Antonio Parkinson is the newest member of the Shelby County legislative delegation to Nashville.

Parkinson won Thursday’s Democratic primary in State House district 98, beating three other contenders for the seat vacated by the Nov. death of veteran Democratic legislator Ulysses Jones Jr.

Parkinson’s closest competition was Memphis City Schools board member Stephanie Gatewood in a race that drew less than 700 voters to the polls in Raleigh and North Memphis.  Parkinson claimed 353 of the 624 votes cast. Gatewood was his closest competitor with 143 votes in the unofficial vote totals.

No one ran in the companion GOP primary, meaning Parkinson will run unopposed in the March 8 special general election.

Shelby County election commissioners voted this week to schedule the citywide referendum on an MCS charter surrender for March 8. By holding it the same date as the state House general election, the state will pay $50,000 of the estimated $1 million cost of the election. MCS pays the rest of the tab.