Jackson Free Press

Travis Childers is officially entering an already-heated Senate race for Thad Cochran's seat. Tea Party-backed state Sen. Chris McDaniel is in an ugly battle with Cochran for the Republican primary seat. Here is Childers' statement, just released, reprinted verbatim:

“Today I am filing to run for the U.S. Senate to make sure that all Mississippians have a Senator in Washington looking out for them.

“Regular people and small businesses across Mississippi are still hurting in this economy, but Washington is more partisan and dysfunctional than ever. That has got to change. What I know is that the old ways of Washington aren’t working, and a new breed of partisanship isn’t the answer. Right now the powerful corporations and special interests have all the power, and the middle class and seniors are paying the price. We need to end tax breaks for big corporations that ship jobs overseas, protect Medicare and Social Security, give small business owners a tax break, and pass a balanced budget amendment to force the politicians to cut the wasteful spending.

“I look forward to formally launching my campaign and traveling to every corner of our great state in the weeks to come. Mississippians know that I have a solid record of being an independent guy who will work across party lines and stand up to the powers that be when needed. In the U.S. Senate, I will continue to put Mississippi’s middle class first.”

From Northeast Mississippi, Travis Childers is a small business owner and a local economic development leader, who has brought over one thousand jobs to his local community. During his time in the House of Representatives, Travis had one of the most independent voting records in Congress. Travis is pro-gun, pro-life, and was endorsed by the NRA. In the Senate, Travis will lead the fight for a Balanced Budget Amendment, protect the Medicare and Social Security benefits that seniors have earned, and protect Mississippi jobs by ending tax breaks for big corporations that ship jobs overseas.

Over the weekend, various media outlets—irresponsibly in our opinion—published unsubstantiated rumors that Mayor Chokwe Lumumba was murdered, but with no evidence attached.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, gave the following statement to R.L. Nave of the Jackson Free Press this morning responding to comments of Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes and others that his father was murdered:

"We know that our father was loved and appreciated by many and a number of people both in Jackson and around the world have inquired into the manner of his death. At this time, there has been no information provided to the family other than that provided at the time of his death by the doctors. The family will explore all possible causes of his death."

We urge other media outlets to act responsibly and not publish rumors before evidence is provided. This can have a very harmful effect and spread fear among a citizenry already traumatized by our mayor's death.

Meantime, we expect these reports to be Exhibit A in many media-ethics discussions in the years to come.

JFP News Editor R.L. Nave is at City Hall for the special council meeting to set the date of the special election for the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's seat (made interesting because several members may run for the seat.)

Nave tweeted that Councilman De'Keither Stamps and Quentin Whitwell wanted the election April 15, but Tony Yarber and Margaret Barrett-Simon wanted April 8, so it didn't conflict with tax day. Melvin Priester Jr. served as the tie-breaker.

Council also set a special election runoff for two weeks after the special election.

The qualifying deadline for mayoral prospects will be March 19.

Earlier today, Nave broke the news that a campaign is coming together to draft Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar, to run for mayor.

The Council also announced that Lumumba's body will lie in state in City Hall Friday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the public; and 7 to 9 p.m. for family only.

Just in, verbatim:

Oxford, MS Unanimously Passes Pro-LGBT Resolution

Third Mississippi city to pass resolution recognizing the role LGBT people play in thriving communities

WASHINGTON - Tonight Oxford, Mississippi unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the dignity and worth of all city residents - including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Oxford joins two other Mississippi cities - Starkville and Hattiesburg - which both passed similar resolutions earlier this year.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

“Like so many cities across America, Oxford, Mississippi has made clear that all its residents deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and equality, regardless of who they are or who they love. Today the Oxford Board of Alderman proudly affirmed the city’s support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and moved Mississippi forward on the road to equality.”

“Diversity is what made and continues to make this country amazing. It strengthens and enhances the experiences of everyone, to understand that it is our differences from which we learn and make us stronger,” said Alderman Jay Hughes. “At a time when signals from some parts of the State seem to be focused on exclusion, I am absolutely honored and proud to be in a community that embraces inclusion of everyone, to make Oxford the great place that it is. Tolerance and acceptance creates the strongest bonds between neighbors, and I am proud to be on the right side of history in reaffirming Oxford’s long-standing commitment to that most fundamental principle.”

Public opinion on equality in Mississippi is far ahead of law in the state. A poll conducted last summer found that nearly 60 percent of Mississippians under the age of 30 support marriage equality, while 64 percent of residents back workplace non-discrimination protections for LGBT employees.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

What will the election of new Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba mean for our somewhat besieged city and the communities that surround it? (anyone who lives in the Jackson metro area and who doesn’t believe that as Jackson goes so goes the metro area is being both short-sighted and provincial). How will he choose to govern the city, and how will his lifetime of civil rights activism and his career as a defense lawyer influence his decision making and term as mayor?

