Of course, it wasn’t what she wanted and she was disappointed but she is no longer complaining.

By IKE MGBATOGU
Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS – Sometimes, you win even when you candidly believe you have absolutely no chance of pulling it off. 

One of those times played out in one of the most watched races in Franklin County. But in a way, that’s precisely the beauty of the electoral process where people freely cast votes to decide their leaders.

It is the case of Terri Jamison who, after defaulting to a contest she never planned for, still managed to corral 55 percent of the vote to oust a formidable incumbent Judge Chris Greer in a battle for a seat on the Domestic Relation’s Court.

She spoke about her startling victory.

“I really did not anticipate that I would win,” said Jamison, adding, “Everything was against me.  This is a true David and Goliath story.”

But more than that Biblically-based story, it is also a classic saga of a gaffe that nicely worked out in her favor in the end.

Here’s the kicker.

Jamison, 53, an African American, was not even supposed to be a candidate for the Domestic Relations Court at all.  Her plan from the outset was to run as an independent candidate for the open seat on the Common Pleas Court.

But after a bizarre turn of events, it turned out destiny had mapped out a different plan for Jamison.  Inadvertently, her petition to run for a seat on the Common Pleas Court was catalogued under the candidates for Domestic Relations Court.

She was not pleased about it. A court battle erupted with Jamison fighting to rectify the blunder in pursuit of her endeavor to run for the Common Pleas Court. She was unsuccessful but the case was finally resolved after Franklin County Court of Appeals ruled for Jamison to remain an independent candidate for the Domestic Relations Court.

Of course, it wasn’t what she wanted and she was disappointed but she is no longer complaining.

“I had no money,” she said, adding, “All my campaigning was face-to-face.”

Well, it all paid off, handsomely. 

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus. He can be reached by email at Onumbamedia@yahoo.com