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| Mayor Kasim Reed | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kasim Reed |
| Birth date | 13 November 1969 |
| Birth place | Passaic, New Jersey, United States |
| Office | 59th Mayor of Atlanta |
| Term start | January 4, 2010 |
| Term end | January 2, 2018 |
| Predecessor | Shirley Franklin |
| Successor | Keisha Lance Bottoms |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Howard University; University of Georgia School of Law |
Mayor Kasim Reed (born November 13, 1969) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 59th Mayor of Atlanta from 2010 to 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives and as House Majority Leader in the Georgia General Assembly. Reed is known for urban development projects, transportation initiatives, and high-profile public-private partnerships during his mayoralty.
Reed was born in Passaic, New Jersey and raised in Sandy Springs, Georgia, near Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Riverwood High School and matriculated at Howard University, where he studied political science and participated in campus organizations tied to NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha. Reed earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Georgia School of Law and clerked in legal settings associated with Fulton County, Georgia judicial institutions before entering public service.
After law school Reed worked at Atlanta law firms and served as legal counsel in municipal and legislative matters connected to Fulton County, Georgia and the City of Atlanta. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002, representing a district that includes portions of Atlanta. In the Georgia General Assembly he rose to become House Majority Leader, collaborating with lawmakers involved in legislation affecting Metro Atlanta and engaging with statewide figures such as Roy Barnes and Zell Miller. Reed’s early political alliances and rivalries included interactions with leaders from DeKalb County, Georgia and policy debates involving the Georgia State Senate.
Reed was elected mayor in 2009 in a contest that followed outgoing mayor Shirley Franklin, campaigning on economic development and municipal reform themes relevant to Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. corridors and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport expansion interests. His administration coincided with the hosting of major events and coordination with entities such as Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Atlanta Hawks, and institutions including Georgia State University and Emory University. Reed served two terms, overseeing municipal operations across Atlanta City Council districts and engaging with federal partners including representatives from U.S. Department of Transportation and members of Congress such as John Lewis.
Reed advanced infrastructure and development projects linked to the Atlanta BeltLine, transit initiatives involving the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (commonly linked with MARTA discussions), and public safety reforms coordinated with the Atlanta Police Department. His economic development strategy produced partnerships with corporations like Home Depot and SunTrust Banks (now Truist Financial), and initiatives promoting Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport connectivity and downtown redevelopment including projects adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Georgia World Congress Center. Reed supported efforts with Invest Atlanta and municipal finance measures involving municipal bonds and tax incentives related to Midtown Atlanta and the Buckhead commercial district. He also engaged with cultural and educational institutions such as the High Museum of Art, Atlanta History Center, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University.
Reed’s administration faced controversies and investigations involving municipal contract awards, ethics inquiries, and questions about campaign finance tied to private developers and firms operating in Atlanta. Investigations implicated dealings with consultants and firms that had worked on projects near BeltLine corridors and stadium financing tied to Atlanta Falcons-related development. State and local probes involved entities such as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and prompted coverage by outlets focused on Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting and scrutiny from watchdog groups including Common Cause (U.S.). Some inquiries extended to relationships with political operatives and questions about compliance with Georgia campaign finance law.
After leaving office in 2018 Reed returned to private law practice, consulting, and media commentary while maintaining ties to civic initiatives in Atlanta and statewide political networks including the Democratic National Committee sphere. He has been involved in advocacy with business coalitions, advisory roles related to urban development projects, and speaking engagements at institutions such as Emory University School of Law and Georgia State University College of Law. Reed’s legacy is contested: supporters point to downtown revitalization, transit advocacy, and corporate investment linked to Atlanta's skyline changes, while critics cite ethical controversies and debates over gentrification in neighborhoods like Westside, Atlanta and Old Fourth Ward. His career intersects with many notable Atlanta and Georgia figures, leaving an impact on municipal policy discussions and ongoing debates over urban growth, public-private partnerships, and political accountability.
Category:Mayors of Atlanta Category:1969 births Category:Living people