Protestors demonstrate outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri on March 4, 2015. The Federal Department of Justice decided today not to charge then Ferguson Police Officer, Darren Wilson, of any wrongdoing in the August shooting of Michael Brown Jr.Photo by Michael Thomas/Getty Images / Getty
The racial make up of Ferguson’s city council changed significantly on Tuesday, with two African Americans, Ella Jones and Wesley Bell, elected to office, confirms CNN.
There are now three Black members on the #Ferguson City Council: Dwayne James, Ella Jones, and Wesley Bell. #FergusonElections
— Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) April 8, 2015
Ferguson has about 21,000 residents, but has only had two black council members since its incorporation in 1894, including Councilman Dwayne James, who was not up for re-election.
The newly elected Bell, a professor and local magistrate, represents Ward 3, which covers the neighborhood where unarmed teen Mike Brown was killed by former Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in August. In that race, Bell prevailed over another African American, Lee Smith, a pastor who has lived in Ferguson for 27 years.
Three of the six council members are now black, a signficant change since the death of Brown sparked unrest and national calls for changes in Ferguson.
The current mayor, James Ferguson, was not up for re-election.
#FergusonElections: City elects two African American Council Members today, splitting council, 50% black, 50% white.
— Nick E. Smith (@SmithonPolitics) April 8, 2015
Since the national spotlight has been on Ferguson, its residents have been criticized for having low turnout in municipal elections, drawing the criticism that its residents “deserved” the blatant racism and criminal justice disparity exposed by a Department of Justice investigation.
Although two candidates seen as sympathetic to the protesters did not win, many community organizers point to the increased voter turnout as a victory in an of itself.
Charles Wade, founder of Operation Help Or Hush, an direct service organization that has been on the ground in Ferguson since August, said the election for him was about turnout and engagement.
“As much as who’s in the seats matter, it’s about the turnout,” says Wade, who says the residents of Ferguson got a bad rap for its poor turnout of about 9% in local elections. In the last two national elections — in which a black man was running for president — about 70% of registered voters came out to elect the first black President.
Wade happily reported via Twitter that the turnout for the election was about 30%, which is more than double the rate it had been.
From less than 10% voter turnout to almost 30% in one year! #Ferguson #FergusonElections
— Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) April 8, 2015
Voter turnout increased in this off-season election, dramatically. That matters. #FergusonElections
— deray mckesson (@deray) April 8, 2015
Ferguson Election Results: Two New Black Members On Council, Voter Turnout Doubles was originally published on newsone.com
