Atlanta mayoral election, 1973
Encyclopedia
The 1973 Atlanta mayoral election was held on November 6, 1973 in Atlanta, Georgia
. Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson
was elected as the city's first African-American mayor, defeating incumbent Mayor Sam Massell
.
In the primary election, Jackson and Massell finished first and second, respectively, followed by former United States Representative Charles Weltner
, former State of Georgia Department of Industry and Trade Deputy Commissioner Harold A. Dye and State Senator Leroy Johnson
. Other candidates were former Atlanta Police Officer John Chambers, Socialist Workers Party
activist Debby Bustin, Hare Krishna
community leader William Ogle, attorney John Genins, Betty Morrison, Ernest Moschella and write-in candidate Howard Tucker. Jackson then defeated incumbent Mayor Sam Massell in a runoff election.
In the same election, Atlanta voters elected Alderman Wyche Fowler
as President of the Atlanta City Council
. Fowler defeated Reverend Hosea Williams
in a runoff election. In the primary election, Fowler and Williams finished first and second, respectively, followed by former Alderman Wade Mitchell and Rector Robert B. Hunter.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson
Maynard Jackson
Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. was an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the first African American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. He served three terms, two consecutive terms from 1974 until 1982 and a third term from 1990 to 1994...
was elected as the city's first African-American mayor, defeating incumbent Mayor Sam Massell
Sam Massell
Sam Massell, a life-long resident of Atlanta, has had successful careers in real estate brokerage, elected office, the field of tourism, and association management....
.
In the primary election, Jackson and Massell finished first and second, respectively, followed by former United States Representative Charles Weltner
Charles Weltner
Charles Weltner was a politician from the U.S. state of Georgia.Weltner was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He received a bachelor's degree from Oglethorpe University in 1948. Then, in 1950, he received a law degree from Columbia Law School...
, former State of Georgia Department of Industry and Trade Deputy Commissioner Harold A. Dye and State Senator Leroy Johnson
Leroy Johnson (senator)
Leroy Reginald Johnson , was an American senator who served on the Georgia State Senate from 1963–75 after winning a seat in the 1962 Georgia General Assembly election. He was the first black state senator to be elected to the legislature in over fifty year, since William Rogers in 1907, and the...
. Other candidates were former Atlanta Police Officer John Chambers, Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (United States)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
activist Debby Bustin, Hare Krishna
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
community leader William Ogle, attorney John Genins, Betty Morrison, Ernest Moschella and write-in candidate Howard Tucker. Jackson then defeated incumbent Mayor Sam Massell in a runoff election.
In the same election, Atlanta voters elected Alderman Wyche Fowler
Wyche Fowler
William Wyche Fowler, Jr. is an American politician and ambassador. He is a member of the Democratic Party and served as U.S. Senator from Georgia from January 1987 to January 1993. He had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until his senatorial election.-Early life...
as President of the Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council is the main municipal legislative body for the city of Atlanta, Georgia. It consists of 15 members elected from districts within the city. The Atlanta City Government is divided into three bodies: the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The Atlanta City Council serves...
. Fowler defeated Reverend Hosea Williams
Hosea Williams
Hosea Lorenzo Williams was a United States civil rights leader, ordained minister, businessman, philanthropist, scientist and politician...
in a runoff election. In the primary election, Fowler and Williams finished first and second, respectively, followed by former Alderman Wade Mitchell and Rector Robert B. Hunter.
External links
- Maynard Jackson, The New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Sam Massell, Georgia Public Broadcasting
- Charles Weltner, The New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Leroy Johnson, The New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Harold Dye, Witness to War (Search for Harold Dye)
- http://books.google.com/books?id=yfBJFZ-d8RoC&pg=PA265&lpg=PA265&dq=maynard+jackson,+sam+massell,+charles+weltner,+leroy+johnson,+harold+dye&source=bl&ots=OdHMFaM-ii&sig=2zUs311hFP0mqq4rzjOgfwoiVkc&hl=en&ei=xsHoSsGQCJmUtgekyr2IBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=maynard%20jackson%2C%20sam%20massell%2C%20charles%20weltner%2C%20leroy%20johnson%2C%20harold%20dye&f=false Beneath the image of the Civil Rights Movement and race relations: Atlanta By David Andrew Harmon]