Zina C. Pierre, a third-generation Annapolitan and political consultant appears to have won Tuesday's Democratic primary in the race for Annapolis mayor.
With all the precincts reporting, Pierre held a 115-vote lead over the nearest challenger, Anne Arundel County Councilman Joshua J. Cohen, in the six-person race. Though city officials say there are about 200 absentee ballots to count, Cohen all but conceded the election Tuesday night.
"I suspect that when all the votes are counted, it will still show Zina as being successful," Cohen said. "It looks like Zina has a commanding lead."
Pierre, who worked in former President Bill Clinton's administration and would become the city's first African-American mayor if elected, did not claim victory last night but appeared jubilant at a party with her supporters at a downtown hotel.
"Clearly, the people have spoken, and they are ready for a new voice, new leadership and I believe I am that new leadership," said Pierre 44.
The six Democrats were competing to replace current Mayor Ellen O. Moyer, a Democrat, who is limited to two terms.
Also on the Democratic ballot: Trudy McFall, a housing executive who placed third with a strong showing; business owner Lori Sears Deppa; Alderman Samuel E. Shropshire; and Wayne Taylor, a community organizer and former alderman. Another Democrat, former Alderman Gilbert Renault, withdrew from the race Friday and threw his support to McFall.
The primary winner faces Republican Alderman David Cordle and independent Chris Fox, a business owner, in November. Democrats outnumber Republicans in Annapolis by a 2-to-1 margin, according to registration statistics.
About 12 percent of the city's approximately 23,000 registered voters headed to the polls, according to election officials.
Pierre said earlier in the day that she was proud of the way she had run her campaign.
"I was not going to browbeat my opponents," Pierre said. "It was important to me."
