Atlanta election results: Borders concedes; Norwood, Reed run-off likely

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By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

More than halfway through the vote counting for Alanta's mayor, it appears that city council member Mary Norwood will face state Sen. Kasim Reed in a Dec. 2 runoff.

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eeubanks@ajc.com Lisa Borders makes her emotional concession speech at the W Hotel in downtown Atlanta

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Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com Mayoral candidate Mary Norwood makes a campaign appearance at the Varsity in Atlanta on Election night.

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With 117 precincts reporting, including all nine Atlanta precincts in DeKalb County, Norwood led the Atlanta race with 46 percent of the vote to Reed's 37 percent. With 14 percent City Council President Lisa Borders conceded at about 11 p.m.

"I fought the good fight, but the citizens have spoken and we have to honor their decision," she told WSB TV from her election party at the W Hotel in Downtown Atlanta.

Norwood said she accepted Borders' concession, and plans to "hit the ground running" Wednesday morning in the event of a runoff.

As Reed arrived at his election party at the Hyatt Regency, he said he looked forward to the next four weeks of campaigning.

"I have a belief that long campaigns are good," Reed told WSB said. "The stiff debates we had are good, because we were not as well know as other people in earlier races."

State election officials reported little problem with voting.

"Election day was successful," Secretary of State spokesman Matt Carrothers said. "We received no reports of systemic problems."

Around the region, Sandy Springs mayor, the 81-year-old Eva Galambos retained her title as the fledgling city's first mayor, while neighboring Roswell will see a December run-off between former city councilman David Tolleson and incumbent mayor Jere Wood.

In races where no candidate reaches 50 percent plus one vote, the top two candidates will face off in a run-off.

Around the region, several other notable municipalities made headlines.

In Roswell, with all 27 precincts reporting, incumbent mayor Wood finished the race with 38.6 percent versus 33.5 percent for Tolleson.

Earnestine Pittman likely is headed to a Dec. 2 contest against East Point's incumbent Mayor Joe Macon, where Macon trailed the challenger 30 percent to 40 percent with eight of 12 precincts reporting.

In Marietta, former state House member Steve "Thunder" Tumlin has a commanding lead over Bill Bolton and Chris Neil at 76 percent of the vote with all 12 precincts reporting.

Galambos faced down three challengers, coasting to re-election in Sandy Springs with about 84 percent of the vote in just the second citywide contest.

Staff Writers Megan Matteucci, Kristi E. Swartz, Jeffry Scott, Craig Schneider, April Hunt, Curtis Compton and Special Correspondent Roderic Graham contributed to this story.