The Georgia gubernatorial race is highlighting former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' record on crime, with Republican nominee Rick Jackson's campaign drawing attention to a surge in homicides and shootings during her time as mayor.
In 2020, Atlanta police investigated 157 homicides, an increase from 99 the previous year, marking the highest number in over two decades. Shootings also escalated, with early July 2020 data indicating a 19% rise in shooting incidents compared to the same period in 2019. By June 2021, the number of individuals shot in the city had increased by another 38%.
During 2020, more than 200 officers left the Atlanta Police Department. Critics argue that Bottoms did not adequately support the police or the city's residents during this period of escalating crime.
In response to the rising crime rates, Bottoms cited the pandemic and gun laws, and pointed to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for reopening Georgia's bars and nightclubs. Residents in the Buckhead neighborhood reportedly initiated a movement to secede from the city due to dissatisfaction with public safety.
Jackson, the Republican nominee, contrasts his background with Bottoms'. He highlights his upbringing in Atlanta's Techwood Homes, a public housing project, and his experience with foster care. Jackson built Jackson Healthcare into a company with over $3 billion in annual revenue. He states that his lived experience allows him to better understand the issues affecting everyday Georgians.
Jackson's public safety plan includes investing in certified crime labs to expedite evidence processing, establishing a statewide law enforcement division to combat child sex trafficking, and offering tax relief for law enforcement officers and veterans. His campaign emphasizes that his plan addresses the need for processed evidence, offender accountability, and serious attention to trafficking issues.
The election presents Georgians with a choice between candidates whose leadership styles and backgrounds differ significantly, particularly concerning their approaches to public safety and their connection to the state's communities.