How Far Will Kasim Reed's Star Rise?

Last week, The Washington Post named Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed as one of 10 political figures across the country who, "are expected to make some moves in the coming years."

Reed began this week at a rally outside Atlanta City Hall officially saying it was his intention to stay put for at least the next four years. Squashing lightly regarded whispers that in 2014 he would make a run at the governor’s office or the U.S. senate seat that Saxby Chambliss is vacating, the mayor paid his roughly $4,400 qualifying fee and kicked off his re-election campaign.

Four years ago, the then 40-year-old Reed was a relative unknown who won a runoff by just over 700 votes over then-City Councilwoman Mary Norwood. This time around, the mayor and his $2.5 million campaign war chest are expected to face little opposition.

Still, the mayor will have his share of election season critics and the real and vocal concerns from residents about street and violent crime appear as if they’ll only grow louder. Said Reed to his supporters at the Monday re-election rally: “Violent crime in this city is down more than 18 percent. We had the lowest number of murders last year – the second lowest number – since Lyndon Baines Johnson was president of the United States.”

Johnson was vice-president 50 years ago today when the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place and Reed will be on the Mall in Washington today to mark the event’s anniversary with President Barack Obama and many more. Reed, who last week was elected to the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee, has made numerous appearances in our nation’s capital in recent years as his national status climbs.

In highlighting the mayor as one of it’s “top 10 rising stars,” The Post wrote last week:

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed: Shifting demographics in Georgia have made Democrats bullish about their future in the Peach State. And no discussion about the future is complete without Reed, who a former state legislator who was elected by the slimmest of margins in 2009. Since that time, Reed, 44, has built his national profile, and he's one of the Democratic Party's biggest rising African American stars. The 2018 governor's race seems like Reed's best bet to move up. In the meantime, he's cultivating relationships with the national party: The Democratic National Committee is reportedly set to add him to its executive committee Friday.

Peering into the crystal ball of politics, just how far do you think Reed’s star will rise and what will his legacy be in Atlanta when his tenure as the city’s mayor is complete?