Despite multiple rulings against her and a missed candidacy filing last week, Mary Norwood told us Thursday night her campaign to run as an independent candidate for Fulton County Commission Chair continues forward.
“We’re alive and kicking!” Norwood told Intel Thursday night outside Aurum Lounge in Midtown where she was soliciting signatures on her petitions along with a volunteer campaign staff.
On Thursday, Norwood’s campaign sent a letter to Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections Chair Roderick Edmund requesting that he retract his July 7th letter stating that Norwood would not be listed on the November ballot, “indicating that a decision must be made by the entire Board and not unilaterally.”
In response, just before noon Thursday, Fulton County attorney Lee Parks agreed to meet with Norwood and the five-member Board of Registration and Elections next Tuesday under the Open Meetings Act.
The meeting is set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Fulton County Government Center downtown in the Board of Elections Meeting Room #4056.
Said Norwood: “I’m asking that all my supporters to come out on Tuesday at 11 a.m. to sign the petition and we’re all going to go over and have a nice lunch in the cafeteria and then we’re inviting everyone to stay for the 2 p.m. meeting. A good crowd will help our efforts considerably.”
In the meantime, Norwood is imploring supporters to drop by her campaign headquarters daily at The Peach Shopping Center at 2900 Peachtree Road, Suite 103 in Buckhead to sign her petition.
In a fresh press release Norwood herself forwarded to us via her Blackberry (“If I was 20 years younger I might be able to type on these tiny buttons,” she cracked), she asserts: “We’re certainly not surprised that Rod Edmund dismissed my notice of candidacy . . . Mr. Edmund was appointed to the Board by the incumbent Fulton County Chair [and Norwood’s potential opponent] John Eaves. The media reporting on Mr. Edmund’s correspondence since July 6 has been creating a dropping signature rate for our petitions . . . We simply want a fair shot at getting on the ballot. Let the people decide who should run for the Commission in November.”
“I’m passionate about this campaign,” Norwood told Intel. “You know me. I’m not a quitter. I have every faith that we can proceed forward. The encouragement I’ve received from supporters has been just tremendous. It really helps keep me and the volunteers going.”
Norwood and her staff were at Aurum Lounge to attend Georgia Voice’s first annual “Best of Atlanta” party where she received awards for “Best Georgia Politician” and “Best Local Straight Ally.”
For more info on the petition and Tuesday’s schedule of events, go to Norwood’s official campaign website.
