Freed from prison for a crime he didn't commit, 'Central Park Five' member wins NYC Council race

Yusef Salaam ... has won a Democratic primary for a seat on the New York City Council, all but assuring him of eventual victory.

His outsider campaign prevailed over two political veterans — New York Assembly members Inez Dickens, 73, and Al Taylor, 65 ... Democratic socialist Kristin Richardson Jordan, the incumbent council member, dropped out of the race in May ...

While all three candidates focused on promoting affordable housing, controlling gentrification and easing poverty in Harlem, Salaam capitalized on his celebrity ...

Salaam moved to Georgia shortly after he was released [in 2002] and became an activist, a motivational speaker, an author and a poet. He returned only in December to launch his campaign.