UPDATED

I just ran into a Facebook post that hints that (a) Councilman Tony Yarber might be running for mayor and (b) that the hashtag #runtonyrun is trending.

After posting about it earlier, Yarber got back in touch with me via Facebook message, saying: "I'm heavily considering a run. I'm being encouraged by a lot of people. Most importantly, people I trust."

When asked when he would decide, he said: "There won't be an announcement right now. I'm going to watch my children do liturgical mime and dance tonight."

Meantime, here are the social-media posts, and a screenshot of the #runtonyrun tags on Twitter that seem associated with him (and I saw three on Facebook). My sense is that there may be more of an effort to take it trend.

And we're off.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/09/16320/

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/09/16318/

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/09/16319/

Someone just forwarded me a letter they say was distributed today at Cade Chapel M.B. Church that appears to be from former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. asking for support in his run in the special mayor election. We have been hearing that he is running again, and are trying to confirm it from him directly. Here is a JPG of the letter forwarded to us. I apologize that it's a bit blurry.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/09/16321/

We just received the following press release announcing a news conference for Ward 2 Councilman and City County President Melvin Priester Jr.:

Jackson City Council President Melvin V. Priester, Jr., is scheduled to hold a press conference, Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., at Priester Law Firm, PLLC, 5375 Executive Place, Jackson, MS, regarding his plans for the upcoming Special Mayoral election.

Priester, the current City Council President, represents Ward 2 in the City of Jackson. He was instrumental in working to help pass the 1% sales tax with the late Mayor and he led the charge to re-establish bus service for the City of Jackson’s after-school program. He sits as an ex-officio member of all council committees. A practicing attorney for 10 years, Melvin Priester, Jr., is a member of his family based Jackson law firm, Priester Law Firm, PLLC.

Priester grew up in Jackson and has deep ties to the community. He is the grandson of the late Jackson matriarch and business owner, Mrs. Bernice Allen Stimley, who was a community activist and operated a grocery store in the Georgetown community in Jackson for over 30 years. He is the son of Hinds County Judge Melvin Priester, Sr., and Attorney Charlene Stimley Priester. Priester graduated from Jackson Public Schools as Valedictorian of the Class of 1997, Murrah High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard College in 2001, and received his law degree from Stanford University in 2004. On the council, Priester has fought for an improved relationship between JPD and neighborhood groups. Priester has also fought to transform the city’s budgeting process. Priester prides himself on addressing constituent concerns about potholes, drainage, and blighted properties.

We just saw Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon's Facebook posting indicating that she might announce for mayor by the end of the week. Here is a screenshot. We'll keep you posted.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/10/16336/

As the JFP reported last week, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 30, is running for mayor. He will announce today (Tuesday) at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall that he is running for his father's seat. Note that this is a new time.

In a move that contradicts the plethora of hats flying into the mayoral ring this week, Jonathan Lee posted on his Facebook page last night that he is not running in the mayoral special election (news broken on Twitter by Ross Adams of WJTV). It was rumored that Lee, a favorite of the business community in his run for the office last year, was interested in running again but was on the fence. We also understand that the business community has been conducting a poll to determine where it will put its collective support, but are not aware of findings at this point.

Ross Adams reported yesterday that 10 candidate packets had been picked up at City Hall. So far, Harvey Johnson Jr., Antar Lumumba, Melvin Priester Jr. and Tony Yarber have officially announced or will today. The Associated Press reported last night that Sen. John Horhn will officially enter the race Wednesday. Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon says she is considering a run and will decide by week's end. We will post other candidate information as we receive it (send to [email protected] or [email protected]).

Here is a screenshot of Lee's statement announcing that he is not running.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/11/16342/

Attorney Regina Quinn, former general counsel for Jackson State University, confirms she's throwing her name in the growing hat of Jackson mayoral candidates.

Quinn finished in fourth place in last year's Democratic mayoral primary. When the race came down to a runoff between then-Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba and businessman Jonathan Lee, Quinn threw her support to Lumumba. Many of her supporters also got behind Lumumba; currently, several members of her campaign staff hold positions in city government.

That sets up an interesting race given that Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar also plans to seek the seat and is expected to draw much of his late father's political base.

"I've worked so closely with Chokwe and, honestly when Antar said he wanted to run, I kind of felt like I'd be running against my nephew. But then I really started thinking about what Jackson needs and what I could bring to the table to get that done," Quinn, the only woman so far to definitively declare her candidacy, told the JFP this morning.

