Kasim Reed to Be Next Atlanta Mayor

Independent candidate Mary Norwood conceded to Democrat Kasim Reed in Atlanta’s mayoral race.
Kasim Reed to Be Next Atlanta Mayor
Mary Silver
12/9/2009
Updated:
12/31/2009
ATLANTA—Independent candidate Mary Norwood conceded to Democrat Kasim Reed on Wednesday night in Atlanta’s mayoral race. After a recount, Reed’s margin of victory grew to 714 votes.

Norwood would have been Atlanta’s first white mayor since Sam Massell lost to Maynard Jackson in 1974, and would have been the second female mayor. Democratic Mayor Shirley Franklin served two terms. Franklin’s popularity suffered near the end of her tenure when the city furloughed police and firefighters.

Mary Norwood voted against a tax increase that would have prevented the furloughs. Reed criticized her for that vote during a rancorous campaign. He has already appointed an interim police chief and announced a wish to choose a permanent one from within the Atlanta Police Department.

On Wednesday, Reed and Norwood buried the hatchet.
Mary Silver writes columns, grows herbs, hikes, and admires the sky. She likes critters, and thinks the best part of being a journalist is learning new stuff all the time. She has a Masters from Emory University, serves on the board of the Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and belongs to the Association of Health Care Journalists.
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