Atlanta Mayor Reiterates Support for Disbarred Councilman, Opens Attack on Challenger

Just days ago, Willis was disbarred from practicing law for violating several professional conduct standards, including withholding $30,000 from a young client involved in a personal injury case.

Willis, a key ally of Mayor Reed’s on the council, said Monday he remains committed to public service and would continue his run for re-election this November.

After the event, Reed reiterated his support for Willis.

“I don’t think it disqualifies him from public service. He’s running against a man with a $1.1 million bankruptcy and several issues of his own so I think people that throw rocks shouldn’t live in glass houses,” said Reed, referring to one of Willis' challengers, Georgia Tech administrator Andre Dickens.

Dickens was quick to respond that the bankruptcy of his family furniture business had nothing to do with Willis’ ethics issues.

“When the housing market crashed so went the furniture market and so to equate that now to stealing money from a child, as well as the fake charity that he’s had, as well as the ethics violations that Lamar Willis has had – when you try to equate that, they’re not the same,” said Dickens.

Meanwhile, the other challenger in the race, former state Rep. Ralph Long (D-Atlanta), has called on Reed to drop his support of Willis.