This morning, Savannah City Alderman Van R. Johnson announced he will run for Mayor in this year's election.
He broke the news on WRUU 107.5 FM community radio on "Savannah Lexicon," with Dave Messner sitting in for host Wayne Waters.
"I'm in it for the long run. It's my intention to run for Mayor of Savannah," said Johnson near the end of a nearly
hour-long interview which ran the gamut from affordable housing to managing tourism to poverty in Savannah, and of course the controversial Fire Fee, which Johnson opposed.
"It's been one of those things where I've tried to talk myself out of it," Johnson said of his impending run, citing his spiritual effort to look for "confirmation."
"We've been talking, we've been praying, we've been going around in the community saying, what type of leadership do we want? And ultimately for us, Savannah's worth fighting for... you can't necessarily want to be part of the fight and play safe," Johnson said.
"I don't have to be the smartest person in the room, but I can be the convener. I can be the one to shine the light on the least of these, and I can help Savannah become all that I know Savannah can be."
Other announced mayoral candidates include Regina Thomas, a former Georgia House and Senate member, who announced her run last month. Incumbent Mayor Eddie DeLoach hasn't officially announced a run for reelection.