Long backs Norwood

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Mayoral candidate Mary Norwood, who is white, has received her first endorsement from a black elected official.

The support from State Representative Ralph Long comes on the heels of a paper which pushed race to the forefront of the election.

WABE's Charles Edwards reports

Ralph Long was the first elected official to reject the paper analyzing the Mayor's race from the perspective of a black agenda.

Supporter Rosel Fann, a 76 year old black woman, also disagrees with the analysis.

FANN: "But I will not support anybody because of their color. I support them because of their representation of all the residents in the city of Atlanta."

Long, of Atlanta's Sylvan Hills neighborhood, also said most residents like Norwood's plan against crime. He says she wants a police chief who comes from Atlanta.

LONG: "A home grown police chief and public safety were on the forefront of their mind."

That's in contrast to Mayor Shirley Franklin who selected police chief Richard Pennington from New Orleans.