NEWS

Yarber new Jackson mayor

Dustin Barnes
The Clarion-Ledger

Eight weeks after Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba died not even a year into his term, Councilman Tony Yarber will be sworn in as his successor.

He could take the oath of office as early as today.

Jackson voters elected the Ward 6 councilman over the late mayor's son Tuesday in a runoff to the April 8 special election, according to unofficial results. Another special election will have to be set to fill Yarber's seat on the council.

Within two hours of the polls closing, Yarber had secured enough votes to be declared the winner over attorney Chokwe Antar Lumumba.

Yarber spokeswoman Pamela Confer said he will be sworn in today, but the details and timing were still being worked out late Tuesday evening.

Once the votes are certified, Yarber will meet with department heads, and his transition team will get to work, said campaign manager Theresa Kennedy.

As Yarber and wife Rosalind made their way into the campaign victory party at the King Edward building downtown, supporters of all ages and colors chanted, "Tony! Tony!"

Yarber took the podium and began his speech in ministerial fashion, with a prayer. He then thanked Lumumba for helping bring a revitalized energy to the city.

"We will work together to stop crime. We will work together to end poverty," Yarber said. "And to those who are at home watching us, we have not forgotten about you. We will take care of you."

Lumumba spoke to his supporters at Fondren Hall, thanking them for their support.

"I stand proudly knowing that we fought this battle with integrity, compassion, selflessness, hope and, most of all, love," he later wrote on his campaign's Facebook page, "love for our great city and its citizens."

Addressing the running concerns that he was too young and inexperienced to be the next mayor, Lumumba said, "the only thing we are too young or too progressive for is believing that our work stops with the vote. It most certainly does not.

"We look forward to working with Tony and to ensuring that the people are involved in the process."

At least one metro-area mayor is also looking forward to working with the new administration. Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads stopped by Yarber's victory party to congratulate him.

"We've got everything from flooding problems to sewer issues, so we have plenty of issues to sit down together and work on," Rhoads said.

Issues such as infrastructure woes drew voters in larger numbers than for the April 8 election.

Voter Kevin Grant said he voted for change after casting his ballot in southwest Jackson.

Infrastructure improvements are high on his priority list for the new mayor, Grant said.

"I have front-end problems now because of the conditions of the streets," Grant said of his vehicle. "I want a mayor who can jump in and get things done."

Although Yarber's Ward 6 includes part of southwest Jackson, his opponent appeared to get Grant's vote.

"He isn't part of the political mess," Grant said of Lumumba.

Other voters at the same precinct agreed infrastructure improvements should be the priority of the new mayor.

But Felicia Nelson summed up why she was voting Tuesday: "It's the right thing to do, and I'm voting for the city of Jackson."

Up until the last minute, voters cast ballots at New Hope Baptist Church on Watkins Drive.

"We had over 1,300 people vote and more are coming in," said poll manager Lubertha Neal, who said machines ran smoothly throughout the day.

"Getting roads fixed, better education and getting the crime rate down," voter Tiffany Cage, 25, echoed a list that voters and candidates said are key issues. Emerging from the poll at Boyd Elementary in Ward 1, she also mentioned the need for "more community stuff for the kids to do. We need some fun place for them to go to."

Maria Brown, 53, said she was voting for "someone who has the good of the whole city in mind. … If they work for the good of everyone, it's a good person."

Jackie Stedman, 69, wants to see "a sharp, young, motivated person" who cares about Jackson in office. "I love Jackson. I've lived here 46 years and have a lot of hope for Jackson."

"Jackson is at a crossroads and definitely needs to progress forward," her husband, Bob Stedman, 73, said. "I think either one of the two candidates has the ability to do that." He noted a need, too, for stronger community neighborhood organizations in the city.

"We exercised our right and made a prayerful choice," Jackie Stedman said. "I'm tired of people dogging Jackson. Whoever gets in there and works will be able to change the image of Jackson quickly. Everybody needs to work together. Nobody needs to make it an ego trip."

Clarion-Ledger reporters Terricha Bradley-Phillips, Jimmie Gates and Sherry Lucas contributed to this report.

To contact Dustin Barnes, call (601) 360-4644 or follow @DustinCL on Twitter.