Jackson Free Press

Just in ... The City Council has elected Ben Allen of Ward 1, the council's only declared Republican, to the seat of council president. More details soon ...

Read the 2004 JFP Interview with Ben Allen here.
Visit Ben Allen's JFP Blog here.

The City Council meeting on July 5 will feature the usual slew of council decisions on city disbursements, legal priorities and discussion items, but it will contain something else very significant: a vote to decide who will be the council's next president. This week's vote will be complicated by accusations of ethnic slurs by one of the leading candidates, Ben Allen of Ward 1.

"It's going to be interesting to see how this all turns out," said current president, Marshand Crisler of Ward 6, who offered no insight into how he will vote.

As we go to press, Allen is in the hot seat due to a comment some say he made at last Monday's work session—saying that a house in his ward is populated by "El Chico Mexican illegal immigrants."

The comment was shocking to some, with Bill Chandler, executive director of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, going on the offensive against Allen's comment.

"It's the same thing as using the N-word to destroy the humanity of African Americans," Chandler told The Clarion-Ledger. "A person like that is not fit to be an elected public official." Chandler plans to lead a protest of Allen at this week's City Council meeting, which is being held at 9:30 a.m. the morning of July 5 due to the July 4 holiday.

Allen said later that he meant a house owned by El Charro. He also admitted that he did not know the legal status of the tenants there, and was trying to call attention to lax enforcement by the city.

Even without such controversy, the annual July vote spawns fresh antagonism and new rivalry among members, as seen last year with the short battle between Crisler and former president Ward 2 Councilman Leslie McLemore.

Crisler, an Army reservist and Marine, resigned as president in 2003 to serve in the war in Iraq, forcing a presidential vote among council members and opening the door for a return of JSU political science professor McLemore, who proved to be a fierce defender of the council's legislative powers during his time as council president.

Last year, Crisler did an about-face regarding support for McLemore's re-election for president and Barrett-Simon's for vice president. Crisler said he'd expected McLemore's support because of a "gentlemen's agreement" between himself and McLemore before his 2003 Iraq departure.

McLemore said he didn't recall that deal, and called to Allen and Barrett-Simon to defend his position.

Crisler, however, formed a four-person majority alliance with Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, and newcomers Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman and Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson, who became vice president.

"I didn't approve at all how that mess turned out," Allen said.

Allen shirked all committee positions in protest, and Crisler's eagerness cracked fissures in the rest of his voting bloc, including Barrett-Simon and McLemore.

The remarkable differences between Crisler and newbies Bluntson and Tillman did not help the situation. The latter two turned out to be staunch supports of Mayor Melton, who does not generally seek input from the council.

Melton said he promulgated Jackson's current state of emergency specifically so he would not have to negotiate with the council.

"(Going to the council with suggestions) won't work because then they'll sit there and debate forever and ever and ever when we need to be taking action. The reason I'm doing this under emergency order is so I can avoid that type of meeting. Instead of going through all the rhetoric there are things that we need to do, and I'm more conformable doing it under executive order," Melton told the Jackson Free Press.

Though there is no real crystal ball on how the council will vote, it is possible that Allen will walk away with the presidency if the current alignment holds fast.

Stokes, Bluntson and Tillman form an airtight coalition that will prefer to nominate one of their own, but none of the three is likely to win a four-person majority. Stokes and Tillman will likely nominate Bluntson, but Bluntson will likely toss his vote to Ben Allen rather than fall short.

Though Allen has occasionally complained about Melton, many of his North Jackson constituents voted in support of Melton's campaign, so Allen finds himself stuck in the same toga party. Allen has rarely gone straight at Melton, except for when the mayor dismissed Jackson's Washington lobbyists in favor of hiring Marcus Ward to lobby from Jackson or when Melton came close to sabotaging the King Edward renovation.

To Bluntson, Allen's loyalty to Melton is likely preferable to Crisler, Barrett-Simon or McLemore, who have proven to be reticent, if not hostile, toward the mayor.

Tillman follows Bluntson in everything, so if Bluntson votes Allen, there will likely be a second vote from Tillman. Barrett-Simon, who has no issue with Allen, will also likely support Allen, as may McLemore—despite the heat he may take for supporting the council's only Republican.

McLemore said the issue of Democrats against Republicans is no longer a factor in Jackson: "We've gotten beyond that."

Nevertheless, Stokes might prefer burning in hell to voting for Allen. If he does vote for Allen, hell might well ice over.

