PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Mayor John Street easily won re-election against a familiar rival Tuesday in a racially charged campaign that became more so when an FBI bug was discovered in the incumbent's office.
The Democrat was leading Republican businessman Sam Katz, 59 to 41 percent with 66 percent of precincts reporting.
Minor violence and alleged intimidation were reported at polling places around the city.
The rematch between Street, who is black, and Katz, who is white, illustrated the dominance ethnicity still plays in elections in a city nearly evenly divided between the two races.
Street narrowly defeated Katz when they first faced off in 1999, and this year Katz had a slight lead in polls before October 7, when police discovered the FBI bug during what they described as a routine City Hall security sweep.
Street, 60, accused the Bush-controlled Justice Department of launching the probe for political reasons.
Black leaders suggested the FBI targeted the mayor because of his race.
Authorities refused to say what they are investigating, but have subpoenaed records about a variety of work performed by a Street fund-raiser.
Katz, 53, struggled to win over minorities with his vows to lower taxes and end City Hall cronyism.
The Democrat was leading Republican businessman Sam Katz, 59 to 41 percent with 66 percent of precincts reporting.
Minor violence and alleged intimidation were reported at polling places around the city.
The rematch between Street, who is black, and Katz, who is white, illustrated the dominance ethnicity still plays in elections in a city nearly evenly divided between the two races.
Street narrowly defeated Katz when they first faced off in 1999, and this year Katz had a slight lead in polls before October 7, when police discovered the FBI bug during what they described as a routine City Hall security sweep.
Street, 60, accused the Bush-controlled Justice Department of launching the probe for political reasons.
Black leaders suggested the FBI targeted the mayor because of his race.
Authorities refused to say what they are investigating, but have subpoenaed records about a variety of work performed by a Street fund-raiser.
Katz, 53, struggled to win over minorities with his vows to lower taxes and end City Hall cronyism.
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