Jackson Free Press

Although LaRita Cooper-Stokes gained 42 percent of the votes in a special election yesterday, it wasn't enough to give her the Ward 3 City Council seat outright. She and Joyce Jackson, who received 22.6 percent of the votes, will meet up again in a runoff election Feb. 28.

The candidates are seeking the Ward 3 City Council seat that Kenneth Stokes vacated at the end of last year after he was elected to the Board of Supervisors.

The election will go to a runoff because no single candidate won more than 50 percent of the votes. The election attracted 11 candidates, and a large number of candidates makes it difficult for a single person to win an election outright.

Cooper-Stokes is the wife of Kenneth Stokes and a former candidate for justice court judge. Jackson is a former educator who is now a funeral home director and a member of the city's planning commission.

Despite the large number of candidates, the special election didn't attract many voters. Unofficial totals show that just over 2,000 people voted, but more than 14,000 people are eligible to vote in the ward.

Previous Comments

ID

167070

Comment

I went ahead and voted for Benetta Burt, though I didn't really have a particular favorite. Turnout was very light. I was #45 at my precinct and that was at 5pm. I don't have anything against Mrs. Stokes, but I'd rather for it not to become a legacy seat, if you will. I will vote for Joyce Jackson in the runoff.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2012-02-15T09:09:58-06:00

ID

167071

Comment

Yeah, good luck with that golden eagle. It seems 99.98% certain that the Stokes' Ward 3 dynasty will continue. I suppose eventually their kids will get elected to keep the family tradition going.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2012-02-15T09:28:11-06:00

ID

167072

Comment

Sheer apathy! That's all I can say.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2012-02-15T09:44:17-06:00

ID

167073

Comment

It's sad that neither of the two front runners could do take to do a real interview in recent weeks. We are extending offers to both of them between now and the run-offs. If someone sees this and is working with either candidate, please have them call Jacob Fuller at 601.362.6121 ext. 22 to arrange an interview asap. We will keep trying on this end as well.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-15T10:26:21-06:00

ID

167074

Comment

This is sad. Truly sad. Thats all I can say. If 11 candidates, 6 of which were legit, THESE are the 2 that make the runoff?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2012-02-15T10:34:48-06:00

ID

167075

Comment

Were there any real GOTV efforts, Brad? As you like to say, it takes more than talk.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-15T11:43:48-06:00

ID

167076

Comment

Actually Donna I saw little campaigning. Few signs. And fewer people who knew of a special election. I heard one radio spot for stokes and saw Palmet and Burt signs here and there. Low turnout surely favored those with higher name recognition. I Really thought Burt would finish top 2. But imo her finish proves that substantive issues werent touched on enough.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2012-02-15T12:05:29-06:00

ID

167077

Comment

It proves not enough boots were on the ground, and that not enough people cared to put boots on the ground. It's easy to complain about Ward 3 leadership; it's harder to get over there and change it. Not to mention, an endorsement from you and other prominent folks in the community could have helped a different candidate do better. It's not like it takes a lot of votes. Mostly what I heard were people complaining about Stokes and a lack of "leadership," but very little about who would be good and why. If folks don't get more substance than complaining about who's already there, they just won't engage, or they will vote for who they recognize or believe they know best. This is politics 101, and something that seems to escape most folks who talk politics in the Jackson metro. This outcome is actually what I would have predicted. People know the Stokeses, and they have helped their families individually in one way or the other, and Mrs. Jackson was a teacher. When Todd read on his phone this a.m. that it was a run-off, I responded: "I bet it's Mrs. Stokes and the former teacher." Bingo.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-15T12:16:05-06:00

ID

167078

Comment

I actually thought Burt had more name recognition. Plus she had run against Stokes a few years back. Also heard it got "messy" dont know if that affected this turnout or not. And I dont know how many boots these candidates had on the streets. I do know there much more outside interest in this race than in any other Ward race imo. But of course those folks, myself included couldnt vote

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2012-02-15T12:57:11-06:00

ID

167081

Comment

I'm not shocked that Mrs. Stokes was one of the top two vote-getters, given the name recognition. I was really surprised Joyce Jackson made it. I thought someone like Benetta Burt or Albert Wilson would've made it. To tell you the truth, I almost forgot that an election was taking place until yesterday evening. There truly was a lack of publicity about it. Either that, plain apathy or both. BTW Donna, I came by the office a week ago and dropped off a very nasty letter written about Joyce Jackson to Valerie. I'm not sure if it's anything you all want to waste any of your time looking into it, but just thought it'd be something you all might've wanted to know about.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2012-02-15T14:27:56-06:00

ID

167082

Comment

GE, unfortunately Id heard that it was "dirt" being passed around on several candidates. Personal things. As I said in my earlier post Id been told that the last time Burt ran that Stokes was putting out personal info on her ala The Faye Peterson incident and it went under the radar because it was Ward 3. The fact that a LOT of people didnt even know it was a special election is a problem in and of itself. Over 11,000 folks in that ward. GE Im surprised by Jackson as well.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2012-02-15T15:04:35-06:00

ID

167084

Comment

Adding to what Kamikaze said, I remember when Ms Burt ran against Stokes, how certain rumors were being spread in the community, even as far as callers to the late Mr. Tisdale's radio show trying to spread gossip about her (with Stokes not trying to discourage any of it). A very ugly race, indeed.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2012-02-15T15:21:03-06:00

ID

167086

Comment

Speaking to the name recognition, both Mrs. Stokes and Mrs. Jackson are welll known in that community, having spent all their lives there. Larita's family is well-known and they were business owners. And Mrs. Jackson raised her family there, people know her and she taught school in the community. I wasn't suprised that those were the 2 to come out on top... If you are serious about running in Ward 3 then you have to get out and truly engage the community and press some flesh, not just talk to the voters living on the fringe of the district. And you can't start your campaign 2 weeks before the election.... BTW, a saw alot of signs out early on for Palmer, Stokes and Wilson. I didn't see Beneta Burt's signs until about 2 or 3 days before the election because we commented on how pretty they were.... I'm just saying....

Author

833WMaple

Date

2012-02-15T15:58:23-06:00

ID

167090

Comment

833 Maple did either Stokes or Jackson really engage the community or was it solely on name and rep? And what kind of "engaging" was it? Just curious. And I do know that the ward now encompasses some new areas is that the fringe you speak of?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2012-02-15T17:56:17-06:00