Brockton still waits for minority mayor

[Ian David]

By Rebecca Starcevic, Enterprise staff writer

BROCKTON — Voter John Davis supported Mayor James E. Harrington when he ran in 2005, and again in his re-election bid on Nov. 6.

Raised in Brockton, Davis, who is black, voted for the incumbent even though challenger Jass Stewart is also black.

“I tend to be conservative, and I think Harrington will get more done,” Davis said.

Voters and community leaders agree that electing a minority candidate takes more than just getting out the minority vote.

People may not vote along ethnic lines any more than they vote along gender or religious ones, but in Brockton, voters have never elected a mayor or city councilor who was not white, despite having a highly diverse population.

Brockton's minority population, according to the 2000 census, accounts for 39 percent of the city's 94,000 residents.

Jass Stewart, a gay, married black man educated in communications, media and urban affairs, ran his second campaign for mayor of Brockton on a platform for change.

More:
http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2007/11/18/news/news/news07.txt