Reed: Up for Challenge as Atlanta Mayor

At 40 years old Kasim Reed said he's already spent 11 years in public service -- as a state representative and senator and now he hopes, as Atlanta's next Mayor.

He knows the city faces some tough times ahead but said there's no doubt he's up for the challenge.

Kasim Reed knows what it's like to run for Mayor of Atlanta. He helped Shirley Franklin get elected twice -- first serving as her campaign co-chair, then as manager.

"The city has been good to me. Grew up here want to public schools, Fulton County. Went to Howard University where I got my undergrad law school degrees. And as soon as I graduated from Howard, came home in 1994," said Kasim Reed

Reed said he's been serving Atlanta ever since – four years as a state representative and the past seven years as a state senator. While he praises the job of Mayor Franklin, he said he's also leaed from her.

Aske what he would do differently, Reed said "I think I would have been much more collaborative as it relates to my relationship with the council. There is a thing called gravity and you can be popular one minute and not so popular the next and if you take a collaborative approach it helps you when you go thru the peaks and valleys."

One of the biggest valleys facing the next mayor will be the city's water supply which Reed said will be an expensive fix.

"What worries me is to expedite our capacity to build water supply, take much more debt, financing than the state traditionally used to," Reed said.

But the issue Reed has been most outspoken on is public safety. Just last week, in response to a surge in violent crime, Reed was joined by boxer Evander Holyfield as he outlined a plan to keep the city safe.

"I believe that Atlanta needs between 2400-2500 officers that's going to be my goal over, during, by the end of my first term. I am telling you other areas of govement will be reduced or cut in order to fund my number one priority which is public safety," Reed said.

And he supports new leadership for the police department.

"First need to restore confidence of men and women on the force, by putting a command team in place that they believe in. I'm going to conduct a national search, and I'm going to favor hiring a local police officer for the next chief of Atlanta."

When it comes to young people committing crimes, Kasim Reed said he believes in giving police the tools they need to be aggressive against teen gangs.

But he also supports opening more recreation centers in Atlanta to help young people out there who need compassion and want to be saved.