UPDATE: Mary Norwood is the winner, according to unofficial results from the Fulton County election office, winning 53 percent to 47 percent. She issued this statement Wednesday morning:
I am so grateful to you all! Our campaign was a tremendous TEAM effort, with Atlantans from all over our city coming together and supporting my return to City Hall to serve you again. What an exciting, action-packed campaign we had! Each of you was amazing in your dedication and determination to have me represent you—your commitment of time and resources made the difference in our win and I appreciate every single effort–-knocking on doors, talking to friends, sending contributions, making phone calls, displaying yard signs – WOW! It’s a GREAT DAY, Atlanta! And I’m ready and excited to work for you all again!
Former Atlanta City Council member and mayoral candidate Mary Norwood defeated incumbent Aaron Watson in the Post 2 At-Large city council seat, a seat she once held before running for mayor in 2009.
With all of the precincts reporting, Norwood 24,628 votes for 53 percent while Watson got 22,005 for 47 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Fulton County election office.
The Log Cabin Republicans came out in full force defense of City Council Post 2 At-Large candidate Mary Norwood after the Democratic Party of Georgia took out ads accusing the former council member and mayoral candidate of, well, perhaps being a Republican — a similar tactic, and ad, used against her mayoral run in 2009.
In a tough battle for the City Council against incumbent, and Democrat, Aaron Watson, the state Democratic Party felt there was enough of a threat to put out an ad and remind people that Norwood just might be a Republican. Of course, it should be pointed out that the City Council races are non-partisan. The election is Nov. 5.
Atlanta City Councilmember Aaron Watson is endorsed by staunch LGBT advocate U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and also the gay political group the Georgia Stonewall Democrats in his re-election bid in which he's being challenged by Mary Norwood.
Four years ago, Norwood was on the cusp of beating Mayor Kasim Reed to become the city's top leader, but lost by slightly more than 700 votes. She did win the heavily gay District 6, in part because she was a full supporter of marriage equality while, at the time, Reed only supported civil unions. Reed now supports full marriage equality.