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Cathy Woolard endorses Mary Norwood

Cathy Woolard, who came in 3rd in the Atlanta Mayoral Race, endorsed candidate Mary Norwood in the runoff election.

ATLANTA — Mary Norwood has another big name backing her for Atlanta mayor: Cathy Woolard.

In a news conference Wednesday, the third-place finisher for mayor announced support for Norwood.

Norwood is in a runoff election with Keisha Lance Bottoms. Atlanta residents can vote on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

[MORE: Atlanta's Race for Mayor]

Bottoms released a statement regarding the endorsement:

While I had hoped to earn the support of Cathy Woolard, I continue to believe that each voter in Atlanta is capable of making their own decision as to who is best able to lead our city. I remain best suited to address the issues facing our communities, including affordability, income inequality, transportation, crime and education.  I have also offered the most aggressive plan to strengthen ethics and transparency in City Hall.  One man, one woman, one vote.

Bottoms received support from current Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed.

Join Channel 2 Action News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB Radio this Sunday at 5 p.m. for a LIVE debate between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood.

Channel 2’s Justin Farmer will serve as the moderator. He and the panel will question the candidates about the most important issues to Atlanta voters.

WATCH the debate LIVE on Channel 2, WSBTV.com or on the official WSB-TV Facebook page, Sunday at 5 p.m.

Woolard said there was a series of things that helped her make her decision but in the end it boiled down to ethics.

"I feel like we need a clean break with this administration and a new start here with a fresh set of players,” Woolard said.

Woolard told Channel 2 Action News that concerns about the city's growth and social justice and inequality were the other key factors for helping her make the decision about who to endorse.  She said Norwood would fix growth issues and bottoms would be an advocate for social issues.  But she says the city hall corruption scandal was the tie breaker for why she chose to endorse Norwood.

Woolard served as president of the Atlanta C ity Council.

On Monday, Norwood received support from former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin and former mayoral candidate Peter Aman.

Bottoms has also been backed former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, gubernatorial candidate Stacey Evans and former mayoral candidate Kwanza Hall.

ATLANTA MAYOR QUICK FACTS
  • The city's last five mayors have been African-American
  • The last 27 have been Democrats
  • There have only ever been two Republican mayors of Atlanta. Shirley Franklin was the first female mayor of Atlanta. The next mayor will be the second
  • Only four former Atlanta mayors were born in Atlanta
  • Click here for more facts about Atlanta mayors

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