CEO breakdown: Who’s got the money?
Precinct numbers show Ellis’ message resonating throughout DeKalb
by Andy Phelan
andy@dekalbchamp.com
Resources tell the whole story.
Ellis |
That, according to pro politico Warren Mosby, is all political junkies need to know on how the Aug. 5 runoff race for CEO will play out between county commissioner Burrell Ellis and state Rep. Stan Watson.
Ellis, 50, a real estate attorney and Ivy League graduate, earned 46 percent of the primary vote, while vice president of government affairs for health-care company Matria and Navy veteran Stan Watson, 54, took 26 percent.
“He who has the resources will get his message out,” said Mosby, son of Nate Mosby, the second African American on the DeKalb County commission.
Watson |
As of the most recent campaign filings, Ellis raised more than $420,000 and has more than $75,000 on hand. Watson reported raising more than $149,000 with about $17,500 on hand.
Mosby, who is campaign director for District 4 runoff candidate Sharon Barnes-Sutton and ran his brother Howard Mosby’s statehouse campaign, said both CEO candidates have their work cut out for them.
“Side by side, both candidates have their plusses and minuses,” he said. “Neither one is known in all parts of the county. But he who has the resources will be more able to touch people – with mailers, ads and phone calls.”
That would appear to be Ellis for now.
But Watson – known for his community activism – has the support of many of his statehouse colleagues and endorsements from some cops, teachers and military veterans.
Watson’s base comes from a core constituency in south DeKalb, which he has represented for more than a decade.
Backers of Watson include state Reps. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield [D-Atlanta], Fran Millar [R-Dunwoody] and Pam Stephenson [D-Decatur].
For his part, Ellis, a two-term commissioner from central DeKalb, has a broad coalition of support of people from all walks of life and backgrounds. His rallies and meet-and-greets are dotted with not just Blacks and Whites, but Hispanics and Asians as well.
He’s been endorsed by his former CEO competitors Joe Bembry and Steen Miles, and fellow commissioners, including Connie Stokes.
“They both should still be raising money,” said Mosby, who had a bit of constructive criticism for both candidates. “I’m shocked Ellis spent so much money and still got just 45 percent,” he said, while not sparing Watson, of whom he said, “It’s painfully evident he’s not an entrepreneur.”
Money = message?
But whether it was money or message, precinct-by-precinct primary results show Ellis’ message is apparently getting through.
While pundits expected the more polished Ellis to do well in north DeKalb and community champion Watson to own south DeKalb, poll results show Ellis is resonating on Watson’s turf but Watson isn’t playing as well north of Memorial Drive.
In south DeKalb precincts such as Browns Mill in southeast DeKalb, Chapel Hill in southwest and Marbut in south central DeKalb that saw above average turnout, Ellis scored consistently above 30 percent while maintaining his base in central and north DeKalb by earning between 40 to 80 percent.
At the Panola Road precinct, just down the road from Watson’s headquarters in south DeKalb, Ellis got 30 percent of the vote.
By contrast, Watson scored 12 percent of the vote at the Ponce de Leon precinct near Ellis headquarters in Decatur.
Other notable north precincts with above average turnout, such as Mt. Vernon West in Dunwoody, Sagamore Hills in Atlanta and Lakeside High north of Decatur, Watson earned an average of just 9 percent of the vote.
Just 23 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the primary. Linda Latimore, director of Voter Registration and Elections, said it is likely much fewer will turn out for the runoff.
“If only 23 percent came out for the primary, we can’t expect a whole heck of a lot for the runoff,” said Latimore. “Hopefully we’ll get a good turnout, but I expect it to be about 10 percent.”
Mad scramble for opponents' votes
Another factor in winning Aug. 5 could be which candidate does the better job of cultivating voters who cast ballots for current CEO’s chief of staff Ann Kimbrough – 14 percent – and former state Sen. Steen Miles – 10 percent.
Watson said the key for him is to not only get his voters back to the polls but also pick up everyone else’s.
“I have to do a better job of getting people to the polls,” said Watson, who called voter turnout “dismal.” “This is still winnable for me. We’re going to reach out to all voters, even Ellis’.”
Ellis said he was very pleased with Tuesday’s results, but would not stop working.
“We expect to pick up a lot of Miles’ and Kimbrough’s voters,” he said. “I’ve got a strong record on issues important to women, including funding for programs that deal with victims of domestic abuse, the exploitation of children and parks and recreation.”
Click here for complete election results.
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