Council leader returns to Atlanta mayor's race

ATLANTA --- City Council President Lisa Borders is back in the Atlanta mayor's race after dropping out last fall.

Ms. Borders was flanked by supporters at City Hall on Thursday as she stood outside under threatening skies to recall her tough decision to pull out of the race seven months ago to care for aging parents, both in their mid-70s. Her father, William Holmes Borders, Jr., is a diabetic and was then in full kidney failure.

"Life is a funny thing," she told the crowd. "Seven months ago, I made the difficult decision to put my dream aside to ensure that my family was taken care of and got all of the things that they need and deserve."

Since then, she says her parents' situation has improved due to a "surprise in our family" and she was able to reconsider her bid for mayor. She declined to elaborate on their health and asked the crowd to respect her family's privacy.

"The desire that led me to enter this race has never waned, and my belief in the greatness of the city and its people has only grown," Ms. Borders said.

She cited public safety, financial responsibility and environmental sustainability as her campaign priorities.