Jackson Free Press

City Election Overview: Wards 3 and 4

Ward 3 stretches across West Jackson, from north of Chastain Middle School to the Poindexter Park neighborhood in the south. With a longtime incumbent, the Ward 3 race is small; …

City Council Forums Begin Tonight

Jackson ABC affiliate station, WAPT, is co-sponsoring several forums/debates for Jackson City Council candidates beginning tonight and running through April 30. The schedule, according to the WAPT Web site is:

Three Lead in Third Mayoral Survey

Zata|3 completed a third Democratic mayoral survey last Friday, April 10. In an e-mail, Brad Chism, president of the company, said "not much changed in a week" since the second …

Former DA: Harvey Johnson Can ‘Stop Stampede'

Former Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson confirmed this morning at a press conference that she will drop out of the mayoral race due to family concerns. She endorsed former …

News Bits: The Jackson Mayor's Race

Harper Withdraws, Leaving 11 Democrats for the Primary

Joyce Harper, one of 12 Democratic candidates who filed for the mayor's job in Jackson, has withdrawn from the race, lending her endorsement to incumbent Mayor Frank Melton, according to …

Candidate Knocks Election Poll

Jackson Democratic Mayoral candidate Robert Johnson attacked two recent polls from Washington, D.C.-based polling company Zata|3.

Election Overview: Wards 1 and 5

Ward 5 Ward 5, which covers sections of West and South Jackson, has a single-term incumbent and a history of frequent turnover in its City Council representation. At a March …

Crisler Leads after McMillin Endorsement

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin's endorsement last Friday made a big difference for Councilman Marshand Crisler in the crowded field of Democratic mayoral candidates in Jackson, according to political consulting …

File under 'WTF'

Federally run "big gorilla" mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will pay out $210 million in retention bonuses over the next 18 months, reports Times Online. Between them, the …

Consultant Reveals Mayoral Poll Results

Political consulting firm Zata3 polled 500 Jackson voters via phone on Wednesday concerning the upcoming mayoral race.

McMillin Endorses Crisler for Mayor

Hinds County Sheriff, and former Jackson Police Chief Malcolm McMillin endorsed Democratic mayoral candidate Marshand Crisler this morning at the State Capitol.

UPDATED: Feds Want Melton Gun Charge Dropped

Federal prosecutors plan to drop one of the three charges against Mayor Frank Melton and his former bodyguard Michael Recio, according to reports by WAPT and WLBT. Prosecutor Mark Blumberg …

McMillin Says Resignation Was Political

Despite contradicting claims from Mayor Frank Melton, former Jackson Police Chief Malcolm McMillin said he resigned his position today for purely political reasons rather than tension between Melton and himself. …

Herding The Homeless

Efforts by Jackson police officers to force homeless people out of downtown could land the city in legal trouble, homeless advocates say.

Controversial Melton Photos are Real

WAPT is reporting that the controversial photos of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton with a bevy of bikini-clad girls are on the up and up.

Melton: Tyrone Lewis to be New Chief

Keeping in mind that today is April Fool's, and anything could happen, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton told the Jackson Free Press earlier today that he is planning to announce at …

[Pass The Mic] Smooth Operators

Like most Jacksonians, I have been following the ever-evolving Frank Melton case. And like many, I was frustrated beyond belief when the recent case ended in a mistrial. I thought …

Council Doubts Mayor's Rosy Budget Talk

Several Jackson City Council members disagree with Mayor Frank Melton's recent assessment that the city budget is in wonderful financial shape. Melton said at a February press conference, and repeated …

The 2009 JFP Interview with Frank Melton, Part V: To the DEA?

In this long excerpt of JFP editor Donna Ladd's interview with Frank Melton in February, he talks about why he's running for re-election, dying with dignity, the City Council, his …

Bodyguard's Attorney Wants DOJ Meeting

Also see: Full JFP Melton Blog/Archive/Trial

An attorney for former mayoral bodyguard Michael Recio has asked the Department of Justice to reconsider its prosecution of the Jackson police officer. In May, federal prosecutors will try for …