to keep it,” Reed told 11 Alive News in an interview in his office at City Hall.
His fundraising has undoubtedly deterred potential opponents. Reed says his record also has. He says the city has hired 700 police officers, lowered crime, and balanced budgets. Reed has also tackled the costly issue of city pensions, while increasing the city’s reserve fund.
“So I think in terms of the commitment I made to folks (in 2009), I tried to honor it. And I haven’t raised property taxes,” Reed said.
Reed’s 2009 opponent, Mary Norwood, told 11Alive News Tuesday that she hasn’t ruled out a rematch in 2013. Norwood was well-funded in 2009, but hasn’t raised any money for a 2013 campaign.
Read more: AJC
