MEET THE NEW “HIZZONER”
By a vote of 51-47%, little known candidate Greg Ballard beat an incumbent with a lot of money and a lot of organization. Not only did voter anger sweep Bart Peterson out of office, but most of his party on the City-County Council. What was a 15-14 Democratic majority now looks more like an 18-11 Republican majority. As of 10:47 p.m. tonight and 93 percent of the polls reporting, Republicans swept all but one of the at large council seats. It looks like Joanne Sanders was the surviving at-large seat.
Democrats did have some gains picking up the seat held by Scott Keller and Ike Randolph. But Republicans (with 95 percent of the polls reporting) picked up the seat held by Sherron Franklin as well as three of the at-large seats.
Mayor Bart Peterson gave a short concession speech and reminded everyone they will wake up tomorrow in the greatest city in the world.
Ballard says his first priority will be to get control of the police department from the Sheriff and with a Republican council that should be relatively easy to do. The hard part will be dealing with spending and the tax issue.
I wish them luck.
