David Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Politics

Raleigh City Election Results - Final Thoughts

With most votes being reported the winners are clear. McFarlane, Koopman, Stephenson and Baldwin have all been elected to their respective seats. (Taliaferro Challenges Koopman to a runoff) It looks like a very growth minded slate of candidates, save Baldwin, which I wholly feel is tied closely to real-estate interests.  Congratulations to everyone as I know it was a tough campaign that had the city strongly divided.  New Raleigh also wishes the best to all of the other candidates, particularly the four six that granted us “chats” as Below the Beltline called them.

Speaking of Below the Beltline and Baldwin, a new term has been coined by Dr. de Gama: “Develocrat.” Head over there to see what the hell he is talking about- I think it will be a very popular adjective for at least the next two years. 

Lastly, I wanted to personally congratulate Helen Tart.  While New Raleigh never made endorsements many publications and local groups did.  Helen was on some lists and left conspicuously off others.   She has been an active participant on the site and with very little advertising (I appreciated *not* seeing your sign at every intersection) or funding, Helen was able to pick up almost 10% of the total votes cast.

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  • Barden10/10 10:03 AM

    All six at large candidates David. Not four. Thanks.

    I’m personally glad the election is over and am quite pleased and shocked by the results (Districts A and B), and can’t wait for a day when my friends can take a break from b*tching about Mary Ann Baldwin. Jeez.

  • Barden10/10 10:18 AM

    Furthermore, there are several assumptions we can draw from these results:

    1) Meeker and pals. With the absence of Craven and Taliaferro, there is no right wing uber-business character of the council which left Meeker playing peace maker.

    2) Baldwin, if she’s smart, won’t go willy-nilly down the same track Taliaferro did when it comes to development issues. Last night proved that in just two years, voter disapproval and successful candidate nomination can happen at the grassroots level and you’ll get your butt knocked off the council. And if she sides with her major financiers, she runs the risk of being the only other decsenting vote with Isley, and they’ll be voted down anyway.

  • RaleighRob10/10 10:33 AM

    Wait wait wait…Koopman hasn’t won yet.  The battle isn’t over…Jessie’s requesting a run-off.

  • RaleighRob10/10 10:44 AM

    As far as Helen Tart goes…I hope Stephenson, MacFarlane and Crowder (and maybe Koopman if he makes it past the runoff) will consider her for the Planning Commission.  We need someone like her on it, especially since Betsy Kane has left.

  • David10/10 11:09 AM

    Koopman won, he just hasn’t ‘won.’  I hate that,  because I am sick of talking about these damn campaigns.  If there is a run off it is going to be as bloody as the battle of 300.  I’m not sure I understand the minimum percentage anyway, our national elections aren’t held to any minimum.

  • Barden10/10 11:19 AM

    Yeah I just heard about the run-off this morning…UGH

  • Helen Tart10/10 11:29 AM

    Thank you for the kind words. I just wish I could have done of better job of communicating why I was a better choice than Mary Ann.

    You never know. Maybe Mary Ann will be the kind of representative Raleigh needs. If she’s not, I’ll be there to point that out.

    238 people in my precinct were convinced to vote for Mary Ann Baldwin. I’ll be watching to make sure she represents them as they deserve to represented. (I’ve just started evaluating the precinct by precinct numbers, the “canvas” from the Board of Elections home page.) 

    I am very willing to run against her in 2009, if nothing else to give her a reason to vote with neighborhoods instead of developers. I got 10%  of the vote in 81 days, in 2 years I could be in her place. Unless of course, she votes to preserve Raleigh’s quality of life by increasing citizen involvement, neighborhood preservation and environmental stewardship and to make sure the prosperity of some is shared by all. 

    Maybe we should all take note of the houses that have had Mary Ann Baldwin signs in front of them and urge those folks to hold her accountable as well.

    For now, as RaleighRob points out, we need to hold Jesse responsible for actions.

  • georgia10/10 02:15 PM

    I, too, appreciate your candidacy and the way you have conducted your campaign, Helen. I hope you will keep the drum beat going and that we get a second chance to elect you. A good showing, I thought.

  • Jedidiah10/11 01:10 AM

    On my way home from work at noon today I saw a strange thing.  A Mary Ann Baldwin sign the yard of Russ Stephenson, beside a Russ and Crowder sign…..

    ?

  • Jedidiah10/11 04:47 PM

    http://www.newsobserver.com/news/wake/raleigh/story/733455.html

    YAY!

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