Political Rewind: Remembering Sen. Isakson; Legacy and change as Atlanta prepares for new management

Caption

Leadership is changing in the city of Atlanta as Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms steps down and Mayor-Elect Andre Dickens is sworn in next January.

Credit: Associated Press

The Panel:

Heath Garrett — Republican strategist 

J.D. Capelouto — Local news reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

Kristal Dixon — Reporter, Axios

Dr. Kurt Young — Department chair of political science, Clark Atlanta University

The Breakdown:

1. Sen. Isakson's former chief of staff reflects on his legacy 

• The longtime Georgia politician was first elected to Congress in a special election to replace Rep. Newt Gingrich in the U.S. House in 1999. Isakson would later serve 14 years as a U.S. senator for Georgia. 
• Heath Garrett was a top aide for Isakson through much of his political career. He said Isakson's willingness to work across the aisle defined his time and office and earned him a reputation as an affable negotiator. 

• Isakson often called-out members of his own party. In a 2019 interview, he spoke to Political Rewind's Bill Nigut about working with President Donald Trump. 

2. Atlanta's Mayor-elect Andre Dickens prepares to take office, tests positive for COVID-19. 

• Dickens took to social media to announce he tested positive Monday. 

• When he takes office in a couple of weeks, he said he plans to keep on the city's chief operating officer Jon Keen.
• Dickens also said he plans to keep on Atlanta's police chief, Rodney Bryant, for a 100-day contract.
• Clark Atlanta University professor Kurt Young said the key to reducing crime in Atlanta may require a larger, more comprehensive response from city leaders beyond the mayor's office.
• Dickens will be sworn in as the 61st mayor of Atlanta on Jan. 3, 2022. 

3. The future for the Buckhead Cityhood movement.

• Axios' Kristal Dixon said Atlanta Public Schools stands to lose $232 million in the budget if Buckhead secedes.
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's J.D. Capelouto said Dickens plans to work with state legislators to stop the cityhood movement.

4. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' legacy 

• Bottoms announced she wasn't seeking reelection in May.
• During her term, she led the city's response to cyberattacks, political unrest after the police shooting of Rayshard Brooks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• She leaves office with a $181 million in reserves.
• Dixon said questions remain about affordable housing in the Atlanta metro.
  
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  Dixon commented on affordable housing.

• Bottoms posted a Christmas ornament with the words 'One Atlanta' yesterday, alluding to the Buckhead cityhood movement, after her final public press conference as mayor.

Tomorrow on Political Rewind: 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein is our guest host.