Our Say: Election triumph puts Cohen, Democrats in charge

Although absentee ballots have not been counted, it appears that Josh Cohen is the next mayor of Annapolis. Our congratulations to him and to all of those who won City Council elections.

Political pundits thought that this was Cohen's election to lose, but a strange Democratic primary in which he placed second made this election too risky to call. Eventually, the party base that handed Zina Pierre a primary victory shifted its support to Cohen when she withdrew from the race. Cohen's victory against two very viable opponents - Republican Dave Cordle and independent Chris Fox - and the success of his party's council candidates show that Annapolis still belongs to the Democrats.

If the election was a referendum on the performance of Mayor Ellen O. Moyer, it doesn't appear that most voters accepted the need for change - the theme song of Cordle and Fox. Cohen's liabilities - his alleged closeness to Moyer, his abandonment of elected positions for other opportunities and his lack of support for a council-manager form of government - did not discourage voters.

How close he is to Moyer will be measured in time. He has demonstrated the ability to listen better and to tolerate opposing views - attributes that bode well for him as he attempts to bridge the gap separating him from Republicans and disenfranchised citizens. No matter how loud and disappointing the rhetoric may get, he must maintain his characteristic civility if he truly wants to distance himself from his predecessor.

He will benefit from a City Council without Cordle or Alderwoman Julie Stankivic, who chose not to run. Fred Paone of Ward 2 will be the lone Republican. We can't remember a time when the viewpoint of the opposing party had so little voice on the council. Perhaps this will mean less feuding, but opposing viewpoints generally lead to better government.

The city faces new challenges, the most important of which are the budget and taxes. With the idea of a tax cap still looming due to a petition drive to put the issue on the ballot, Cohen and the new council will have to embrace fiscal responsibility. If there was one issue that stuck in this campaign, it was the doubling of the budget in the last eight years - on the backs of taxpayers. Cohen would be wise to work with Alderman Ross Arnett, who, along with Stankivic, demonstrated the most common sense on budget issues.

Although the three mayoral candidates waged positive campaigns that offered terrific choices for voters, we are disappointed by a disgusting campaign flier that targeted Scott Bowling, an openly gay Republican who lost to Alderwoman Classie Hoyle in Ward 3. The flier asked black residents to vote according to their race and vote against Bowling because of his sexual preference - bigotry that defies Democratic principles and common decency. All Annapolitans - no matter their color or party affiliation - should rise in condemnation.

We wish Cohen and his fellow victors the best of luck.