Race and the Atlanta Mayoral Race
Atlanta prides itself on being “the city too busy to hate.” Indeed, race relations here are cordial and the city provides economic and social opportunities for people of many different racial, ethnic and social backgrounds.
Yet in the “cradle of the Civil Rights Movement,” social issues and politics are viewed through a racial prism. Such is the case with this year’s mayoral campaign.
For the first time since 1973, Atlanta may elect a white mayor. A poll from last week, commissioned by local TV station WXIA 11Alive and radio station V103, suggests Atlanta City Concilwoman Mary Norwood is leading a six-way race for mayor with 46 percent of the vote. Her closest contender, Georgia State Senator Kasim Reed, trails at 26 percent.
Although the candidates have kept the focus of their campaigns on crime, taxes and city services, two African-American professors released the racial genie back in August when they wrote an open letter, urging black voters to unite behind Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders “in order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy.”
Both Norwood and Reed were quick to distance themselves from the letter. “It was wrong minded,” Reed told FOX News. “It represents the worst of Atlanta in my mind.”
Despite Norwood’s considerable lead in the polls, she will likely face Reed in a runoff. Election rules require the winner of the Atlanta mayoral race to receive a 50 percent plus one vote majority.
“The conventional wisdom has always been that a white candidate could get in a runoff in a citywide election, but that that white candidate was doomed in the runoff when all the black voters consolidated behind a black candidate,” said Dick Williams, a longtime Georgia publisher and political commentator.
But much has changed since current Mayor Shirley Franklin was elected to the first of her two terms eight years ago. Atlanta’s African-American majority, which once accounted for two out of three voters — now hovers just above 50 percent.
Williams said the closing of Atlanta’s large public housing projects has removed a loyal minority voting bloc. “Those were reliable foot soldiers for the mayoral candidates who could arrange the money and the transportation to the polls,” he said.
The gentrification of many inner-city neighborhoods has attracted many white and black professionals, who may be less likely to see race as a key issue in a political contest.
While many Atlantans still hold painful memories of the days of segregation, younger citizens have grown up in a city with many prominent African-American politicians and entrepreneurs. Race has become an issue not so much for division, but discussion.
No doubt, that discussion will continue through the November 3rd election. Watch my video report here.
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