Jackson Free Press

April 13, 2005

Democratic Mayoral candidates Annell Smith and incumbent Harvey Johnson Jr. met at an April 9 forum hosted by the Mississippi Democratic Club in the historic Woodworth Chapel of Tougaloo College. Democratic candidate Frank Melton avoided the forum, originally claiming bias of one of the moderators. He later canceled his appearance, asserting "scheduling conflicts."

At the forum, Johnson sought to alienate Melton from the Democratic Club, claiming that Melton was "a stalking horse" for the Republican Party.

"I'm disturbed when I hear that this person tells a group of Republican supporters in Northeast Jackson that the only way you can be mayor of this city is to run as a Democrat and that's why he's running as Democrat. … I'm disturbed that some of the most prominent Republicans in this state have said that they'll be voting in the Democratic primary for the first time, and it ought to disturb you," Johnson said, adding, "If the Republican Party is effective at this strategy (of installing puppet Democrats), they will use it throughout the South. ... The powerful and the privileged don't give up easily."

In response, Melton said at an April 11 press conference that he thought he was the only true Democrat in this race because "I've done everything the Democratic Party stands for." He specifically denied statements he made at a March 14 breakfast gathering at Bravo!, reported by the JFP, that "if you're an African-American in Jackson, you have to run as a Democrat to win. ... I don't like either party." Melton also said at Bravo! that he had voted in Madison County for a "prominent" Republican presidential candidate.

Smith said she was seeking the mayor's office to bring it back down to the residents, who she claims are too often ignored by it. "If I'm mayor, come on down and make noise," she said.

Smith said she had rarely taken an interest in politics until the recent death of her son. "I seldom go and vote because I sit and look and I've realized that each mayor has on their agenda what they want to do for the people, but after the election [is over] we sit and wait and nothing happens. …My son was found along I-55 dead. He was a paranoid schizophrenic. I'd worked almost three years to get some kind of (court) decision (allowing relatives to be more responsible to the sick.)"

Smith also promised to give 50 percent of her salary back to the community.