UPDATE: Atlanta Mayoral Race: Referendum on Race Relations
November 4th, 2009
Atlanta took a step toward making history last night. In what eventually turned out to be a three person race from a pool of eight candidates, Mary Norwood emerged with the largest tally of votes but failed to reach a majority, so she will now enter a run-off election on December 1. Norwood received 45% of the vote and her two closest challengers Kasim Reed and Lisa Borders received 37% and 14% respectively.
Predictions for the run-off are difficult at this point to say the least. Lisa Borders conceded the election early in the evening, but it is unclear where her supporters will turn. If history repeats itself in Atlanta, the vote will come down along racial lines leaving Norwood to fall to Kasim based solely upon the color of her skin.
She appears to be taking it in stride. I think it is safe to say that she is more than optimistic that Atlanta has finally seen the light and is ready to elect a Major based on merit rather than skin color.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now the two candidates have roughly a month to fight for every voter among an electorate that seems to be exhausted and mistrustful. And the ever-present issues of race, gender and class — which showed up throughout the campaign — likely will be amplified in coming weeks as the contest settles into one between a white woman and black man. Many Atlantans found the prospect unsettling.
“The town is divided in so many ways,” voter Ralph Dickerson said Tuesday, shaking his head.
November 3rd, 2009
Among the many political campaigns that will come to an end of their journey today, one race of little national significance may be the most refreshing; most revealing; and most remarkable of all. In the heart of the deep South, politics are a strange beast. State and local debates rarely resemble national discussions of major issues, and political parties are little more than obstacles to personal achievement. After all, at the city level, Republican and Democrat rarely carry much weight outside of the preconceived notions that come along for the ride. There are however some instances, where from time to time, other factors play a key role in politics that would be unheard of or at least frowned upon on the national scene.
It may be difficult for some Americans to imagine in the year 2010, but in some cities across this great nation, the issue of race plays a key role in local politics and who gets elected each November. Occasionally however, the greatness of this nation displays itself, and these communities and municipalities rise up and break free from the chains of racial prejudice and elect their local officials on the merit of the candidate rather than the color of their skin.
Today is set to mark one of these great days in American history in one of the most racially segregated states in these United States. In the great state of Georgia today, City Councilwoman Mary Norwood is expected to be elected the city of Atlanta’s first white Mayor in 36 years. She was leading heading into today’s election with 45% of the vote. Her closest challengers Kasim Reed (Former Georgia State Senator) and Lisa Borders (City Council President), both African Americans, were carrying 25% and 16% respectively. There will be a run-off election in December if a majority is not claimed by any candidate, but Norwood is expected to be the victor when the race is decided.
A Norwood victory would be a remarkable feat in a city that hasn’t had a white Mayor since 1972. Her candidacy is even more remarkable because Norwood is a resident of Buckhead – a predominantly (and very stereotypically) white neighborhood in a city that is anything but. Tyrone Brooks, President of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials said, “Citizens are looking at who they believe can lead the city forward, rather than their skin tone…It reminds me of what we saw with Barack Obama’s campaign last year. People were telling me, ‘We’re not going to look at him on the color of his skin. We’re going to look at his vision.’ ”
If Norwood is able to claim victory today in her bid to be the next Mayor of Atlanta, you won’t hear much about it in your national evening news. You won’t read about it in your local paper or the USA Today. But when she claims victory and tears down another brick in the wall of racial bigotry and oppression in this nation, she will have accomplished far more than words on paper or spoken in a newsclip could ever describe. Her victory will not be a signal that racial prejudices have been eradicated or that we are truly in a “post-racial era” in American society, but it will undoubtedly be a sign that Atlanta is doing its part.
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Very well said. I had not heard about this race and you pulled me in to thinking it was a redneck racist election in the deep south. Very effective.
Thanks. Polls are not closed as of yet, but I believe she will get a W tonight.
Dont you think it is ironic that when a black man wins everyone wants to talk about it, but when I white woman wins no one cares?
I dont know that it is ironic, but yes, the story does appear to go missing. I think thats what you were trying to say there.
Why does everything have to be so white / black? Cant Norwood just lose because she is not the better candidate? I dont understand why you need to make this into a “race referendum”!
When this election rolls around in December, will it be a referndum on race or just a landslide back to racist behavior? I think the latter.
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