Keisha Lance Bottoms facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keisha Lance Bottoms
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Bottoms in 2019
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| Director of the Office of Public Engagement | |
| In office July 1, 2022 – April 1, 2023 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Cedric Richmond Adrian Saenz (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Stephen K. Benjamin |
| Senior Advisor to the President | |
| In office July 1, 2022 – April 1, 2023 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Cedric Richmond |
| Succeeded by | Stephen K. Benjamin |
| 60th Mayor of Atlanta | |
| In office January 2, 2018 – January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Kasim Reed |
| Succeeded by | Andre Dickens |
| Member of the Atlanta City Council from the 11th district |
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| In office January 4, 2010 – January 2, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Maddox |
| Succeeded by | Marci Collier Overstreet |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Keisha Lance
January 18, 1970 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Derek W. Bottoms
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson (aunt) |
| Education | Florida A&M University (BA) Georgia State University (JD) |
Keisha Lance Bottoms (born January 18, 1970) is an American lawyer and politician. She served as the 60th mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, from 2018 to 2022. She was elected mayor in 2017.
Before becoming mayor, she was a member of the Atlanta City Council. This council represents a part of Southwest Atlanta. Bottoms decided not to run for a second term as mayor. In 2022, she joined President Joe Biden's team. She worked as a senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement until February 2023.
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Early Life and Education
Keisha Lance Bottoms was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 18, 1970. Her mother was Sylvia Robinson and her father was R&B singer-songwriter Major Lance. She grew up in Atlanta and went to Frederick Douglass High School.
She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Florida A&M University. She focused on broadcast journalism. Later, she earned a law degree (called a J.D.) from Georgia State University College of Law in 1994. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Early Career in Law and Politics
Before becoming a mayor, Bottoms worked as a prosecutor. She also helped children in juvenile court. In 2002, she became a magistrate judge in Atlanta.
In 2009, Bottoms was elected to the Atlanta City Council. She represented District 11 in southwest Atlanta. She served on the council until 2017. During some of this time, she also worked as the executive director of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority.
Mayor of Atlanta
Becoming Mayor
Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected mayor of Atlanta in 2017. She won the most votes among many candidates. Then, she won against fellow city council member Mary Norwood in a second round of voting. She made history as the sixth African American and the second African American woman to be mayor of Atlanta.
During her election campaign, there were questions about some of her campaign funding. She returned some money that had been given to her campaign. She also asked for an investigation into fake phone calls made in her name.
Key Actions as Mayor
As mayor, Bottoms made Atlanta a "welcoming city." She said it would be open to everyone, including refugees. In 2018, she signed an order. This order stopped the city jail from holding people for immigration reasons. She stated that Atlanta did not support ICE.
In 2020, Mayor Bottoms released Atlanta's first report on LGBTQ Affairs. This report looked at how policies could improve the lives of LGBTQ Atlantans. She had created the city's first LGBTQ advisory board in 2018. In December 2020, she appointed the city's first director of LGBTQ Affairs.
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Bottoms disagreed with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in April 2020. He wanted to reopen businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bottoms felt it was too early and unsafe.
When Atlanta had protests after the murder of George Floyd, Bottoms spoke out. She condemned violence but also expressed hope. She encouraged people to vote for change. In July 2020, as COVID-19 cases rose, Bottoms ordered people in Atlanta to wear face masks. Governor Kemp tried to stop this order.
In May 2021, Bottoms announced she would not seek re-election as mayor.
Role in the 2020 Presidential Election
In June 2019, Bottoms supported Joe Biden for president. She was considered a possible choice for his running mate. This means she could have been the Vice President. Kamala Harris was chosen as Biden's running mate instead.
Bottoms was a co-chair for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. She also spoke at the event.
Working with the Biden Administration
After Joe Biden became president, Bottoms was considered for a role in his team. In January 2021, Biden and Harris nominated her for a role at the Democratic National Committee. This role focused on protecting voting rights.
In June 2022, President Joe Biden chose Bottoms for a new job. She became the director of the Office of Public Liaison. She served in this role until April 2023.
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Personal Life
Keisha Lance Bottoms married Derek W. Bottoms in October 1994. They met while studying law at Georgia State University. They adopted their four children.
Her husband, Derek W. Bottoms, works for The Home Depot. He is the vice president of employment practices. He has also served on the boards of several foundations.
Bottoms is a member of The Links. This is a social and service group for important Black women.
See also
- Joe Biden Supreme Court candidates
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
