Jackson Free Press

Mayor Frank Melton submitted a memorandum to council members (PDF, 118 KB) requesting that they withdraw Jackson Public School Board Vice President Jonathan Larkin's name for re-appointment to the board. The memorandum, signed yesterday by Melton, comes two weeks after council members claimed Chief of Staff Marcus Ward told Larkin that the mayor would not re-submit his name for a seat on the board if Larkin did not vote in favor of a certain contractor for management of the recently passed $150 million JPS bond.

Council members told the Jackson Free press last month that Ward made clear to Larkin that Melton wanted Larkin to vote for Integrated Management Services to be program manager for the bond proposal.

Ward denied that he had threatened Larkin's appointment.

"No, no, no and no," Ward said. "We talked about the mayor's agenda and his vision for doing business with the city of Jackson."

Larkin voted in favor of IMS competitors Jacobs Engineering, which is based in California, and Preferred Management of Jackson. Larkin was the critical third vote in a 3-2 board decision granting the contract to Jacobs Engineering and Preferred Management.

Larkin neither confirmed nor denied Ward's threat last month, but he told the JFP today that he believes the mayor's memorandum and his April 23 vote were strongly linked.

"Yes, I think the two are connected," Larkin said. "I'm very disappointed at (Melton's) actions, but I'm not surprised."

Larkin would not say if he was consulting with an attorney. "I shouldn't comment on what's going to happen next," Larkin said.

Ward 2 Councilman Leslie Burl McLemore said he was confident that the Ward conversation and the memorandum were connected.

"The mayor had Larkin's name on the list prior to his felony trial. ... This is a name that the administration itself put out there, and now he's withdrawing it. He must not have been too wary of Larkin's abilities or he would not have first submitted it, and now he pulls it when Larkin doesn't agree with him," McLemore said.

Allen said he was puzzled by the memorandum for a number of reasons.

"I'm confused because I thought (Melton) said clearly on my radio show this morning that he was going to bring both of these school board appointees forward. I thought he clearly said that," Allen said. "Another thing, it's not up to the council to withdraw Larkin's name. That's up to the mayor's administration, and I don't know why the memorandum is addressed to council members."

"This vindictiveness really bothers me," McLemore said. "There is something awry here relative to the mayor's behavior. This is not normal behavior. Why are we seeing this kind of behavior out of the mayor of the largest city in Mississippi?"

Melton did not immediately return calls for comment.

See our earlier story, "'Major Extortion'?" here.

Previous Comments

ID

128651

Comment

That's just cold-blooded....

Author

Birdseye

Date

2007-05-11T13:27:38-06:00

ID

128652

Comment

Well, it certainly appears as if they followed through on their threat.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T13:38:19-06:00

ID

128653

Comment

Teflon. Is anybody surprised about this?

Author

GLewis

Date

2007-05-11T13:43:25-06:00

ID

128654

Comment

I just added Allen's comment. Surely, the councilman isn't suggesting that Melton told him one thing and then turned around and did just the opposite, is he?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-05-11T13:47:56-06:00

ID

128655

Comment

No. But it seems to be a new level of arrogance, or something. I mean, this one reeks of an appointee being withdrawn because he did not vote to give a multi-million dollar contract to a certain contractor. There are names for this kind of thing.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T13:47:58-06:00

ID

128656

Comment

Yep, quite the quote from Allen. I'll repeat it for emphasis: "I'm confused because I thought (Melton) said clearly on my radio show this morning that he was going to bring both of these school board appointees forward. I thought he clearly said that," Allen said. "Another thing, it's not up to the council to withdraw Larkin's name. That's up to the mayor's administration, and I don't know why the memorandum is addressed to council members."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T13:48:59-06:00

ID

128657

Comment

Wouldn't it be nice if FM considered the needs of JPS instead of his own agenda in selecting the board? Any predictions on which crony will be chosen instead? Melvin? Chandler? We know that qualifications don't matter for any of his appointments.

