MANSFIELD — Two political newcomers will face-off for the 4th Ward Mansfield City Council seat in the November election.
According to unofficial election results Tuesday night, Democrat Alomar Davenport won the primary election against incumbent Walden (Butch) Jefferson with 55.86 percent of the vote. Davenport will go on to challenge Republican Amanda Stanfield in November, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
“I feel humbled, and I feel grateful that the 4th Ward Democrats have faith in me to get the job done,” Davenport said after seeing the results.
The resident of 575 Stocking Ave. credited his success to individuals like Ken Stanley, Venita Shoulders and others who were behind his “grassroots, organic” campaign.
“We were door knocking, meeting people face-to-face, and then following up with phone calls,” Davenport said.
Davenport has previously said his main goals are to improve the image of the 4th Ward and to help residents there gain a stronger political voice.
“The 4th Ward is not a crime-ridden area. We have been conditioned to think the 4th Ward is a place where you cannot walk, where it’s unsafe to walk,” Davenport said previously. “It is an area where there are people who work factory jobs, work restaurant jobs, work labor intensive jobs … put food on their table to pay their bills. This is the story that should be told.
“Those are the people we should be talking about.”
When competing in the November election, he doesn’t plan to change much in his campaign strategy, but hopes Republican voters will support him, too.
“It’s about reclaiming a collective voice for the 4th Ward, and we’ll continue that message onto the general election,” Davenport said. “So the message, it won’t be changed, just expanded. I want to create a community that moves as one. That includes Democrats and Republicans.
“We all live in the same community, all face the same challenges. We should all tackle those challenges as a united front.”
Davenport said he grew up in Mansfield’s 4th Ward and moved to New York City, earning college degrees in business administration and public affairs. He has worked for the Brennan Center for Justice, the Vera Institute of Justice and the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services.
Davenport said he worked as a policy analyst on right-to-vote initiatives and criminal justice reform measures. He returned to Mansfield last summer and now works for T-Mobile as a sales analyst.
Davenport also thanked Jefferson for his four terms in the seat.
“I want to thank Mr. Jefferson for his time he’s given to the 4th ward. He’s represented the community well, but it’s time for a new voice. It’s time for my generation to take the lead,” Davenport said.
