After Runoff and Recount, Kasim Reed Is Mayor of Atlanta

2 years ago

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Mary C. Curtis

National Correspondent

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The margin in the race was just 714 votes, but it was enough to elect Kasim Reed the 59^th mayor of Atlanta.

Despite coming in first in the November general election, City Councilwoman Mary Norwood fell just short in the runoff, failing in her bid to become the city's first white mayor since 1974. Because the vote in last week's runoff was so close, Norwood called for a recount. The final tally was posted on Wednesday, and Norwood officially conceded shortly after that.

Fulton County officials said Reed won 42,549 votes while Norwood had 41,835, making it one of the tightest races in Atlanta history, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The occasional rancor of the campaign disappeared as the candidates praised each other yesterday; Norwood called to congratulate Reed and offer her help in his administration.

Since he was initially certified as mayor last Saturday, Reed has named an interim police chief and a new chief operating officer. He said he will visit Washington, D.C., before Christmas to lobby federal officials for money to help Atlanta deal with some of its challenges, according to the Journal-Constitution.

Tagged: daily guidance, DailyGuidance, kasim reed, KasimReed, mary norwood, MaryNorwood

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