NATION : Voters Elect First Black Mayor in Predominantly White Seattle
SEATTLE — Seattle residents elected their first black mayor in a vote winner Norman B. Rice hailed as proof the predominantly white city deserves its reputation for progressive politics.
Rice, 46, a three-term City Council member, defeated his neighbor and one-time political ally, three-term City Atty. Douglas N. Jewett, on Tuesday in an election dominated by an anti-busing school initiative.
Jewett, 43, helped draft the so-called “Save Our Schools” initiative, and used it as his main campaign vehicle only to watch it run out of gas.
Rice, who had announced he would not run for mayor again after losing to incumbent Charles Royer in 1985 and failing in a bid for Congress last year, changed his mind and entered the race 30 minutes before the filing deadline. He cited the anti-busing initiative as the main reason.
Rice defeated Jewett 58% to 42%. His victory was particularly notable in light of the fact only 10% of the city’s population is black.
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