The council has been sharply divided over several high-profile issues the past few years, namely domestic partner benefits.

A proposal to extend health benefits to unmarried partners failed on a party-line vote in 2005, and Councilwoman Jenny Wilson has been trying to broaden the proposal to try to lure a Republican vote ever since.

Mayor Peter Corroon, who plans to run for re-election in 2008, said a Democratic-majority council would help him do his job better.

"Certainly having the majority would allow us to push more initiatives that we may have felt reluctant to push in the past."

Those initiatives include the environment, education or human services, he said.

"If the public likes the job Peter Corroon is doing, give him the tools to keep doing a better job," Hatch said. "Clearly the problems, any problems he has had with the council have been primarily on partisan issues."

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