Kyle Keyser, co-founder of Atlantans Together Against Crime, is running for
mayor.
The 35-year-old anti-crime activist, bolstered by the voice of 10,000 members
of ATAC, said he is uneasy about what the impending city election has to
offer thus far.
“Everybody recognizes their talent,” Keyser said of the candidates currently
in the race. “But the sentiment is, how can we roll the dice when the city
has such a dire situation?”
He filed his intent to raise campaign funds with the city on Monday, city
officials said.
And Keyser said he began fund raising online Tuesday morning, first to collect
enough money for the $4,425 application fee, then for campaign dollars.
He has until Friday to raise the application money.
“In just a few hours, we had about 30 percent of the funds,” Keyser said.
The film producer began speaking out against public safety in January after
the murder of a Grant Park bartender John Henderson.
High-profile crimes such as Henderson’s death have, in recent months, given
some residents a perception that crime is on the rise in Atlanta.
Keyser said the city needs direction that he hasn’t seen, either in past
administrations or in the candidates currently in the race.
“City Hall and the candidates have aligned their messages to keep public
safety the central message,” he said.
“Past mayors have said similar things, and nothing has happened. I want to
believe in the candidates ... ”
Keyser compared running the city to making a film, and said he would be the
director.
“The director ultimately has the vision, but is responsible for bringing the
talent to execute that vision,” he said.
At best, Keyser said he wants to bring a fresh perspective to the race for
mayor of a city he feels hasn’t lived up to its full potential.
“It’s a world class city that hasn’t been self-realized,” he said.
And worst-case scenario?
“At the very least, it can be a statement. People are fed up.”