Author

lls32001

Date

2007-05-11T13:50:54-06:00

ID

128658

Comment

My vote: Hickingbottom.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T13:51:34-06:00

ID

128659

Comment

This is unbelievable! Where is our school board leadership? I haven’t heard the school board or its president call for an investigation of the Marcus Ward extortion threats. These incidents, and the failure of any school board response, totally shatters my confidence that the school board is an independent non-political body. It looks like it’s turning into yet another “me too” board. This is breaking my heart. The city deserves morally honest and strong leadership and not simply a “Melton Mafia” where you agree with him and his gang on ALL matters, period. That’s not a democracy. With this kind of shenanigans going on, I suspect the criminal justice system is going to be quite busy over the next few years dealing with corruption in government issues coming out of this administration. I guess my friends in Louisiana will soon be able to say “thank God for Mississippi” when it comes to comparing political corruption.

Author

FriendsofJackson

Date

2007-05-11T13:53:11-06:00

ID

128660

Comment

Well, I imagine this move shattered any good will Melton might have momentarily built with Allen this a.m. I mean, did he really sit there and lie to his face about something he signed YESTERDAY?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T14:14:09-06:00

ID

128661

Comment

I don't recall the Mayor specifically saying he supported the nominations. The comment I remember is that Ben said you have two more appointments coming up for the school boards. Melton didn't really respond that I remember; and then Allen added that he, Barrett, and McLemore couldn't vote in the nomination. They spoke about needing 7 instead of 5 members so each Ward is represented. I don't specifically recall Melton saying anything direct about Larkin or the upcoming appointments. But, I hope certain Melton supporters are happy when he brings the good people down. Cause when you run us all off, you will be left with nothing but a bunch of people working within the Peter Principle in every organization! The end doesn't justify the means....

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-11T15:09:42-06:00

ID

128662

Comment

I'm sure he is part of the smear campaign against the Board Attorney by saying he is going to make millions when in fact it is less than 1%. I hated it when Kim Wade had bought into the same story. Kim, and anyone else, go ask the board atty what he plans to charge as bond attorney. It's simple to do! A friend of mine who saw him did ask, and he laughed at the fact they would believe something like that! It's amazing how people, intelligent and well-read, fall for Melton and his clique's BS lies which are attempts to smear the good work of good people.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-11T15:14:45-06:00

ID

128663

Comment

As Ladd has said numerous times, "It ain't over till it's over."

Author

JenniferGriffin

Date

2007-05-11T16:14:22-06:00

ID

128664

Comment

I'd bank on that one, Jennifer.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T16:20:46-06:00

ID

128665

Comment

I'm a little surprised that Allen, et al., keep trying to reach out to Melton. There comes a point at which any limited progress that might come of it is outweighed by the cost of lending legitimacy to a nakedly corrupt and incompetent administration.

Author

laughter

Date

2007-05-11T16:38:01-06:00

ID

128666

Comment

Like the Mill St Posse crowd and some other people care if Larkin is on the board. BTW: WAPT just billed the morning show as a political truce between Ben and the mayor. How come everyone else saw it; but Ben?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-11T16:39:38-06:00

ID

128667

Comment

Yep, fool me once.... good point law guy.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-11T16:42:11-06:00

ID

128668

Comment

How come everyone else saw it; but Ben? What do you mean? The memo? I don't know that everyone else did see it. We got it from a source, and then started asking people about it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-11T16:42:56-06:00

ID

128669

Comment

No, no... Sorry.. I mean that it was a softball show. He came on Kim Wade and said it was an interview with some good questions. He did say that Melton is good about turning the harder questions into positives. But, he could have re asked the questions when he began to stray. You know, go all Adam Lynch on him! ;-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-11T16:48:24-06:00

ID

128670

Comment

Uncle Frank is crazy. He has escaped trouble so many times that he believes that there are no repercussions for illegal or illicit behavior. He actually believes that the office of mayor gives him unlimited power and control. And of course everyone is afraid to question him. My question is how long will the few good, knowledgeable people in that administration be able to stand that "circus."

Author

lanier77

Date

2007-05-14T08:50:00-06:00

ID

128671

Comment

"Absolute power corrupts, absolutely." frank and his frankenstins are so corrupt that they don't even bother to hide the dirt or the skeletons. I said during his trial that what was really on trial was our Constitution. Many of the A-Americans who continue to support melton know better, even Stephanie Parker-Weaver. People like Johnnie Patton, the wife of Judge Houston Patton have received their pay-back. Johnnie Patton was put on the Airport Board. This is probably the best board in the City as it is a paid board and with many perks and benefits. What some people won't do for a few dollars and their idea of a piece of perceived power. Is frank willing to see Ward go down that same tube he is slowly but surely sliding down?

