Minority candidates make presence felt but gain little ground

[Ian David]

By Eric Moskowitz and Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff

A year after the state elected its first African-American governor, minority candidates on some local ballots stirred hope of greater diversity Tuesday.

When the votes were counted, they came up short of their goals in Brockton, Lawrence, and Quincy, but in Fitchburg an Asian-American mayoral candidate clobbered her more experienced opponent with 75 percent of the vote. Worcester appeared to have elected a woman mayor for the first time.

Lisa Wong, a 28-year-old political newcomer and the daughter of Chinese immigrants, defeated a four-term city councilor to become the first minority mayor in Fitchburg’s 243-year history.

In Brockton, Jass A. Stewart earned 47 percent of the vote, failing in his bid to become the state’s first popularly elected mayor who is African-American and gay. Mayor James E. Harrington, the incumbent, won 52 percent, according to unofficial results.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/11/minority_candid.html