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Meeker Wins Runoff To Become Raleigh Mayor

Nov 7, 2001

RALEIGH — Raleigh's contentious mayoral race reached a climax Tuesday night as challenger Charles Meeker claimed a narrow victory over incumbent Mayor Paul Coble.

Though only 962 votes separated them and absentee and provisional ballots remained to be counted, Coble called Meeker at about 8:30 p.m. to concede the election. The mayor was very gracious, Meeker said.

The candidates were the top two finishers in a three-way race October 9, but neither received the 50 percent majority needed to avoid a runoff.

Coble was the top finisher last month, but received just 587 more votes than Meeker out of the more than 39,000 cast.

The race was nonpartisan, but Meeker, a Democrat, and Coble, a Republican, have sparred over growth in the fast-growing city.

Meeker blames Coble for heavy traffic and poorly planned development. Coble counters that he has promoted widening roads and supported adding hundreds of acres of parks and greenways to the city.

Coble has been mayor since 1999, when he won the office in a runoff against Stephanie Fanjul.

Meeker served on the city council from 1985 to 1989 and from 1991 to 1995. He also ran for mayor in 1989 and 1999.

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