Font ResizeCongratulations to her and to her supporters.
Congratulations to the voters of York city.
Congratulations also to countywide voters for electing our first black judge, Republican Chuck Patterson.
This is a proud moment for a town that just a few years ago had as mayor a man who helped exacerbate the city's race riots in the 1960s. It's a proud moment for a county that, until now, had elected just one African-American to countywide office.
The election of a black mayor has been too long coming, which is why this election has drawn the attention of national news media. Reports have noted that while many cities beset with race riots in the 1960s have long since elected black mayors, York has not. We've been stuck in the past - even as many white Yorkers have said for years it's time to move on from that ugliness.
It is time to move on, and this election shows that we are doing so. It's a tangible step forward toward meeting our nation's highest ideals of equality. That's been an agonizingly slow process - especially, it seems, in our community.
Many online commenters have been complaining about the focus on race in this election, saying it should not matter that Ms. Bracey will be the city's first black mayor.
Well, they're right that it shouldn't matter.
But they're wrong when they say that it doesn't. In a world where people smile and shake the hands of successful black, Latino or
So these milestones are worth celebrating. As we noted after President Obama's election: Would the people complaining about talk of his status as the first black president have said it was inappropriate to note Hillary Clinton was the first woman president if she had gained that office instead?
So yes, this is a yardstick of progress. It is a step forward to be savored.
But only for a little while, because Ms. Bracey has a lot of work to do.
Her place in history is secured by her status as a "first," but history will judge her administration on its merits.
Was she effective? Did she reduce crime, improve city services, boost revenue, control spending? Did she hire good, competent people to do the day-to-day work? Was she able to continue the Brenner administration's march toward more economic development? Was she simply able to fill the potholes and pave the streets?
That all remains to be seen, and we hope she is successful, because this city -- teetering on the brink financially and with a host of other problems -- cannot afford to suffer a lapse in leadership.
For now, though, let's just relish this sign of progress and congratulate the trailblazers Kim Bracey and Chuck Patterson.
Also of interest
· Check out these updated lists of pioneering York County minorities, women.· Pioneers Kim Bracey, Chuck Patterson successfully vied for elected office.
· York's first mayor Daniel K. Noell named one of his sons, well, 'York.'
