 He was first elected mayor in 1994, after twelve years as a city councilor.In 1998, Peters became the first Columbus mayor to win re-election to a second term since consolidation.He in a field of six candidates, including a black minister and the president of the N.A.A.C.P., he won without a runoff and won every black precinct in the city, which demonstrated his appeal to a cross section of the community.