Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin becoming a Blue Blogger

By Maria Saporta

Georgia might be a red state, but Democrats aren’t going away — at least if former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has her way.

Franklin is launching her own political blog: “Blogging While Blue” along with the help of her former communications director Beverly Isom and Cabral Franklin, a political advisor and researcher who also happens to be the former mayor’s son.

“As mayor I heard from scores of residents and leaders of every political perspective on nearly every current issue,” Shirley Franklin stated in an email. “Many engaged me in regular debate on their favorite issues in community meetings, emails and blogging. By joining Beverly and Cabral, we hope to encourage those from baby boomers to gen xers to engage with us in informed debates and discussions.”

The blog will feature frequent public opinion polls from around the region on a variety of issues, such as immigration and education.

“Polling is an integral part of every major political campaign and most informed elected officials use polls to weigh policy options while in office,” Cabral Franklin said. “This is an opportunity to share constituents’ opinions and concerns with public officials in real time as they seek to govern and lead.”

The announcement of the Blue Blog said it had been designed to invite progressive and unfamiliar voices from activists and advocates as well as journalists and other bloggers who can add a substantive perspective to current issues.

“The mainstream media has a cadre of resources, but too often the diverse voices and views of so many others in the region is missing from a great majority of the political coverage,” Isom said. “We hope to attract and engage them in a public dialogue on this site.”

Franklin was the first woman elected as mayor of Atlanta. She served two terms — from 2002 to 2009. Before serving as mayor, she had worked in the administrations of the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson as well as Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young. Since 2010, Franklin has held the William and Camille Cosby Endowed Chair at Spelman College in Atlanta.

The address of the website is: bloggingwhileblue.blogspot.com.