Ala. mayor in struggle to win reelection

No reliable polling has been done. A runoff election will be held next month if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote.

A political scientist said the election is significant for Selma because it is more about job performance than about the race of the candidates.

"This time people are going to be looking at his accomplishments over the past four years," said D'Linell Finley, political science professor at Auburn University Montgomery. "Both white and black people are going to measure his progress by looking at their quality of life."

The political climate in Selma is much quieter this year than in the days leading up to the 2000 city election, when sign-carrying protesters often were seen downtown chanting "Joe must go."

Perkins thinks a win tomorrow would be as significant as his 2000 victory. He touts achievements including a summit to bring whites and blacks together in Selma, but said racial problems in the city and the rest of America cannot be solved in four years.

"I am careful not to allow Selma to carry the burden of racism for America any longer. We are no different from the rest of America," Perkins said. "Is racism resolved or solved anywhere in America? And the answer to that is no."

Challenging Perkins are state Representative Yusuf Salaam, radio station owner Glenn King, and businessman Gene Hisel. Salaam and King are black, and Hisel is white.

The challengers say Perkins's four years in the mayor's office have been marred by conflicts with the City Council and the police department, and an inability to bring racial harmony to the city.

"The current leadership has illustrated a woeful ability to bring the diverse community forces together. Consequently the city is more polarized than ever," said Salaam, a black Muslim.

Hisel said he thinks most Selma residents are "tired and hopeless" and are seeking a leader who is not connected to city's white or black "power circles."

He said he sees the vote four years ago as a vote against Smitherman and not necessarily for Perkins. Smitherman had been Selma's mayor since 1964.