Ward 4's representative to the Council of the District of Columbia, Arrington Dixon, won the election for chairman of the council in November 1978, leaving the Ward 4 seat vacant. Jarvis won the special election to fill the seat on May 1, 1979. She was then reelected to the council in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996. Jarvis sought reelection again in 2000, but she was defeated in the Democratic primary by Adrian Fenty who also holds degrees from Oberlin and Howard University.[7][8][9]
^"Sharon Pratt Dixon". Notable Black American Women. Book 1. Gale Research. 1992.
^Randolph, Laura B. "[Her marriage ... her mission and ... her mid-life transformation: Sharon Pratt Kelly". Ebony magazine. Johnson Publishing Company. February 1992. retrieved April 9, 2009.
^"D.C. Primary Election Results". The Washington Post. May 3, 1979. p. G2.
^"[ Final and Complete Election Results]". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics.
^"Election Results". The Washington Post. November 5, 1980. p. A24.
^Pianin, Eric. "District Results Emphasize Differences of 2 Parties". The Washington Post. September 12, 1984. p. A7.
^"D.C. City Council". The Washington Post. November 7, 1984. p. A42.
^Knight, Athelia. "Crawford, Jarvis Win Tight Races; Voters in Primary Back Incumbents For D.C. Council". The Washington Post. September 14, 1988. p. A1.
^"District of Columbia Results". The Washington Post. November 10, 1988. p. D10.