Shirley Franklin, Atlanta’s ‘Sewer Mayor’, Advises Andre Dickens on Water Problems: ‘Dig Deep’

But, Franklin added, Dickens communicated updates as he realized how serious the situation was and so residents should “give it a break.” At the time, “I don’t know if he knew anything more to say,” she said.

When Franklin was elected Atlanta’s first female mayor in 2001, she hoped to continue expanding funding and programming for arts and culture in the city, she said. But she quickly realized that she had to prioritize the city’s water infrastructure.

She ordered her entire administration to focus on fixing Atlanta’s sewers.

“We built a reservoir. We built a water treatment plant. We doubled the pipes. We bought equipment. We went through training,” Franklin said. “But these are things you have to continue to do.”

Her administration spent $2 billion to correct sewer overflow problems and $1 billion to improve drinking water, she said.

“We had neglected or underinvested in water infrastructure for so long that we had to get started,” she said.

During Tuesday’s conversation, Franklin also said she supports the city’s plan to create a new police training center. And she thinks President Joe Biden is a strong candidate who can win the state of Georgia and who has served the nation on several issues, including doing “an incredible job on the infrastructure bill.”

Cody Hall, an advisor to Gov. Brian Kemp, also joined “Georgia Politics” Tuesday. He said the presidential race in Georgia could be closer than polls show and other Republicans are willing to admit.

Statewide, part of the problem is that Republicans haven’t nominated “good candidates,” making Georgia a swing state.

He said Kemp would support former President Donald Trump in the general election, despite disputes between the two Republicans. Although Hall declined to confirm Kemp’s future political ambitions, he said the governor “has not closed the door” on a possible run for U.S. Senate in 2026.

Wednesday on “Georgia Politics”: Emory University professor Fred Smith and Georgia State University professor Amy Steigerwalt will discuss upcoming decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court. Maureen Downey of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will discuss how few college graduates choose a teaching career.