Originally published: Nov. 8, 2011, 9:37 p.m.
Updated: Nov. 9, 2011, 9 a.m.
CHARLOTTE — Gay and lesbian candidates across North Carolina sailed to victory in their races for local office on Tuesday.
Openly gay Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt will serve a second term.
In Charlotte, out lesbian LaWana Mayfield, a Democrat, won her race for the District 3 city council seat, soundly defeating Republican opponent Ed Toney 78 percent to 22 percent.
Openly gay Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt won his reelection bid with 78 percent of the vote, beating challengers Tim Sookram and Kevin Wolff. Openly gay 22-year-old and recent University of North Carolina grad Lee Storrow won his race for a seat on the Chapel Hill Town Council. He garnered 15.78 percent of the vote, coming in third in a four-way race. Storrow is the youngest member to serve on the council in 20 years.
In nearby Carrboro, incumbent Alderwoman Lydia Lavelle was also victorious. She’ll serve another term on that town’s council, capturing 29.84 percent of the vote.
In Franklinton, openly gay Mayor Elic Senter was reelected to another term. He won his race 79 percent to 21 percent. Senter had no challenger on the ballot.
Greensboro’s Wayne Abraham, a founder of Triad Health Project and a former member and chair of the city’s human relations commission, lost his first-time election bid for an at-large seat. He garnered just 12 percent of the vote, coming in sixth in a race with seven candidates.
If I’m not mistaken, openly gay Elic Senter was also re-elected as mayor of Franklinton, though I believe he ran unopposed.
Comment by Appellation — November 9, 2011 @ 12:46 am
79% to 21% isn’t “edging out.” That’s a trouncing.
Comment by Patrick — November 9, 2011 @ 8:58 am
edging out? really? I wonder what you consider a landslide victory?
Comment by Jeff — November 9, 2011 @ 9:55 am
Lee Storrow finished 3rd, but it wasn’t in a “four-way race.” It was in a nine-way race, with the top four winning seats.
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/11/three_incumbents_win_council_seats
Comment by Mark — November 9, 2011 @ 2:37 pm
Congratulations Mark!
It’s wonderful you work for the town that you went to university at.
Good memories!
Keep up the good work!
Comment by Maria — November 10, 2011 @ 12:46 am
hi to all goqnotes.comers this is my frst post and thought i would say a big hello to yous –
thank yous speak soon
garry moore
Comment by garrymoore — November 23, 2011 @ 9:11 pm