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Kasim Reed and Mary Norwood will face off December 1st in a run-off election to determine the next mayor for the city of Atlanta. Neither candidate received the required 50 percent to prevent the new contest. Norwood received 45% of the vote, with Reed coming in at 37%.  The other major candidate on the ballot, Lisa Borders managed to garner 14%.

In an earlier post on my blog, I explained that this mayoral race has been turbo-charged, due to the fact Councilwoman Norwood could become the first white mayor of the city in nearly 40 years.  This run-off election will have the palpable tinge of racial identity politics embedded at its core.  In fact, Christian Boone of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, wrote an excellent piece detailing the history of Atlanta’s mayoral run-off elections. They are often dominated by race and elements of divisiveness.

I am hoping that the people choose wisely and break free of that icy grip made from ignorance and fear.  The politics of today demand level-headed thinking and clear, concise reason. Let us show the rest of the country how forward thinking Americans should perform their civic duty.

1. Melinda Ennis says:

   November 5, 2009 at 9:10 pm

   Mary Norwood has shown her ineptitude time after time as a city council member (who was never given a chairmanship). In answering the recent question from the AJC, “for whom did you vote in the last presidential election,” her answer was” I don’t remember.” This would be funny if it didn’t come from someone who was in danger of leading our city during one of its most challenging times. Kasim has great experience as a state legislator, and believe me, the state is a key obstacle to Atlanta’s success. He knows what the issues are and has worked with Mayor Franklin through the years. The city council is the root of our problems, not the mayor. Mary is a representative of the one, and Kasim has the vision, the leadership and the stamina of the other.
   Atlanta, do not let us regress into the divisive, silly politics of race. Kasim is the best candidate and will represent all of our citizens, black and white.

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2. Matthew Wright says:

   November 5, 2009 at 10:26 pm

   Well put Melinda. I hope everyone goes to the polls with those same sentiments. I believe that we will. Let’s do what we all think is best for this city, and not cater to politics of division.

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