• Max Blau
• Atlanta City Council candidate Andre Dickens speaks to reporters at a campaign event along the Atlanta Beltline

Former Mayor Shirley Franklin yesterday formally gave her seal of approval to Atlanta City Council hopeful Andre Dickens - and blasted the Post 3 At-Large incumbent, H. Lamar Willis, as unethical and not deserving of another term at City Hall.

Flanked by Franklin and former City Council President Cathy Woolard, Dickens told reporters at the Atlanta Beltline Bicycle shop along the Eastside Trail that he was "humbled" by their support in what's considered one of, if not the, most competitive races that Atlanta voters will decide in November.

Franklin, one of Dickens' most prominent backers, said the first-time candidate was a committed community leader, experienced business owner, and ethical individual.

The former mayor and City Council president also fired a few shots at the incumbent's recent unethical behavior. Earlier this month, the Georgia Supreme Court ordered that the private attorney be disbarred after he deposited $30,000 from a client's personal injury settlement into his own bank account. Willis, who attributed his actions to his depression and a tumultuous divorce at the time, said he accepted the court's decision.

"Dickens is the better candidate," Franklin said. "He is the candidate who has the qualities to make a difference. I've been involved in politics since I was 15 years old. I learned early that ethics trumps politics. The current councilmember has ethical challenges and lost his law license because he took money from a child. He formed a fake charity and kept the money himself. He's had repeated ethical challenges. It's time for us to make a change."

Added Woolard, who in 2002 became the first woman to serve as City Council president: "When you're an elected official, you can decide what you want to do from an ethical point of view. There's what the law is, which is very, very clear. Willis had no doubt in his mind that he could not set up a charity that would benefit himself in taking contributions from people who do business with the city. That's absolutely clear. Even beyond that as an elected official, you can decide if you want to push that limit out a little bit further."

Franklin also said it was a "mistake" to view her support for the Georgia Tech staffer as a slight against Mayor Kasim Reed. In recent weeks, Reed has maintained his support for Willis despite his recent disbarment, saying the ethical issue involved Willis' private life and not his public service. Some political observers have suggested Franklin's involvement in the campaign was done as a slight to the Reed.

"I would regret if anyone thinks of my support otherwise," Franklin said. "I've known Kasim Reed since he was a young representative as a state senator. I respect that the mayor has a position, but in this democracy I have a chance to express my position."

As for Dickens? He said he'd helped to bring about safer neighborhoods and better-paying jobs. He also added that he'd support a community benefits agreement for the proposed Atlanta Falcons stadium. And, as Franklin and Woolard emphasized, he'd support a more ethical government.