Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009

40 years after riots, Pa. city elects black mayor

YORK, Pa. (AP) - The central Pennsylvania city of York has elected its first black mayor, 40 years after violent race riots led to the death of a white police officer and a black woman.

Democrat Kim Bracey beat Republican Wendell Banks in Tuesday's general election. Democratic voters in York outnumber Republicans by nearly 2 to 1.

Bracey is the city's former director of community development.

York was the site of weeks of race rioting in 1969. The killings of a white police officer and black woman went unsolved for decades.

Bracey says she embraces the significance of her election. She calls it a historic accomplishment and says she's pleased voters trust her to lead the city.

2009-11-04     06:08:12 GMT

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