If Allen does win the presidency, he will be the first Republican to hold that position since the council form of government was adopted. Crisler predicted that the new council president will have to oversee some very hard times in the upcoming year.

"That's my only concern: that it's really going to go bad in the next year, and I know that there are only a few people sitting on the council who can keep that thing from going ape," Crisler said.

Previous Comments

ID

66586

Comment

wow. this is really interesting. great job by lynch in putting all of this together. i believe that allen will do a great job as president, however, it will be interesting to see how this affects the way crisler and stokes react.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-07-05T11:29:03-06:00

ID

66587

Comment

I can't wait to see if he will now stand up to mayor Meltdown and other council persons who are being to quiet considering Jackson's situation. I also like what the message sends about OUR ability to be inclusive, fair, and not blinded by race. I never had any doubt as the record books are replete with evidence of it.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-07-05T11:34:40-06:00

ID

66588

Comment

Glad to see Councilman Allen ascend to the council presidency. Not that it really means anything in terms of putting a muzzle on the mayor.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-05T11:50:33-06:00

ID

66589

Comment

FYI: Just heard Allen was elected president. No other details and don't have time to review other news sites.

Author

kaust

Date

2006-07-05T14:20:11-06:00

ID

66590

Comment

Go Ben! Now if he'll just light some fires in city Government.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-07-05T17:36:51-06:00

ID

66591

Comment

What kind of fires, I wonder? He seems too busy trying to put them out. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T17:40:32-06:00

ID

66592

Comment

One wonders what the Jackson Advocate thinks of this.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T18:22:19-06:00

ID

66593

Comment

Mississippi Link has an article that features more insight from the council members and a concerned citizen or two.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-07-05T19:02:59-06:00

ID

66594

Comment

OK, just talked to El Presidente. Apparently, Crisler and Stokes voted against him. The other five voted for him. So, hell didn't freeze over just yet on the Stokes front. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T19:12:40-06:00

ID

66595

Comment

Five to Two is a good majority, rather than the usual 4-3.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-07-05T19:16:37-06:00

ID

66596

Comment

Thanks for this, millhouse. What a quote: "We didn’t send you here to be fair, but to be Democrats." Actually, Rev. Hightower, I'm pretty sure we sent them to be fair. I have problems with Ben's comment--and (shades of Trent Lott) his refusal to apologize for it--but "he's not a Democrat" was never really the basis of my complaint. As for how the Jackson Advocate will go: Damn good question, Donna, and central to it is the question of how Melton will go. If Melton sides with Stokes and decides he doesn't like Allen, then it won't be much of a mystery. But if Melton supports Allen and Stokes doesn't change his tune, I have no idea where the JA will go on this. One would think that loyalty to Stokes, not to mention concerns over the comments, would lead the editors to express disagreement with Melton--but there seems to be a big power-worship thing going on over there and I can't see Tisdale wanting to disagree with Melton about anything. It'll be interesting to watch. In some ways, though, I think it's Melton who's really in a bind here. His strongest base, near as I can tell, is made up of Ward 1 white conservative Republicans and Mill Street black separatists. Whatever the other effects of Ben's election might be, I think there's a good chance it will ultimately cost Melton half of his core supporters. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-07-05T19:17:51-06:00

ID

66597

Comment

Bluntson and Tillman voted for Allen? Well, that is interesting news... And dare I say that this suggests that Melton will in fact side with Allen, and may make an enemy out of Stokes in the process. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-07-05T19:18:45-06:00

ID

66598

Comment

...which brings us to the question of where the Jackson Advocate will stand on this. Okay, Donna, I see now that you were a few steps ahead of me. ;o) Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-07-05T19:21:15-06:00

ID

66599

Comment

What amuses me, BTW, is the radio silence on the local anti-JFP blog. They don't know whether to dance a happy dance because we have a white Republican city council president or howl at the moon because he's not an idiot. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-07-05T19:24:01-06:00

ID

66600

Comment

Some will say it's a sign of racial progress that three black councilmembers voted for the white Republican. Thoughts?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T19:24:20-06:00

ID

66601

Comment

BTW, he appreciated the humor in Brian's "El Presidente" headline. Personally, I think it's one of the best ones in a while.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T19:27:06-06:00

ID

66602

Comment

I think that's probably exactly right--but as Ray pointed out, black folks as a whole have a history of being more reasonable about this sort of thing than white folks. The NAACP has always been integrated. Segregation is basically a white phenomenon, and black separatists who buy into its modern-day form are basically just demonstrating their submission to the old order of things. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-07-05T19:27:09-06:00

