Jackson Free Press

As far as Jackson elections go, it's unusual for one candidate to walk away with a landslide victory in an eight-way race.

But Kenneth Stokes, the winner of yesterday's Ward 3 special election, isn't your usual candidate.

Despite being at the center of many high-profile controversies during his time in public office, Stokes is hugely popular in Ward 3 as he positions himself a champion of poor and working-class African Americans.

Stokes captured 62 percent of all votes in an election that saw uncharacteristically low turnout for the ward, just 1,788 of 16,759--11 percent of registered voters--showed up to cast their ballots before the polls closed at 7 p.m.

Here's the breakdown of the field, which included many perennial candidates, according to an unofficial tally:

Lawrence Anderson, Jr. . . . . . . 242 (13.56 percent)

David L. Archie . . . . . . . . 151 (8.46 percent)

Gwendolyn Ward Osborne Chapman . . . 24 (1.34 percent)

Pam Greer . . . . . . . . . . 77 (4.31 percent)

Kenneth I. Stokes. . . . . . . . 1,108 (62.07 percent)

LaTonya R. Vann . . . . . . . . 31 (1.74 percent)

Jarvis Williams . . . . . . . . 50 (2.80 percent)

Albert Wilson . . . . . . . . . 100 (5.60 percent)

WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 (0.11 percent)

Stokes' return to the the city council, which was widely expected, will bring the council back to full strength and again give the people of Ward 3 a voice in council deliberations.

The previous representative, Councilwoman LaRita Cooper-Stokes had to vacate the seat when she became a county judge; she and Kenny Stokes, who held the Ward 3 post from 1989 to 2012, are married.

Now, Stokes will have to resign his seat as District 5 representative on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

In turn, the board must decide whether to appoint an interim supervisor as was the case upon the death of late Supervisor Doug Anderson and Supervisor Phil Fisher's election to Clinton mayor or to call a special election despite the fact that county positions are up for election later this year.

In the event of an election, it is likely that some of the candidates who competed in Tuesday's Ward 3 special election could also pursue the District 5 seat.