Jackson Free Press

Ooo, look at this. The Madison County Journal has a rather glowing profile of Melton this week. Some money quotes:

"My father was very strong. I lived my whole life being very afraid of my father," says Melton, a Houston, Texas native who lived with his parents until he was 43. "I was scared to death of my dad, because my father didn't take any prisoners." [...]

Regarding his bold and aggressive tactics with crime fighting, Melton says that the average person on the street agrees with his methods, despite complaints lodged by the NAACP and the ACLU.

"Isn't it interesting that you've not gotten one complaint from a citizen?" he says. "The criticisms have come from the system."

When asked if he thinks that no criticism from individuals comes because people are afraid to speak out against him, he denies that he would be capable of retaliating in such a fashion. [...]

His highly publicized feud with Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson over the number of successful criminal prosecutions illustrates one of the primary problems Melton sees in the black community: the failure to deal with each issue individually, and carrying grudges for long periods of time.

"Faye and I may disagree on Issue A, but when it's time to deal with Issue B, we hold our heads up and move on," says Melton. "One of the horrible things in the African-American culture, in my culture, is that we will get mad with each other and we will not speak for 15 years." [...]

He dismisses the idea of the outlying areas being nervous reactionary bedroom communities, where the phrase "white flight" is often heard.

"I am a supporter of the tri-county area. The one dispute you will never hear from me is concerning Madison County, Rankin County, and Hinds County," says Melton. "We're all in this together. You have some tremendous mayors that I've learned a lot from. I'm brand new at this, and I'm learning." [...]

Melton cites Highland Colony Parkway in Madison County as an excellent example of how development is done right. [...]

In Jackson, on the other hand, there is the Jackson State Parkway and the King Edward Hotel, an infrastructural as well as an economic problem that Melton says he "could solve with a hand grenade" even as he considers private investment to help renovate "that piece of trash." [...]

Still, while he envies the success of the suburbs, and quips that he wishes he could chase some of Jackson's criminals into Madison and Rankin counties (which sparks a quick reaction from Dale Danks: "Frank, don't say that…"), he does not view the wealthier counties as antagonists. [...]

But Melton does claim that those answers he is trying to provide have been obscured in a personal feud that has developed between him and certain outlets in the local media.

He is quick to admit that half the problem has grown out of his propensity to "run his mouth" when talking with reporters.

But even this problem he ultimately blames on the media's inability to deal with raw truth, and their departure from his understanding of how the media is supposed to operate.

"After having spent 25 years in the media, I became complacent with it," he says. "I have a different set of standards than what we have today, when you talk about the media."

He recalls a time when he says that a reporter's handshake was his bond. The spirit and trust of that era, he says, is gone, even though he doesn't feel like he's moved from being on one side of the reporter's notepad to the other as a politician.

Melton has expected respect and discretion from the media and has gotten neither, he says, and the battle has become personal to the point where he claims he doesn't read The Clarion-Ledger.

"The media is throwing me into a tailspin right now because they can't keep up with me, that's number one," says Melton, who claims that since the media didn't elect him, he is indifferent to their portrayal of his efforts.

"Number two, they can't handle the truth."

Previous Comments

ID

122536

Comment

This may be my favorite, but there is a lot to choose from: But even this problem he ultimately blames on the media’s inability to deal with raw truth, and their departure from his understanding of how the media is supposed to operate. And, yes, media did elect him. Or enable him to be elected. Everyone knows this at this point.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-28T17:35:00-06:00

ID

122537

Comment

The liar has done it again. Is this not the same person that was interviewed by Donna Ladd several weeks ago and told her that he came to Jackson around twenty five years ago broke, married and with a small child? Now he says that he lived at home until he was forty three? He just turned fifty seven back in March. He says that he has been in Jackson for about 25 years. Now by my math forty three and twenty five equals sisty eight. I rest my case.

Author

lance

Date

2006-06-28T18:43:05-06:00

ID

122538

Comment

Lance - I have the only option of assuming that in Houston their structure system for mathmatic's is different from us dumb 'hillbillies' here in Mississippi! :o) I hope that since Madison County Journal did the interview, which apparently they 'highlighted' him in a positive manner - that they are all prepared for their next mayoral election. Have they learned nothing from us?...............if you make this man feel important, he will want to come and 'fix your city too!' Oh how I hope that is where he wants to go next - ANYTHING to have him leave us alone so we can RE-fix what he has already done!

Author

Katie D

Date

2006-06-28T18:50:50-06:00

ID

122539

Comment

Interesting that they did it in Dale Danks' office—apparently with him present. I'm always amazed at how reporters agree to do interviews. Of course, that's better than in e-mail, which seems to be a nasty habit in these parts.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-28T19:06:08-06:00

ID

122540

Comment

This seems like a PR piece meant to sooth the chatter of the folks he really cares about - the people of Madison and Rankin! Who fact checks this crap!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-06-28T19:12:14-06:00

ID

122541

Comment

It's definitely a puff piece. Looks a lot like The Clarion-Ledger's pre-election coverage. Actually, it's more in-depth -- but the bar is low. Looks like they talked to him in Danks' office and did the write-up without consulting another source. And where are the other voices? If they're only going to have his voice, they should have done a Q&A. I love the part about how the media can't keep up with him. Say that to my face, Mr. Melton. We've done a fine job of keeping up—even when you didn't want us to. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-28T19:15:55-06:00

