UPDATED: I totally made it! I will be heading to City Hall at 2:30 pm to qualify! Thank you!
I've lived in Atlanta for 9 years which is the longest I've lived anywhere. I grew up with a father who worked at the National Security Agency so we moved every 3 to 5 years. I've lived all over the world. It wasn't until I moved here in 2000 that it dawned on me: hey, I can actually stay in a place I like.
In this place, I've found my niche. I am a documentary filmmaker who's made film and television. I also worked at the CDC for four and a half years managing creative projects for the Director and her office.
When you live in a city because you choose to, you think differently. You invest in its future. And over the last two years, what once was easy living in Atlanta is now negatively charged. Residents are fearful of crime, monetary shortfalls that affecting our neighborhoods, and backdoor deals are sustaining the established class. The state of the city has substantially deteriorated.
www.kylekeyserformayor.org
When five youth hold a gun to your neck and tell you they're going to shoot you - that makes it pretty evident.
This became my opportunity to do something about it.
In January 2009, a week after I was mugged and the day after a local bartender was senselessly murdered, I started Atlantans Together Against Crime (ATAC). In four short months, over 10,000 people came together. We rallied, we lobbied, and we made public safety issue #1. In July, the furloughs to our police, fire, and 911 were ended.
Since then, I've remained engaged in the community and have become a spokesperson for the "citizen sentiment" on crime and city politics. Many of the leading candidates (from Mayor to City Council) have reached out to me. I like them all, personally, but have a nagging doubt in my gut. We've been promised change before. The city's troubles are dire. How can I roll the dice when I'm so uncertain?
It's these questions, and more, that compel me to put my own name forth in the race for mayor. As a grassroots candidate and concerned citizen, I feel that I have to step up. At the very least, I up the ante in getting the community's voice heard. At most, I'll have the opportunity to set the vision for a world class Atlanta, bring in the talent to make it happen, and bring full transparency to government. Let the city answer to one special interest: the community.
Today is the day I need to qualify in order to run. After 4:30 pm Eastern time, the race is closed. I'm so very close. After deciding to step forward on Tuesday and beginning my fundraising at 10:30 am on Wednesday, I've raised over 75% of the $4425 filing fee needed to enter the race. These are donations that are rarely over $20.
If you could throw in $10 or $20 yourself, it would make all the difference.
Thank you for letting me share this. I've been a member of the Daily Kos for years and have seen others take the same risk. It's not an easy decision. Ultimately it will do my city good. I know one other Kossack who'd agree:
I have known Kyle Keyser for almost five years. We actually met through a discussion on Daily Kos and I have since been extraordinarily impressed by his integrity, character, creativity, and love for his city. I believe he will add excitement and great opportunities for grassroots activism to what has so far been a dull mayoral race with few charismatic candidates. Let's help him out.
If you'd like to read my open to letter to the citizens of Atlanta on why I'm running, please visit kylekeyserformayor.org.
Thank you!
Press:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: here.
NPR: here.
Southern Voice: here