ID

66603

Comment

BTW, read the JFP's 2004 JFP Interview with Ben Allen here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T19:28:16-06:00

ID

66604

Comment

I thought that was clever, too, yes. ;o) Brian's a sharp guy, and you can really tell that he's making a very distinctive contribution to the flavor of the JFP. And when I said Ben wasn't an idiot, I meant other than that comment. But I really expect him to apologize for it in a less ambiguous way. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-07-05T19:29:34-06:00

ID

66605

Comment

Yep, Brian is a rock star. See his photo on the cover of this week's issue. There I go again: Tooting my peeps' horn. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T19:31:31-06:00

ID

66606

Comment

At least we didn't make the headline "JFP Blogger Elected Council President." BTW, he told me tonight that he will start blogging again as soon as the dust from all this settles.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-05T19:32:33-06:00

ID

66607

Comment

Off topic, but a message for Ladd here: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/forums/threads.php?id=10065_0_23_0_C The e-mail link doesn't work...

Author

Rico

Date

2006-07-05T19:33:50-06:00

ID

66608

Comment

Looks like a major victory for Melton. When Ben's not hiding under his desk, he's going along to get along. We probably shouldn't expect the same public criticism of Melton that we got from Crisler.

Author

Curt Crowley

Date

2006-07-05T19:55:08-06:00

ID

66609

Comment

It seems to me that Melton, ONCE AGAIN, influenced Bluntson and Tillman's vote. Obviously, he couldn't sway Stokes to do the same. It's about time that Stokes stood up for himself. We all know that Melton's a closet Republican to begin with. Here comes the fireworks Stokes versus Allen. I wonder what the citizens of Jackson are thinking about this decision? Jackson's 78 percent Democratic, 22 percent Republican? The minority rules the majority? That's unheard of! Come election time, Bluntson and Tillman will have HELL to pay.

Author

Joerob

Date

2006-07-05T21:12:36-06:00

ID

66610

Comment

Wasn't Ben Allen a former member or supporter of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC)? If so, Jackson's come a long way... I think!? Then again, I can't speak for the other 78 percent Democrats. Is this REALLY what the majority of Jacksonians longed for... a Republican at the government's helm? I don't think so.

Author

Joerob

Date

2006-07-05T21:22:09-06:00

ID

66611

Comment

Has Allen ever been council president before? Seems I can only recall Crisler, Barrett, Brown or McLemore as past presidents.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-05T21:27:52-06:00

ID

66612

Comment

I saw this on the news, and I think that things are going to get really juicy for the next several months. JFP, stay on your toes! (chewing on popcorn and watching all the action)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-07-05T21:41:47-06:00

ID

66613

Comment

Has Allen ever been council president before? Ejeff, I didn't mean the City Council, I meant the old Citizens Council.

Author

Joerob

Date

2006-07-05T21:46:03-06:00

ID

66614

Comment

I knew what you meant, Joerob. I was asking if Allen has been City Council President before. I just saw a news report on WAPT that confirmed this is his first time as council president.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-05T22:12:29-06:00

ID

66615

Comment

Having Ben as a Republican has little effect on how he will lead the Council - which is a minor job anyway. Core political issues have nothing to do with us having better management within the city, police department and the Council. Anyway, what is the saying about a "paper tiger?" I wish him well for whatever being "president" entails. I find this stuff a bit of a yawner seeing as how some council members like to complain about the "weak council, strong mayor" system we have in Jackson anyway. As if... "Oh well...!" Really, did anyone even notice Ben Allen "shirked all committee positions in protest" for the vote from last year? That has to be why my water bill is higher!?! And I guess now everyone is expecting the Mayor and Council to have a big Hug-Fest, like a mayor with school children on I-220, now that he is president! Just like having Melton as mayor was supposed to result in synergy between the County, and Sheriff, the State and our Senators!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-07-05T22:15:45-06:00

ID

66616

Comment

sigh. A president can play a big role in helping to move constructive discussion on a topic. i'm no authority on the council members personalities, i have eagerly read everything written about them for a bit over a year and recently attended my first city coucil meeting (lucky for me it was the one where Melton redeclared State of Emergency - Mclemore really shined on his response to that!). In action at the meeting, Crisler was good at summarizing the concerns of various council members with the kudos of others toward a particular issue and then presenting a crux variable that needed to be addressed to move forward. Ben Allin seemed quite mostly, sometimes he restated others points with no elaboration, and sometimes he would kind of stick up for another council persons stance and then kind of plead it in a very unassertive way. i personally hope he does a good job, but based on that one meeting, he was not the one i would have picked to lead me. Good luck Ben! i'm rootin' for ya! Stick up for balance and moderation...intelligence even.

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2006-07-05T23:02:45-06:00

ID

66617

Comment

I can only imagine the tongue lashings that Tillman and Bluntson are getting from their constituents and the Advocate over voting for that "cracka" as council president.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-06T08:10:16-06:00

ID

66618

Comment

We'll get debates out of this one for years. :D

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-07-06T09:22:29-06:00

ID

66619

Comment

Well, Bluntson has long been a friend of conservative whites, so no surprise there. It is interesting that Stokes didn't make the leap on behalf of Melton. In a twisted way, I respect him for that. Also, on the radio show this morning, Ben said something that I say over and over: partisan politics have no place in city government. He's so right, although I doubt many of his core constituents would agree. But his ward is becoming more progressive as the older coots get, well, older. Ben could end up a good example of a progressive Republican we can all be proud of—including the progressive Republicans in his district. Let's hope.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-06T09:46:39-06:00

ID

66620

Comment

I guess I've listened to too much of his show to ever think he could be an example of a "progressive Republican." He is as hard a republican on core issues as there is out there. Locally, he may see the need for moderate, local issue politics; but, I don't ever see being proud of him for being a "progressive republican." If the council does something good for the city, I certainly don't think it was because they were Dem's or Rep's. A progressive republican wouldn't let a mayor violate the civil rights of certain citizens or act out like a child in meetings and in the media. If he runs for something bigger, let's see how "progressive" he is on things.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-07-06T10:03:02-06:00

ID

66621

Comment

Well, perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, Pike. You're right: certain signs aren't good. Others, however, are. Time will tell.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-06T10:07:24-06:00

ID

66622

Comment

Locally, I think he and the whole council can do wonders. Progressive wonders at that! And considering the shape of the city now, even small improvements will be progressive moves forward. But, the most progressive move this city could make in the short term is to demand a new chief, demand confirmation of a fire chief, and demand that the mayor either get with the program or get out! And, he may very well start that ball rolling, especially without the "hook" of having to please his listeners and his Ward. But, I live in his Ward and he has no clue what NE Jax is about these days. If you aren't in the lily white area of NE Jax then he could give a flip about it. The goal is to keep the lily whites happy, and hope the "marginal areas" keep to themselves! Same with Rep. Denney too!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-07-06T10:30:04-06:00

ID

66623

Comment

Certainly, Pike, getting to know all of Jackson means more than going to Gloria's Kitchen every now and then. Let's hope Mr. Allen really starts reaching out beyond his ward, and trying to understand why many of his radio bits are so trite, whether on race or other issues.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-06T10:54:58-06:00

ID

66624

Comment

"But his ward is becoming more progressive as the older coots get, well, older". come on Donna...."as the old coots get into the ground". That's what's making North and Northeast more progressive. "Strife Concealed Beneath the Sod......is that Tennyson?

Author

ATLExile

Date

2006-07-06T13:41:44-06:00

ID

66625

Comment

Well, some of the coots are changing, too. And I believe people can change and "progress." But, point well taken.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-06T13:55:17-06:00

ID

66626

Comment

Not that I've been able to find, ATL.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-07-06T13:55:56-06:00

ID

66627

Comment

actually the "coot" point is where I am quoting my father.......that's what he would say when he got fussed about how slow Jackson was moving as for his needs. Back in the 80's..... but "Strife Concealed Beneath the Sod" is from something famous..maybe I read it out in "Lakewood" one afternoon.....then agian, maybe at 47 I am becoming an early progressive republican "Coot".....I love that word..."Coot"...what is a coot anyway?

Author

ATLExile

Date

2006-07-06T14:04:26-06:00

ID

66628

Comment

Of course, the saddest people are those who repeat EXACTLY what was said back in the day—40 years ago—with seemingly no clue that they are using the exact same words. You point it out to them, they get all offended, when it's them who's doing it! A couple of angry local bloggers come to mind. I really feel sorry for people that stuck in the past.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-06T14:12:58-06:00

ID

66629

Comment

"Of course, the saddest people are those who repeat EXACTLY what was said back in the day—40 years ago" those would be the "Terminally Coot".......we all know them...."worse case of terminal "cootness" I ever saw.....And we all know what happened to the "Fig Tree" that did not produce fruit.....or ever change....same thing.

Author

ATLExile

Date

2006-07-06T14:44:11-06:00

ID

66630

Comment

I guess even high minded northeastern Democrats like Joe Biden can make gaffs about minorities too: comment by Joe Biden Does he owe the Indian-American community an apology for such a stereotypical comment?

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-07T18:38:00-06:00

ID

66631

Comment

Of course he should apologize. And apologies are good for the soul, and never hurt anyone. And it surprises me not at all that high-minded northeastern Democrats can be offensive. I went to grad school amongst them. Amazing stereotypes they hold about southerners, for instance. Certainly, stereotyping is a nonpartisan problem.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-07T18:51:11-06:00

ID

66632

Comment

As I figured, there has been a sucession of callers to Tisdale's radio show angry about weak black men voting for a racist white Republican to lead them. And Stokes chiming in right with them. But of course, no criticism of Mayor Melton and his bas-ackward war on crime in the black community.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-07T20:24:17-06:00

ID

66633

Comment

Wow. Now they are attacking the JFP for criticizing Frank Melton!

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-07-07T20:36:17-06:00

ID

66634

Comment

That is hilarious. Do they truly not understand that the reason Mr. Allen was elected was because Mr. Melton believed he is the compromise between his three backers and his three critics and wanted Mr. Bluntson to nominate him? It is a rather remarkable development. Are they mentioning that Mr. Bluntson nominated him? Or, are they simply engaging in political cover to try to explain away what happened? Interesting times.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-07T20:38:36-06:00

ID

66635

Comment

Also, any word on whether this means that Mr. Bluntson is now officially in the Brown Society for nominating Mr. Allen?!? They always criticize the JFP for criticizing Mr. Melton. If folks hadn't figured it out, we get it from the radical white conservatives and the radical black conservatives. There's something about that fact that helps me sleep well at night. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-07T20:39:59-06:00

ID

66636

Comment

A woman caller just said the solution is to get rid of Tillman and McLemore!?! Tisdale: "The solution is to have a group of African Americans that are African Americans." Then he changed the subject to Trent Lott, "the racist," and she accused him of changing the subject. (OK, I tuned in. Is he forgetting Melton's support base that he worked with of late!?!) Woman: "He (Bluntson) voted for a white man. He needs to be put out of office." Another caller, a man, is calling Allen "a snake in the grass."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-07T20:44:19-06:00

ID

66637

Comment

Unfortunately there are people who will never accept a white republican and just assume someone with these labels will not be receptive or fair to the black community. Of course, this depends upon the heart and morals of the person-not their political party or skin color. I hope Ben can bring a voice of reason and more structure into the meetings. It is not necessary for everyone to vote or think alike, but civility would be a great step forward. People can disagree without slandering and attacking one another.

Author

realtime

Date

2006-07-08T01:02:38-06:00

ID

66638

Comment

civility would be a great step forward. People can disagree without slandering and attacking one another. Realtime, I'm with you on that. Seems like so many people want to jump in and do some yelling and jump back out and be apathetic. rather than working on an actual solution which may mean some give and take...

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-07-10T08:16:16-06:00

ID

66639

Comment

It appears that even though Allen has just won the nomination, controversy is already brewing. Every Council President that has served in the past has been given the benefit of the doubt. Why not offer Allen the same courtesy? The past prez as well as most all of the others has not been able to keep things on point without looking like something off of a bad movie. Let's not condem the man before he has the chance to exercise his plan to bring the council to the point where it needs to be. How quickly we forget, there was enough people that supported Melton to give him an overwhelmning victory and look at how he turned out. Mayby Allen can show us that he is the one to bring back respectability to the city council.

Author

lance

Date

2006-07-11T14:06:00-06:00

ID

66640

Comment

Agreed, Lance. Everyone should give him a chance. It'll be interesting to see how things go. Mr. Allen, however, should back off on the rhetoric that his election means that the city is putting race behind us. He may not realize it, but that may insult the intelligence of people who understand that he is the compromise candidate between what the Melton contingent wanted and the Melton critics wanted. He was a compromise for both sides. Nothing wrong with that, but it does not indicate that we've made some major stride on the race front on this one. However, there is a certain interesting complexity that Mr. Melton (and Mr. Bluntson) has brought to the table with their strong allegiances with white conservatives. One of the more interesting parts is to watch Mr. Stokes and Mr. Tisdale try to dance around the fact that their choice for mayor is so allied with people they can't stand. It's good that all of this is going to shake out, but it doesn't mean that Mr. Allen was elected because all that stuff is behind us. He ought to just leave that meme on the shelf because it won't get any traction.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-11T14:13:27-06:00