Jackson Free Press

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Rashad Crisler made his official announcement that he is running for Mayor Tony Yarber’s previous position, Ward 6 city councilman, this morning at a press conference outside City Hall.

Crisler said that he is enthusiastic about the prospect of being a part of a young, progressive leadership movement, which he believes was set into motion with Mayor Yarber’s initial election to council in 2009.

“He was only two years older than I am today when he earned the Ward 6 citizens’ trust to lead our community out of the brink of despair,” Crisler said. “I have known Mayor Yarber for many years and admired his leadership as our city councilman. I appreciate the example he has set and I am now prepared to take Ward 6 to the next level.”

It is well known that Crisler’s father, Marshand Crisler, was a big supporter of Yarber’s bids for both city councilman in 2009, and recently, as mayor; hence Rashaad Crisler sees a direct correlation between his bid for the Ward 6 seat and the efforts of Mayor Yarber and the elder Crisler during their respective tenures as city councilmen. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/weblogs/politics-blog/2014/may/13/after-speculation-crisler-no-not-that-one-announce/

Addressing the ward’s current needs, Crisler said that infrastructure would be his top priority since it is the weakest aspect of the ward. However, he feels that space is the ward’s greatest advantage and will allow for more businesses to move into the area. He also expressed interest in working to decrease crime in the area to make the area more appealing to business.

He admitted that he would like to address problems with council that he saw when his father held the seat previously, expressing a desire to work with the rest of city council to ensure success for the city as a whole.

“I’ve seen in the past, watching my father when he was in this seat, all the problems with communication between city council members, fighting and bickering over issues,” Crisler said.

“I want to bring the council members together, all on one accord, to get a plan done to present to the mayor so he can execute it.”

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Precious Martin, a prominent Jackson-area attorney, died yesterday in an accident. His 10-year-old son remains hospitalized, according to media reports.

WAPT reported that Martin was riding a four-wheeler Sunday evening near his home in the Bridgewater subdivision when the vehicle flipped several times.

Martin's son, Daniel, was taken to University of Mississippi Medical Center, where his condition was unknown as of this morning.

Martin handled part of a $1.2 billion class-action lawsuit against the federal government for denying USDA benefits to African American farmers between January 1983 to January 1997 and other civil-rights cases.

An Edwards native, Martin was part of a high-profile legal family that includes his younger brothers Kenya, Deshun and Warren Jr., who are triplets.

Martin's wife, Crystal, is a staff attorney at his Jackson law firm and was formerly the attorney for the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

Martin was also an ally of U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who is from the neighboring town of Bolton, and was a donor to Democratic political causes and candidates.

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