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Tyrone Brooks: Making A Move To Lead Atlanta by Sydney Perkins Guess who is opposing Mayor Young in the upcoming mayorial election?... Georgia House Representative Tyrone Brooks. Tyrone Brooks is a twenty-one year veteran of the Civil Rights Movement including 13 years of services in the Southern Chris- tain Leadership Conference. Since 1980 he has been serving as Atlanta’s 34th District Represen tative in the Georgia House. Currently he is serving on the following committees in the Legislature: State Institutions and Properties; Vice Chairman, Ellemosynary Institutions; Retiremen; Industry; Chairman, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus; Issues and Outreach Committee. Brooks has been successful in enacting anti-ku klux klan legislation since the mid 40's. As well as working with the anti- klan network, Brooks is also leading the fight in the legislature to divest Georgia public monies from South AFrica. Representative Brooks also served as Chairman and director fo the Jesse Jackson Presidential Campaign. In a recent telephone inter view, Representative Brooks shared his philosophy and perspective for the upcoming election. Below are excerpts from his remarks. SPOTLIGHT: Now that you have gone public with your decision to run, what was the deciding factor for your deci sion? BROOKS: The people of the city started dropping my name as a potential candidate around February of this year. The media got hold of this idea and con fronted me with the question: 'Are you going to run?' The people are talking. They have told me that they don’t feel that they have anyone here running the city. Also that the city appears to be at a standstill nothing has moved in the last four years. SPOTLIGHT: Are these the same factors you hope to change if you are elected? BROOKS: Yes. The people say the city has regressed instead of progressed. In the last four years Atlanta has become number two in poverty (US Federal Govern ment Statistics); has fallen from number one to number eleven as the most desirable city to live in; has a 60 thousand of its people living under the poverty line — that’s a city within a city... no attention has been given to the downtown area as far as the economy and tourism. In all, the things this administration has promised... the people are rebelling against "flipflops” on the campaign trail. Representative Tyrone Brooks. SPOTLIGHT: Why do you feel that you are the best candidate? BROOKS: I take public office seriously. I have been responsi ble for passing legislation. I have a compasion to work and I am proud to say that I have never missed a session of the General Assembly in the last 5 years... I will be a mayor that stays in Atlanta. SPOTLIGHT: As far as college students, what can you offer them in the form of financial aid and support? BROOKS: Take the lead to find the resources in higher learning as well as on an in dividual basis. I would like to have the opportunity to have the students give their inputs... in volve them more in the political process — thus prep them to take part in the process. SPOTLIGHT: In accordance with the present state of black America, do you feel that you are bringing a new black leadership to Atlanta... How do you characterize your leadership qualities? BROOKS: I will reflect Atlanta — Atlanta is a rainbow of color. It is bi-racial and bi-partisan... everyone will be represented. On my staff I will have Ph.D.’s and “No” D’s, administrative personnel and neighborhood representatives, as well as the students... there will be no discrimination on any level. SPOTLIGHT: What specific issues do you plan to address during your campaign? BROOKS: Addressing poverty in the inner-city will the number one priority in my campaign. I also plan to provide for the needed growth and tax relief; expand the tax base; provide for a more solid working relationship between industry and my office; increase industry and tourism; bring investment back to Atlanta’s Southside; increase the competitiveness of the city, both on a national and international level. And most of all provide auxiliary commissions to handle such proposal, therefore leaving me here to represent my constituent’s needs to the fullest. SPOTLIGHT: Will you be ad dressing such issues as the Presidential Parkway, the zoo, and Police Intergration? BROOKS: Yes, I will be adress- ing all issues during my cam paign... the city’s disgraced police bureau... the horrible mess at the zoo, all of which this mayor is to blame. SPOTLIGHT: Do you have a campaign slogan? BROOKS: Yes, unofficially, "A city that is not to busy to hate, should have a mayor that is not to busy to administrate.” SPOTLIGHT: On a final note, what is the one question that you want students to ask themselves before selecting their next Mayor? BROOKS: I want them to ask: Am I better off today than I was four years ago?... not just on a personal level, as money in the pocket, but the citizens on the whole: are they better off?... On October 8,1 WILL MAKE Atlanta proud again. Representative Tyrone Brooks is totally committed to the struggle to liberate his people from poverty, disease, hunger, political oppression, economic exploitation, and to make it possible for the Black and the poor to become a part of the mainstream economically and socially in our society.* •Editor’s Note: A biographical statement was used as an ad ditional source for this article. College Education: Profiles on Dimensions: On the Inside: For the rich education at The best of career front only? - Page 2 Spelman. - Page 8-9 poetry. PP 10-12 PP 13-14