RASTA MP Damion Crawford

There might have been two Damion Crawfords in the race but the voters in East Rural St Andrew knew which one they wanted to vote for and when the preliminary count ended last night, it was the People's National Party's (PNP) candidate who came out on top by the slimmest of margins.

The PNP's dreadlocked Crawford turned back his namesake who ran as an independent candidate and the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Joan Gordon-Webley who was seeking to retain control of the seat for her party.

The 9,622 votes Crawford earned were just enough to get by Gordon-Webley, who mustered a fighting 9,408. Damion Crawford, the independent, earned 58 votes.

Gordon-Webley had previously held the seat in 1980 during her first stint in representational politics.

With the political veteran going against the first-time contender in a seat which the JLP's Joseph Hibbert won by a mere 270 votes, political observers were keeping a close watch on this constituency.

Struggling to gain traction

This was further fuelled by public opinion polls which showed Gordon-Webley and the PNP's Crawford - who were both parachuted into the constituency late in the day - struggling to gain traction with potential voters.

A Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll conducted approximately one month before the election yesterday had found Gordon-Webley enjoying a seven per cent lead over Crawford in popular support in the constituency.

However, in the poll, which had a sampling error of plus or minus five per cent, the PNP trailed the JLP by a mere three percentage points.

With both parties pulling out all the stops, the interest remained high in the race even after the seat was declared for Crawford last night.

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Comment by Antoinette Dixon on January 8, 2012 at 7:47pm: I don't know much about what he stands for but it is definitely time for people to stop discriminating against dem. Plus Rastas r sexy n rugged that pretty boy crap is gross.

Comment by GIFFORD LAWSON on December 31, 2011 at 11:54am: Congrats mr crawford youn have earned the respect of the people now dont get side tracked with their expectations we know that what ever ministry you are place in is going to be a challange in these global situation All I am asking of you is be honest to your people dont worry about the bling the post will bring educate them about what the government can do on cannot do letting thepeople know that they also have a reponsiblity to bill the country they have to get up off their baxside be creative
Proactive and produce the things that they need to survive

Comment by Jamila Nolan on December 31, 2011 at 9:52am: I am overjoyed with Damion's win. My classmate and my friend, all the best! Bless

Comment by SexyMax on December 31, 2011 at 9:48am: I am elated that Damion won because he has the betterment of the country and its people in mind. He is showing people not judge on how he I look, but how can I assist the people I represent and how I can assist Jamaica to be a high functioning and productive country in world.

Comment by Clayton G. Trench on December 31, 2011 at 9:36am: No alan not on account. Of the win. But for the greater. Good of the. Country. We should one day

Comment by Sadpha Bennett on December 31, 2011 at 6:36am: Not all rastas smoke weed or anything for that matter and Crawford being a University Lecturer would be well aware of both sides of the 'legalize it' story and will move on to deal with issues of education and unemployment. These are. Some of the issues that lead to his election success.