One meaning that can be taken away from this fact is that the town is too small for there to be other possible candidates with the educational background necessary to run for office in the state legislature. The other meaning that can be taken away is that Atticus is well-respected by Maycomb despite what happened over the summer. Even though the people of Maycomb weren't supportive of Tom Robinson during the trial, Atticus' willingness to defend and stand behind Tom did not impact his re-election potential. Atticus' ability to fight for the needs of Maycomb is recognized and results in his unopposed re-election.