ID

122542

Comment

“Number two, they can’t handle the truth.” lol! This may be the most ironic part of the entire interview.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-06-28T19:18:00-06:00

ID

122543

Comment

Yes, millhouse, it goes with the theme of our new issue rather nicely, no? BTW, is this Madison paper the one owned by the Ledge or the other one? I get them mixed up. I'm assuming the other one, being that the Ledge is embroiled in their lover's spat with Melton these days.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-28T19:20:12-06:00

ID

122544

Comment

Well, he did make one point that I certainly agree with: “I am a supporter of the tri-county area. The one dispute you will never hear from me is concerning Madison County, Rankin County, and Hinds County,” says Melton. “We’re all in this together. ” Couldn't agree more... I do wish that he would take the time to see what is going on in downtown Vicksburg. There were actually people walking up and down the street shopping, eating, and spending money. As I sat outside a shop, one of Vicksburg's brand new buses rolled by- the person I was chatting with said today was the first day of bus service. She said "more and more people were moving downtown, and they saw that there was a need for public transportation". Beautiful lofts in old buildings (cheap), river views, nightlife within walking distance, music playing as you stroll down the sidewalk, free wireless internet- I'm really starting to consider moving there...

Author

Rico

Date

2006-06-28T19:21:45-06:00

ID

122545

Comment

In Atlanta, Vicksburg would be like living in Woodstock up I-575! LOL! The other paper is the Herald. It is pretty weak.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-06-28T19:24:18-06:00

ID

122546

Comment

Vicksburg is a nice place to live. If it were 20 minutes closer to Jackson it would be a no brainer for me to move there. Of course, since I'm from there I am a little bit biased! Mayor Leyens has worked hard to methodically transform it from a sleepy little tourist town into a safe, progressive city. And while he is not universally liked, he does enjoy significant support from both the black and white community. Quite an accomplishment for a white mayor in a majority black city. He's a former businessman, like Melton, who entered into politics on a platform of shaking things up. And while he had a little trouble making the adjustment to government bureaucracy during his first term, his learning curve wasn't nearly as steep as Melton's. Maybe because he actually is smart enough to learn from his mistakes.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-28T20:28:38-06:00

ID

122547

Comment

Leyens also is focused on being the MAYOR, not trying to be the defacto Police Chief. In fact, he found and hired a strong manager as his Chief, and he lets him run the department as he sees fit without interfering or undermining his authority.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-28T20:32:45-06:00

ID

122548

Comment

Lance, I thought Melton grew up as the son of sharecroppers in hte delta and lived in a shack with no running water and electricity as a kid and had to get out on the farm and work with them til his hands bled.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-06-29T08:22:29-06:00

ID

122549

Comment

So he has done it again! How could Melton live with his parents until he was 43? This is in serious conflict with his current age and his report of his life in Texas and also, what we know to be at least 25 years living here in Jackson. It is so interesting that Melton talks about his relationship with his father but, does not mention his relationship with his mother. I saw him at a forum on the Coast and he said that he and GW (Bush) were "good friends" and that they played in and out of each other's home because his father was "A Secret Service Agent for Gw's father during his presidency." I continue to recommend a background ckeck on this stranger among us!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-06-29T11:38:37-06:00

ID

122550

Comment

I wondered just that, justjess. I knew one of y'all would bring that up. Yeah, he's told me his father was secret service, too. Don't k now if it's true.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-29T12:32:34-06:00

ID

122551

Comment

Doing the map, that would mean that Melton lived with his mama and daddy until 1992, eight years after he moved to Jackson. Either Melton lied, or the Madison County Journal didn't exactly factcheck.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-29T12:48:49-06:00

ID

122552

Comment

So he has done it again! How could Melton live with his parents until he was 43? This is in serious conflict with his current age and his report of his life in Texas and also, what we know to be at least 25 years living here in Jackson. Maybe he went to the George W. Bush School of Fuzzy Math, given that W and Frank are "childhood friends" (if that's even true).

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2006-06-29T12:54:02-06:00

ID

122553

Comment

Doing the map I think you mean math. I also came to the conclusion of him either lying or the Madison County Journal made a faux pas. Also, for clarification, the MCJ is not the Ledge's paper. I think Jim Prince is the publisher of the Journal. Queen Mary hates that paper because they don't get on their knees and kiss her ass.

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2006-06-29T12:59:06-06:00

ID

122554

Comment

. . . he said that he and GW (Bush) were "good friends" and that they played in and out of each other's home because his father was "A Secret Service Agent for Gw's father during his presidency." Continuing to do the math -- even if he meant the Secret Service during the *vice* presidency, that would put FM "play[ing] in and out of each other's home" at most 26 years ago -- when FM was 31.

Author

Newt

Date

2006-06-29T14:10:47-06:00

ID

122555

Comment

Right. Math. ;-) Although there is a map of sorts that emerges. I respect Jim Prince; he's an independent publisher from my neck of the woods. Don't agree with him on everything, but respect him. This story, though, was damn slight. No slighter than the profile the Ledge did of Melton right before the primary last year, but slight nevertheless. And good one, Newt. Where does he get this stuff?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-29T15:19:04-06:00