Bottoms, Kemp try to work out deal in lawsuit over Georgia’s mask mandate

By DeMicia Inman

·July 23, 2020

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ attempts to implement COVID-19 regulations were blocked by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp with a lawsuit. Now, both parties are discussing a settlement.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bottoms and Kemp are planning to settle over the mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions proposed by the mayor.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Mayor, Atlanta, Georgia Hon. Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks onstage during the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit – Day 1 at Grand Hyatt New York on September 24, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

“We discussed where we disagree and hopefully we can figure out a way to agree to disagree without having to play this out in court,” Bottoms said as a guest on The Tonight Show.

She continued, “At the end of the day, we want the same thing. We want people to be safe. We want to stop the spread of COVID-19. And it certainly doesn’t help when we’re having to fight one another.”

Bottoms’ attempt to restore phase one procedures was followed by Kemp initiating legal action. Her decision to tighten up coronavirus mandates in Atlanta comes after cases continued to spike in The Peach State, including positive COVID-19 tests for herself and her own family.

In addition to being sued over a mask mandate and voluntary advisory guidelines on COVID-19, @GovKemp has asked for an emergency injunction to “restrain” me from issuing press statements and speaking to the press. Far more have sacrificed too much more for me to be silent. pic.twitter.com/gWlnZlCtoR
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 19, 2020

The AJC reports Kemp’s office labeled the meeting “productive.” However, they declined to make any further comments. Despite his opposition, the governor is rarely seen without his mask on. Last week, he uploaded an Instagram post asking “all Georgians to mask up as we continue to face COVID-19 head on.”

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan hopes the dispute between the mayor and governor “can be resolved outside of a courtroom,” reports AJC. Duncan is an ally of Kemp and also confirmed a positive meeting.

According to AJC, the mayor was fully prepared to battle for her city. She was joined by the Georgia Municipal Association who filed court documents claiming Kemp attempted to “usurp local control and Home Rule authority”

AJC continues to report the court case is currently postponed after two judges recused themselves.

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