Home > Election Day > Archives > 2006 > August > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USJohnson declares victory over McKinney
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hank Johnson, the soft-spoken DeKalb County commissioner who forced U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney into a surprising runoff, finished the job Tuesday, decidedly defeating the 4th Congressional District lawmaker in their fierce rematch.
In a race that attracted national attention and a higher turnout than election officials expected at home, McKinney, a six-term Democrat and outspoken critic of the Bush administration, suffered her second defeat in four years. Before the day was out, the incumbent was complaining of voting irregularities, which election officials discounted.
Johnson, a 51-year-old lawyer and former magistrate judge, will face Republican Catherine Davis in the November general election in a DeKalb County district that is considered solidly in the Democratic corner. The district covers DeKalb and parts of Gwinnett and Rockdale counties.
Johnson’s message during brutal campaign simple: “Replace McKinney.” On Tuesday, Johnson found that a majority voters in the district had come to the same conclusion.
“What we have done today is something that has been watched by the nation,” Johnson said. “It is clear, where most people have a low opinion of the work of our Congress, that they want to see things done differently.”
He added, “I pledge I’m going to work with each and every person to work for solutions,” Johnson said. “I am here to serve you, to make you proud.”
McKinney, who arrived to be with supporters at the Omega World Center on Snapfinger Drive late Tuesday, was whisked in but would not comment to reporters.
Earlier in the day, the congresswoman complained about alleged voting irregularities. She said supporters told her some of the ballots did not include her name and that some of the electronic voting machines were not working properly.
“We are disappointed that the secretary of state’s office has not dealt adequately with these electronic voting machines and the deficiencies,” McKinney said in a brief interview. She declined to provide specifics.
Both local and state elections officials said they were taking McKinney’s allegations seriously. But they were also quick to say many of the complaints were invalid.
The vote counting was delayed by an hour in DeKalb County after the computer used to upload the information from the touch-screen voting machines malfunctioned, officials said. It took officials about an hour to substitute the malfunctioning equipment with a working one, and the process finally began at 9 p.m. – an hour behind schedule, said Linda Lattimore, director of Voter Registration & Elections.
Johnson constantly reminded voters that she had been more of an embarassment than a benefit to the affluent and diverse district, more polarizing than productive at home and in Washington.
“I think Mr. Johnson has shown that he is a quality candidate who will represent DeKalb County with dignity, style, class and honor,” Michael Tyler, a Johnson supporter, said at the the candidate’s victory party at a Decatur Holiday Inn Tuesday night.
A preliminary analysis showed tht about 64,000 people voted in the 4th District primary, but more than 70,000 voted in the runoff. Key to Johnson’s victory was the support he received in Gwinnett and Rockdale, where voters, many of them white, came to the polls in surprising numbers. Johnson carried those areas overwhelmingly, while also making inroads into McKinney’s traditional political strength in key parts of DeKalb.
Johnson’s first foray into politics was in 1986, when he ran for a state House seat and lost. Three years later, he became a magistrate judge, where he remained for 12 years until he won a seat on the DeKalb commission in 2000. During his five-year stint as a commissioner, he chaired the budget committee and, like his colleagues, handled zoning and planning issues. He resigned in April to run for the 4th District seat.
McKinney appeared to take the race for granted until Johnson denied her the more than 50 percent majority of primary votes she needed to avoid a runoff — she received 47 percent to his 44 percent, with the remaining votes going to businessman John F. Coyne III.
After the primary, Johnson built momentum across political lines and in quarters that traditionally had been critical of McKinney’s congressional service. Major contributions and endorsements began pouring in from unlikely supporters, including former GOP gubernatorial candidate Guy Millner, former GOP state Rep. Emory Morsberger of Gwinnett County and Home Depot co-founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank.
He ran as the clear alternative to McKinney, promising to make efforts to work across the aisle with not only Democrats, but Republicans. In a radio debate on Monday, he even quoted Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, vowing to make voters “proud” if he is elected.
McKinney reminded voters that she had brought millions of dollars to the district as their representative in Congress. She touted a top rating on her legislative accomplishments and her willingness to criticize the Bush administration on its policies, especially on the war in Iraq.
Connie Zellers, 55, of Stone Mountain, and her husband, Remus Zellers, are longtime McKinney supporters.
“She’s brought a lot of resources - money - to the 4th District,” said Connie Zellers, a businesswoman. “She truly believes in representing the people and not special interests. That’s more important to me than anything else.”
But McKinney’s outspokeness, and her run-in earlier this year with a U.S. Capitol police officer, provided fuel to her critics, who saw her as polarizing and divisive. She was accused of striking the officer when he tried to stop her to see her identification. A grand jury declined to indict her on assault charges.
Johnson used the growing sentiment against the incumbent to his advantage. In the final days of the runoff, he insisted that McKinney had not completely explained her run-in with a U.S. Capitol police officer in March, keeping her on the defensive.
McKinney also kept Johnson on the ropes by bringing up past financial problems — including a bankruptcy and tax liens — he had with his law practice.
Johnson said the negative aspects of the campaign was the hardest for him – particularly his bankruptcy revelations.
“It was tough for my family,” Johnson said. “But it was strengthing. Iron is forged when it gets hot.”
Staff writers Jeremy Redmon, James Salzer, David Milliron, Saeed Ahmed, Jill Young Miller, Stephanie Reid and Julie Turkewitz contributed to this report.
Complete election returns coverage
Permalink | | Categories: DeKalb County
.JPG)
Services »
