Analyst: Norwood Could Shake Up City Council

“In my first two terms, I was very comfortable with other people taking the lead, and I still will be if they do so, but there are some initiatives that I want to see implemented,” Norwood said after learning she’d been re-elected early Wednesday morning.

Norwood points to improving public safety and protecting green spaces as issues she plans to tackle but didn’t offer specifics on those points.

Norwood edged out incumbent Aaron Watson Tuesday, despite the fact that he raised more money and had the backing of Mayor Reed and the Democratic Party. Watson was one of two Reed-backed incumbents who regularly went along with the mayor and whose council support is now gone.

“[Norwood] doesn’t owe her election, really, to anyone and could be quite independent for that reason,” said Mark Roundtree, and political consultant and president of Landmark Communications.  

Roundtree says that could help Norwood in a council that’s mostly gone along with Reed. 

“She could actually be the go-to person for someone if you’re looking for someone to lead on an issue where a traditional political ally wouldn’t want to cross paths with the mayor,” Roundtree said.

For her part, Norwood, who identifies as an independent, says she’s worked with the majority of the council before – and can do it again.

“I feel very comfortable that I can work with the council, with the president of the council and with the mayor. We all have the city’s best interest at heart,” Norwood said.

Norwood left her council seat in 2009 to run for mayor, and lost by about 700 votes to Reed.

She’ll be sworn in in January.