My career in public service started 7 years ago when I launched a campaign to become mayor of the most diverse city in America, Clarkston.  Many considered it a long shot that a young, progressive candidate with a vision for improved services and quality of life, for creating a sense of community pride, for a government by the people, could be elected.  We shocked the naysayers and not only won but worked to fulfill that vision.

 

Over the last seven months, I’ve traveled our beautiful state, meeting with thousands of Georgians in their homes and communities. I’ve earned the support of tens of thousands of you who have signed up to follow and promote our campaign to bring courage back to Washington. For that support, I will be forever grateful.

 

I must, however, suspend my campaign for U.S Senate at this time.  The old saying that it takes coal to run a train, but it takes gold to run a campaign is truer in this age of politics than ever before. And while the thousands of you who have pitched in has made a huge difference, it is time to look in a different direction and focus on the ways I can take the lessons I learned across the state and apply them in my home county.

 

As First Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, I also want to be sure that my efforts in the Senate race are advancing our cause of winning both seats on the ballot.  We must win both seats to end Mitch McConnell's "graveyard" of bills that advance goals like improving healthcare access and reducing gun violence and put a stop to his packing of our federal courts with right-wing extremist judges. I believe I can best contribute to that effort at this time by building Georgia's progressive statewide grassroots network rather than being a Senate candidate myself this year. 

 

Many of you know the work I’ve done as Mayor of Clarkston, and know that that real change can happen at every level of government. For now, the change that I will continue to fight for will remain at the local level.  In March I will be resigning as Mayor to run for the Super Commission District 6 seat in my home county of DeKalb.

 

I plan to bring the same spirit to my work on behalf of the 750,000 residents of DeKalb that I brought every day as the mayor of Clarkston. DeKalb has faced challenging times recently, but it has so much potential to be a leader.  In DeKalb, we can show Georgia, the nation and the world that progressive policies that honor our diversity and challenge the entrenched special interests can truly improve the lives of everyone. Most important, we can show the world how to make lives better, on the ground, every day.

 

If you supported the vision of my Senate campaign for a more equitable and just society, I ask for your help in electing me to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, where I can make sure many of the things we care about are carried out.  DeKalb is one of, if not the most, Democratic county in Georgia. No Democrat wins Georgia without winning DeKalb.  That is just how important this election is for our values.

 

The change we wish to see in the world, happens one by one, person to person, community to community.

 

Help me make bold progressive change a reality for my community, Georgia and the nation.  Together we can change everything, but it requires everyone.

 

Thank you and onward!