A closely watched Montgomery City Council race was decided Tuesday evening by just 13 votes.
Businesswoman Johnnie Sankey defeated Greg Crawford, a Navy veteran and business owner, 450-437, in an apparent upset.
Crawford’s campaign, which had support from a number of Montgomery political figures, including the Reed family, raised five times as much money as Sankey’s largely self-funded campaign. Crawford ran ads on local television and radio and far outspent Sankey on campaign materials. Sankey had no ads and few yard signs, relying mostly on volunteers and door-to-door campaigning.
“I can’t even describe the awesome feeling,” Sankey told media outlets after the win. “I am ready to go to work and I hope (the residents of District 3) are ready to go to work with me.”
The District 3 special election became necessary when former Councilwoman Marche Johnson resigned from the seat over residency questions.
It’s not completely clear what Sankey’s presence will mean for the council, which in recent years has been divided less by racial or ideological lines than by individual issues, personal animosities and preferences.
Sankey won’t have long to enjoy the seat, however. She, the other nine council members and Mayor Steven Reed will all face reelection in August.
