Mailbag: 'Everyone wins with this election'

A close election -- like the 2000 and 2004 presidential contests -- usually means that the electorate is deeply divided into two ideological camps.

But Tuesday's election for Cincinnati mayor -- in which Mark Mallory beat David Pepper by 2,536 votes -- was close in another way. Many voters seemed to go to the polls perfectly happy to see either man win. As it turned out, 51.8 percent of them were happier for Mallory.

Lori Dawson of Bond Hill said she agrees with many of the voters interviewed on Election Day who said the city couldn't lose either way. She writes:

It wasn't a matter of voting against the other. And everyone wins with this election. David Pepper had my full support throughout his council term. I feel he has a good handle on what the people want and need. He is an upcoming political figure to deal with.

A lot of the black community discount him because of who his father is. I don't know his father. Why would I discount David because his father is a big figure at P&G? So what. Congratulations to the Pepper family for raising successful children. Let's look at David for what he has worked for. Politics isn't a birthright! David has shown the people that. He worked hard for his position. He worked hard for the people. It just so happens that he went up against another prominent political figure. Mark Mallory has been in the political arena for a lot longer than Pepper. He has already earned the respect and backing of the people. The people know who Mark Mallory is. They know his family. And no matter what some people may say, the Mallory family has served the people of Cincinnati and the state of Ohio for a very long time. Mark Mallory has a proven track record of success and becoming mayor of Cincinnati will only increase his political awareness for and therefore should better our city.

We, the people of Cincinnati and greatly hoping that our new mayor will revitalize our city and bring a new light to the nation that Cincinnati, Ohio is back! We can hold our heads up again when we go traveling around the nation and be proud again.

I'm seriously looking forward to a brighter future under the new leadership of Mark Mallory and City Council.