Jackson Free Press

The Clarion-Ledge reports:

At the start of a forum Saturday, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. took swipes at his absent opponent's legitimacy as a true Democrat.

When he wasn't taking shots at Frank Melton, he was showcasing his own eight-year record.

Annell Smith, the opponent who was present, told Johnson that she meant no disrespect, but she can better connect with constituents than he can.

The two mayoral candidates spoke at the forum on the Tougaloo College campus. Johnson, Melton and Smith face off in the May 3 Democratic primary. The winner faces Republican Rick Whitlow in the June 7 general election.

Johnson noted Smith's presence, but had plenty to say about Melton, attacking his voting record and labeling him a pawn of Republicans needing a Democrat front to oppose him.

Reached at home, Melton said he is not serving the whims of Republicans. "I'm not going to be a pawn for anyone, and the people who know me know I wouldn't fall for that," Melton said.

Melton said he couldn't attend the forum because of a previous commitment to a youth event at Candlestick Park. The forum was sponsored by the Mississippi Democratic Club, a five-month-old group for good government.

Full article here.