Atlanta mayoral candidates qualify for race

Candidates in the race to become Atlanta's next mayor officially qualified Tuesday morning. Supporters of two candidates confronted each other outside Atlanta City Hall. 

Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and former mayor Kasim Reed addressed their supporters, whose competing chants rang out before either emerged from inside city hall. Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, Post 3 at-Large, officially filed Tuesday afternoon also jabbing at his campaign rivals. 

There was a war of words Tuesday morning when Moore and Reed filed paperwork within an hour of each other. Moore emerged from Atlanta City Hall shortly after qualifying to a verbal clash of supporters. Chants from Reed's supporters tried to drown out Moore's comments, which criticized Reed's campaign. 

"This race does not have to be a disrespectful race," Moore said. "My people are going to be respectful of every candidate in this race."

Moore highlighted her 20 years as an elected official the city's need for an ethical leader. Moore has mentioned several ideas she'd implement as mayor to address increasing crime, including keeping the downtown jail and adding sworn administrators to patrols.

Reed has touted his success as Mayor with battling crime in Atlanta. He's plagued by legal troubles surrounding his former administration. The FOX 5 I-Team learned the mayoral candidate is seemingly under FBI investigation for old campaign donations he spent. 

Reed's name never appears in a judge's federal ruling in a wire fraud case, but the I-Team found, after reviewing the original ruling, one later redacted expenditure matches exactly a campaign expense authorized by former Mayor Reed.

Reeds said he believes the only path forward to "reclaiming" Atlanta from crime and violence is by "looking after each other." He alluded to his record of leadership as a former mayor. Reed has pledged he can stem rising crime because of a crime reduction during his tenure of 33%.

Reed said he decided to run for mayor after Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stated she would not seek a second term. 

"I love this city and I love to people of this city and I look forward to leading it as the 61st mayor of Atlanta," Reed said Tuesday morning.

Supporters responded with chants of, "We're with Kasim."

Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, Post 3 at-Large, officially filed Tuesday afternoon. (Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta)

Dickens said tackling the root causes of crime, generational poverty, will be most effective in reversing the crime spike. The two-tern city councilman also alluded to the perceived ethical shortcomings of his opponents. 

"It's ironic that today's forecast called for rain and clouds. As the next mayor, I will remove the cloud of corruption that has hung over city hall for far too long," Dickens said. 

WATCH: FOX 5 Atlanta live news coverage

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