ATLANTA — The race for Atlanta mayor appeared headed for a recount early today, with the two candidates separated by only 620 votes.
Former state Sen. Kasim Reed had the slight lead with 99 percent of precincts reporting, but 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. Voters cast 84,076 ballots, so the winning margin would be less than 1 percent.
Reed and Norwood 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. Norwood was trying to become the city’s first white mayor in over three decades.
Reed, who is black, was claiming victory at his downtown campaign headquarters early today.
The winner will inherit a list of challenges after taking office on Jan. 4, including the city’s sagging finances and easing fears about crime. The Associated Press
