1978 Mayoral Election
Having credentials as an activist, legislator, and "hero" in a hostage crisis, as well as an early endorsement from the Washington Post, Barry followed in Washington's mayoralty when its first elected mayor, Walter Washington, fell out of political favor in the 1978 election. Running with the campaign slogan “Take A Stand” and the promise to improve the “bumbling and bungling” Washington administration, Barry won the Democratic primary election against his main rivals Mayor Washington and council chairman Sterling Tucker in a vote so close that final tally was in doubt for over two weeks. He went on to defeat his Republican opponent Arthur Fletcher and two other minor candidates in a landslide general election in November. He was only the second person elected to the position.
Read more about this topic: Marion Barry
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“The election makes me think of a story of a man who was dying. He had only two minutes to live, so he sent for a clergyman and asked him, “Where is the best place to go to?” He was undecided about it. So the minister told him that each place had its advantages—heaven for climate, and hell for society.”
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