Monday, September 19, 2005

''Democrats' party leader lauds Jones''

"Even though Mobile's municipal elections are nonpartisan, last week's mayoral victory by Sam Jones won notice from the Democratic National Committee.

"Congratulations are truly in order to Mayor-elect Sam Jones," committee Chairman Howard Dean said in a news release. "Jones has broken through a great historical barrier by becoming the first black mayor of Mobile." Jones, a Mobile County commissioner for more than 18 years, was elected to that county post as a Democrat.

Jones defeated City Councilman John Peavy, who is white and had previously sought elective office as a Republican, in a runoff Tuesday to succeed Mike Dow. The vote totals were 29,953 to 23,095.

Dean's release noted that Jones garnered support from black and white voters in the runoff.

"Jones' victory is further proof that voters throughout the country are responding to the Democratic message, and are supporting Democratic candidates who stand up for what they believe," Dean said.

A Mobile Register analysis of returns showed that Jones attracted as much as 25 to 30 percent of the white vote and won two majority white precincts -- Spring Hill Avenue Recreation Center and Hillsdale Recreation Center.-from the story in the The Mobile Register (AL).

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