"Black Voters Reject Plan on Dallas Mayor"

[GreenPartyVoter]

DALLAS - Black voters, united in their disdain for Mayor Laura Miller's outspoken style and what they call a disregard for southern Dallas, shocked many by turning out in record numbers to help crush a proposal that would have dramatically increased her power.

"I was surprised," said Dallas County elections administrator Bruce Sherbet. "I've done this job for 18 years and I have never seen a turnout like I saw in early voting in the southern sector. It matched the turnout in the north part of the city, which never happens."

Dallas, unlike cities such as New York and Chicago, designed its mayor to be weak, entrusting the real power to 14 council members who work with the city manager to represent the city's diverse neighborhoods.

The proposal would have shifted the balance of power to Miller, who is white, freeing her to act swiftly to attack high crime and spark downtown investment and renewal. Opponents said the measure failed to ensure adequate checks and balances.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050510/ap_on_el_st_lo/strong_mayor;_ylt=Ar2sEDUKE4O9uCY8injVVbKyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[mhr]

1. Excellent News!

eom

[wildeyed]

2. Excellent news!

:kick:

Shows what can happen when angry people get organized.

[katinmn]

3. Hooray for Rufus Shaw Jr. and the voters who turned out!

I hope we hear more from Shaw. We've got a lot to learn from him about organizing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
"What Laura Miller has done is she made the black community angry," said Rufus Shaw Jr., a political strategist who follows southern-sector politics. "And nothing fires us up more than when someone insults us and thumbs their nose at us."

The south's steady voting turnout on Saturday, paired with a split decision in the wealthier, predominantly white northern sector, led to a citywide turnout above 20 percent, more than double what Sherbet said he originally predicted.

Turnout in the city's predominantly black districts was about even with turnout in predominantly white districts, averaging around 21 percent, according to city election figures. About 62 percent of Dallas voters rejected the proposal.

Shaw said he hopes the high turnout and its influence on the nonpartisan election will inspire blacks to return to the polls. "We weren't just angry. We were organized," he said. "I hope that this fire she's lit in us stays burning."

[katinmn]

4. kick! and recommended.

[wildeyed]

5. kick

:kick: