Jackson Free Press

The Ledger reports:

Mississippi was electrified when Harvey Johnson Jr. was elected mayor of Jackson in 1997.

Supporters from Jackson to San Francisco covered the grounds of City Hall to watch this Southern city break from its racist past and swear in its first black mayor.

In his speech, Johnson promised to erase crime in Jackson, warning "drug dealers and criminals, beware."

After eight years in office, voters in Tuesday's Democratic primary told Johnson one thing: He didn't do enough.

Barring a Republican victory in June, his challenger, Frank Melton, will become Jackson's second black mayor, repeating the same tough-on-crime message Johnson used eight years earlier.

Melton, a former television executive and former director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, drew together an odd coalition of voters to defeat Johnson.

White Republicans joined with working class black residents, many of them civil rights activists, to support the political novice's campaign.

Ultimately, public safety, slow-moving city projects and an aloof personality pushed Johnson back into private life.

Full article here.

Previous Comments

ID

137440

Comment

I am troubled by their use of the word "inaction". Inaction is a state of no activity, so it doesn't make sense when the article says: "After eight years in office, voters in Tuesday's Democratic primary told Johnson one thing: He didn't do enough." Did he not do enough or did not do anything at all? Which is it? It sounds like they are trying to add a smudge to his legacy as the first black mayor. I don't believe the paper spoke of him this way when he was first elected, so why turn on him now? Look out, Frank...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-05-04T20:56:04-06:00

ID

137441

Comment

It sounds like they are trying to add a smudge to his legacy as the first black mayor. I think you're probably right, L.W. Perhaps most importantly, The Clarion-Ledger nevers wants to be wrong editorially, even though it is a good portion of the time. It's certainly made some statements of late that may come back to haunt it. As for Johnson, though, his legacy will be just fine, with or without The Clarion-Ledger's help. He did amazing things for the city against some tough oddsóand now isn't really time to judge his legacy. My prediction is that his legacy will be much clearer a few years down the road when there's more to compare it to. I, for one, though appreciate his class, determination and hard work. It's hard to take on a fearmongering machine, and he lost. For now. But it ain't over 'til it's over, as they say. Now, though, it's time to put effort into figuring out who would be the best mayor between Whitlow and Melton. Some of Whitlow's ideas are disturbing to me, but certainly no more than Melton. And a number of things he says I like better.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-05T10:21:34-06:00

ID

137442

Comment

I have to add, though, that that headline is remarkable. "Inaction"? That's stated as fact. The Metro desk there certainly seems to be very pro-Melton, and anti-Johnson. I hope they give Whitlow a fair shake. We need to keep an eye on that. I've always said that I don't party is important to the mayor's race, even though I thought it very disingenuous for Republicans to try to "steal" the primary, so to speak. But I am completely open to Whitlow at this point, although we need to get much deeper into his platform and flesh out exactly what he means by certain things. But I sure don't think anyone should go into the General Election thinking they should vote for one candidate or the other due to party. It could be that the most "hope" rests in Whitlow.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-05T10:26:49-06:00