Quinn also stressed that her candidacy does not mean she has doubts about the leadership potential of Chokwe Antar or anyone else who has declared their intentions.

"I don't have doubts about anyone's leadership abilities, but what I have confidence in is what I bring to the table," she said.

As if presenting to a jury, Melvin Priester Jr. paced in front of a bank of TV cameras as he made his opening argument — for his candidacy for mayor of Jackson.

Priester broke with several other candidates whose announcements came at Jackson City Hall and held his first official campaign event at his law office in north Jackson.

"Who I am isn't at city hall. Where I'm from isn't at city hall. What I believe, who I'm with, what we want to do to change this city isn't based at city hall," Priester told media and supporters this afternoon.

Priester said he wanted to continue to build Jackson, which includes renovating his law office on Executive Place as well as promoting the development of Jackson's Midtown neighborhood.

Priester was the third candidate to reveal intentions to seek the mayor's seat today; a fourth, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, will hold a news conference at 5:30 p.m. inside city hall due to rainy weather.

A campaign has several parts. First, especially, if you're an unknown candidate, you have to tell your story. Then, you have to talk about your big ideas. After that, you have to convince people that you're the best person to put those ideas into action.

As we told you yesterday, state Sen. John Horhn officially joined the Jackson mayoral race this morning at Cade's Courtyard on Mayes Street. Horhn ran for mayor in 2009 and is known for drawing bipartisan and multiracial support.

Here is his 2009 JFP Interview when he was running for mayor: http://www.jfp.ms/horhn2009

We will post audio of his announcement shortly.

In other mayoral news, Albert Wilson and Kenneth A. Swarts have filed paperwork to qualify to run for mayor.

To date, six candidates have officially announced either at a press event and/or directly to the Jackson Free Press: Harvey Johnson Jr., Tony Yarber, Melvin Priester Jr., Regina Quinn, Chokwe Antar Lumumba and John Horhn. Margaret Barrett-Simon said she will decide by the end of the week. We are hearing that Robert Graham may run, but have not confirmed one way or the other. Jonathan Lee said he is not running.

We'll keep you posted on new developments. Follow this blog at http://www.jfp.ms/politicsblog for the latest.

CORRECTION ABOVE: I originally said that candidates have qualified. The city clerk corrected me to say that they have filed paperwork: "The commissioners are verifying the signatures and will qualify the candidates upon completion of their process." I apologize for the error.

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce and WLBT 3 will host a Mayoral Debate live on WLBT and MSNewsNOW.com in prime time, Thursday March 27, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. location to be announced. For more information contact Cynthia Buchanan, Executive Vice President, Jackson Chamber of Commerce at 601-948-7575 or [email protected] or John Ditto, Chair, Jackson Chamber of Commerce at [email protected]

OK, this is the first mayoral campaign event, beyond announcements, that I've heard about so far. You can get free coffee at Broad Street Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and ask Tony Yarber questions.

But don't jump to conclusions (that Yarber is the candidate of owner Jeff Good, who tends to vocally support a mayoral candidate).

A disclaimer at the bottom reads: "road Street Baking Company does not endorse any candidate for office, but we certainly do endorse getting our customers something of value. Free coffee and a chance to meet important individuals in our community are BOTH things of value! Enjoy a free cup of coffee and some knowledge about what's going on in your community."

In other words, we don't whether Good plans to endorse a candidate or sit this one out. Time will tell, and we will tell you when we know. Here's the mailer:

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/12/16419/

In case you think Republicans all get along. The lieutenant governor's verbatim response, sent earlier today:

STATEMENT OF LT. GOV. REEVES ON HOUSE VOTE AGAINST TEACHER PAY PLAN

“Unfortunately, the House voted today against teachers getting $3,500 more in their paycheck by July 1, 2015. I had hoped this week Gov. Bryant could sign a significant teacher pay increase that included merit pay and was within our budget, but the House let political posturing win over increased teacher pay.”

I've been to most of the debates during this mayoral election season, and to be perfectly honest, they have not shed a great deal of light on the candidates and their positions. Here's the question I think most voters would say needs to be asked of each candidate.

This mayoral race has always been about whether or not the voters want to fire Mayor Johnson. My assessment has always been that while they are contemplating doing so, they first want to see what and who their alternatives are. Voters are essentially conservative by nature (not necessarily by politics), and the incumbent they know will often be preferable to an exciting or intriguing but ultimately unproven replacement ( See Mayor Melton). Usually, things have to be pretty bad for voters to make that decision to fire the incumbent. Statistically, at the federal level congressional incumbents get reelected at a 90% rate, and nationally the municipal rate is near 80%. As a study of incumbency in municipal elections in the United States puts it: “It is virtually always better to be an incumbent than a challenger in American elections.”