Jackson, Mills head to city council final election


David Taber

EGLESTON SQ.—In a lopsided victory, Tito Jackson took 67 percent of the vote Feb. 15 in the preliminary Special Election to replace former District 7 City Councilor Chuck Turner. Second place finisher, Cornell Mills came in with close to 10 percent.

That means Mills and Jackson will be facing off in a March 15 Special Final election. District 7 includes Egleston Square and parts of Parkside in JP, as well as Roxbury, Dorchester, and parts of the South End and the Fenway.

Only 2,886 voters—out of 40,985 registered to vote in the district—turned out for the preliminary vote.

“We are obviously happy with the results,” Jackson campaign spokesperson Joseph Ferris told the Gazette. “A lot of it has to do with the outreach Tito and the campaign have done.”

Ferris also credited Jackson’s positive message “about bringing jobs and focusing on the potential of the neighborhood.”

Despite Jackson’s clear victory, Ferris said the campaign will continue working hard. “March 15 is a completely new election. None of these numbers roll over,” he said.

Mills did not immediately respond to Gazette requests or comment.

The District 7 seat became vacant late last year after Turner—who was first elected in 1999—was voted off by his colleagues following his conviction on felony corruption charges for accepting a $1,000 bribe.

Turner is contesting the legality of his ouster, saying the council overstepped its authority. That challenge was sent to the state’s highest court last month. It was ruled that the District 7 Special Election could move forward, though, because Turner has been sentenced to three years in prison, and state law forbids felons sentenced to prison from holding elected office.

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