12/1 News: City Politics

Atlanta's Mayor's Race May Head For Recount

The race for Atlanta mayor appears headed for a recount, with the two candidates separated by only 620 votes. Former state senator Kasim Reed did have the slight lead with 99 percent of precincts reporting, and has claimed victory. However, city councilwoman Mary Norwood told supporters that she was not conceding and was open to a recount. Both had 50 percent of the vote. Under Georgia law, the runner-up can petition for a recount when the margin of victory is less than 1 percent of the total vote.

Mr. Reed and Ms. Norwood, who seeks to become Atlanta's first white mayor in almost 40 years, have waged a hard-fought battle across the city and over the airwaves in the month leading up to the runoff. Both tried to gain a critical mass of racial crossover votes, with victory likely hinging on black-versus-white turnout. The city's changing racial demographics could have played a role in the outcome. In 2000, Atlanta was 33 percent white and 61 percent black. In 2007, the numbers were 38 percent white and 57 percent black, according to the U.S. Census.

D.C. Council Takes First Vote On Same-Sex Marriage

In the first of two votes on allowing gay marriage in the nation's capital, the District of Columbia City Council has passed the bill 11 to 2 (hat tip: reader Dragon Horse). The D.C. Council today voted for the first time on the issue. The bill had been expected to pass, as 10 of the 13 council members co-sponsored its introduction. A second, final vote is expected later in the month, and D.C.'s mayor has promised to sign the bill. Marriages would begin in the city as soon as the bill passes a period of Congressional review. Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont and Connecticut already allow gay marriage. New Hampshire will join them on January 1.

As Booker Rising readers know, there is an effort to put gay marriage up for a referendum vote (D.C.'s mostly black electorate would surely vote for a ban, given black opinion on the issue). However, it hit a snag with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.