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-14T09:41:08-06:00

ID

128672

Comment

I agree Frank’s tactics are crazy and probably illegal. But do ya’ll not agree if all possible Sate and City money should be spent with local companies? I do not know the specifics of this bid but I know IMS is a local company and should be given preferential treatment over an out of state company.

Author

Nick22

Date

2007-05-14T14:30:36-06:00

ID

128673

Comment

Nick22, I'm all about local companies, and I know that the winning bid in this case is a partnership between a local company (Socrates Garrett) and an out-of-state one, so it's not like the winning bid isn't entirely "local." Besides, that is a separate issue. Lobby for local all you want—but threatening a school-board member if he doesn't vote your way on a multi-million contract is way, way, way out of line. And it seems that he has carried through with it, to boot.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-14T15:23:00-06:00

ID

128674

Comment

I'm not really big on hiring local just to hire local. I'm more of a hire the resume kind of guy. When you don't hire the company who will give you the best deal, you usually wind up wishing you had. I don't know how many times we've seen a problem with a job contracted out by the government occur only to find out it was not awarded to the company with the strongest bid and most experience.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-14T20:51:07-06:00

ID

128675

Comment

So, instead of JPS taking a stand against Melton's extortion of Larkin, they are now starting a "Jackson First" campaign in which they will strive to do business with local companies if at all possible. Not a bad idea...but the timing is terribly suspicious.

Author

lls32001

Date

2007-05-17T15:59:16-06:00

ID

128676

Comment

So, check out this crap from John Calhoun and IMS. IMS Engineers has asked for a temporary restraining order to keep the JPS board from making a final determination on the bond project manager on Monday. John Calhoun, president of IMS, said Thursday the company is seeking the restraining order to ask the board to slow down and review the proposals more carefully. I can see them now in court... "Your honor our bid was $2million dollars higher; but, we deserve the job because we are IMS and we get all the business! And, that's who Frank Melton wants! So, your honor, you best think twice and give us that contract before I get da Mayor to sledgehammer your house!"

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-18T09:49:12-06:00

ID

128677

Comment

JPS needs to deal with the Larkin issue and the administration's actions. It's simply unacceptable if they don't. We expect incompetence and worse out of this administration, but the school board cannot. follow. suit. Every public-school advocate in the city needs to get on the photo to the board and the district over this.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-18T09:59:08-06:00

ID

128678

Comment

They can hire local; but, IMS has an out of state partner too. Why doesn't anyone get that fact? They don't have the overall experience to do this job either. IMS Core Values 4. Practice honesty and integrity in all relationships Notice they haven't updated their own web page in several years under the news section. Just that fact makes me wonder if they are able to keep up with the work they have. Here's a bit where it shows IMS created a company with a company from Georgia so they could build a facility for Nissan! They also were partnered with Bechtel to help with 15,000 housing unit on the Coast. Maybe this should go under the formaldehyde story! So, if IMS can partner with all these companies why the sudden posturing over the school bond issue. Why did Marcus Ward threaten, and Melton carryout the revenge against Larkin when it was going to cost $2 million more?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-18T10:18:56-06:00

ID

128679

Comment

It doesn't take much to form an LLC (Limited Libility Corporation) in the State of Mississippi. This is commonly done when two or more intities wish to join forces for a specific purpose or project. The age of an LLC has nothing to do with the qualifications of the principals or firms in this case. I believe IMS or its principals have been involved in LLCs and have probably benefitted from the other firms qualifications. What is happening to and being said about a really good and conscientious JPS Board Member is certainly not honorable. Why would anyone want to line their pockets with money so desperately needed by our schools and students? If a contract is awarded based on favoritism rather than qualifications and monitary differences, then the students ultimatly pay the price. To me, the location of the "Prime" in this case is not as important as is the location of the payroll and the benefit to the overall project in cost savings.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-05-27T22:28:29-06:00