Ninth Ward: Now that he's elected, will Cohen really bring about change?

Perhaps it was due to the full moon, but three amazing things happened in Annapolis Tuesday night.

First, I found a parking spot next door to Annapolis Marriott Waterfront for Dave Cordle's party. Then I easily parked in front of the Loews Annapolis for Josh Cohen's party. At Chris Fox's party, the closest possible legal spot to The Sly Fox Pub was vacant and waiting for me.

Oh yeah, there also was an election.

Did these miracles mean our mayor-elect Cohen already solved our parking challenges? Even his election was a miracle, according to the Rev. Johnny Calhoun of Mount Olive AME Church who told the crowd at Cohen's victory party, "Look what the Lord did. Look what the Lord has done."

I was not aware that such matters concerned the Supreme Being, but I doubt the reverend was referring to my personal relationship with those parking spaces that were saved for me. But what role did the hand of the Lord play in our supposedly secular election?

Then something ominous happened at The Sly Fox Pub when I opened my wallet to find it was empty. Does tax-and-spend government work that quickly? Was it already cleaned out for the second coming and rising in property taxes? Fortunately, I was again saved through my credit card, thus borrowing for what I wanted now. Or should I be the one saving more? "Free" parking spaces and "free" beer! Something for nothing.

My conversation Tuesday morning with Cohen ended with a sincere and friendly hug. Josh was not fully assured of a victory, but he did win and is going to be our new mayor. He deserves our support and cooperation - and will need it.

I believe he will "raise the bar" and dramatically improve the tone in City Hall, as he has promised repeatedly. He will soon face a number of tests that will show how serious he is, but having seen many highly paid and gleeful Moyer appointees at his victory party, I can only wonder what's in store.

We cannot discount the important likability factor that got him elected, but the rest of the story is more complicated, and perhaps not as pretty. We still have low voter participation, attention and turnout.

Cohen and the Democrats have achieved a victory, but how strong and at what cost? Despite overwhelming numbers of Democrats, vast sums of money (much of it in large, outside donations), mailers, endorsements, personal involvement of the state's top Democratic leaders, Cohen's plurality of only 45 percent was a narrow victory over Republican Cordle with only 235 votes between them. It was similar in many council races and Cordle won many precincts.

But it was a victory that almost ensures Cohen a strong voting bloc. The four who have been sitting to the mayor's right at chambers will remain. Three of the four to the left will be new, but I don't see how this was an election about change as Cohen claims.

I believe three or four council members may leave before their terms are up, one of them perhaps soon to replace Cohen on County Council. The seat to represent Annapolitans for the next year will be filled by the council and not by ''We the people.''

The law requires that a Democrat be appointed. I can think of a different one that might be more pleasing to Republicans right now than that particular alderperson. However, if that alderperson does leave for County Council, we'll have yet another special election for what will likely be a tiny number of very expensive votes. More musical chairs. But there is certainly one thing about which some 90 percent of us from all political persuasions can all rejoice.