ELECTION SUCCESS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 14

ELECTION SUCCESS

Negro Wins Mayoralty

(NX ProM ana.—CepsrioMl CHAPEL HILL (North Carolina), May 8. Voters on Tuesday gave North Carolina its first Negro Mayor ot a predominantly white community when they elected Mr Howard Leqt the son of a sharecropper, osar the veteran aiderman, Mr Boland Giduz, United Press International reported. “The vote was strong (for Mr Lee) in every place except the precinct called Country Club," said Mr Lee’s campaign manager Mr Mil Barnes. He said thatburinetemen, long-time residents and retired persons lived in the affluent neighbourhood. Mr Lee, who received more than 54 per eent of the vote, had good support from liberal faculty and staff members at the University of North Carolina, new residents in the city, and Negroes. He had promised to deal with employment, housing and public transportation needs in the community. Several other rittek also recorded "firsts” for Negroes. The Rev. Thurman Murphy, a Methodist minister, is the first Negro councilman dected te Laurinburg. Ahockie elected Its Irtt Negro roundtmen. Mr Henry Marsh, a barber, who defeated Mr X C. Sessoms, who had been on the town council for 44 years.

Negroes were elected to the council also in Murfreesboro, Bayboro nd Morehead City.