There will be a runoff between Stephen Jones and Marthalie Porter to determine who represents Ward 5 on the Columbus City Council.

In a special election Tuesday, Jones garnered 254 votes, or about 30 percent, while Porter received 354 votes, or about 42 percent.

Since neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held March 1.

City officials told The Dispatch late Tuesday that approximately 30 affidavit votes from the election will be counted today. However, those votes will not push either candidate above the 50 percent mark needed to avoid a runoff.

Tuesday’s special election was held to replace former councilman Kabir Karriem, who vacated his seat at the end of 2015 to begin his term in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Of Ward 5’s 3,175 voters, 840 went to the polls.

“There was a great turnout today,” Jones told The Dispatch late Tuesday. “Now it’s just about getting people out to vote again.”

“I’m really excited to be in the runoff,” Porter said. “I think there’s a lot of momentum going. I’m just going to keep doing my best — making those phone calls and knocking on doors.”

There were two other candidates in Tuesday’s special election — Cadarrall Eddings, who received nine votes, or about 1 percent, and Gary Jefferson, who received 223, or about 26 percent.

There were two precincts open for Tuesday’s election — Union School, where 647 votes were cast, and Mississippi University for Women Carrier Lodge, where 193 votes were cast.

Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.

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