Jackson Free Press

The similarities between Mayor Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. George Bush can't boast the kind of mandate Frank Melton had when he was elected. But both men were solidly backed by a largely white, largely far-to-the-right-of-ordinary conservative group of voters. Both groups are increasingly embarrassed about their vote. Both groups are pretty vocal. Both groups are being ignored by their elected officials. We've heard the "I" word regarding both men too.

I'm not a constitutional scholar, but I can read. When the Constitution talks about impeachment, it clearly applies to all civil officers of the United States." And although "high crimes and misdemeanors" sounds like a standard that's difficult to reach, I think that may be untrue. I'm sure abuse of power and misconduct in office are impeachable offenses, and you sure can do both of those without breaking any laws. So, it's easy, right?

Probably not. You'd have to get the impeachers to agree on a definition of "abuse of power" and "misconduct." At this point, we descend into partisanship. If there was ever a man who inspired strong, divisive partisanship, it is Frank Melton. Oh, and George Bush.

Also strangely similar is the reluctance of people in both men's "inner circle" to step up to the plate and hold him accountable to the law. I know who those people are in Washington, and they're pitiful. Who are they here? Are they just as pitiful? Congress' cowardice is easy to figure out—they want to stay in office. They generally only do the right thing if they think it will keep them riding around in limousines. The few exceptions to that rule don't have a lot of power.

When all is said and done in Jackson, it could be the same mind-set at work: I'm not going after the mayor because I might lose this little piece of turf I've managed to lay my hands on in Jackson city government. Resembling Congress in that regard is nothing to inspire pride.

What's different about the two situations is that there's hope here. City officials aren't sequestered behind Secret Service guards, and in offices with daunting layers of security. The Capitol Police will shoot you on sight if you take it upon yourself to knock on the door of the White House. Here there's real access. It's doable here. Yet it's not being done.

If you or I are negligent, derelict or incompetent in our jobs, we don't get away with it. There are exceptions, of course, but that's the norm. You consistently mess up at work, and you lose your job. Because of it, we are motivated to perform at a high level. Remove it, and you get sloppy work and low morale. When accountability is missing in government, you get poor leadership and ultimately, corruption. And there is broad, time-honored tolerance of it. We should do better. Maybe in Jackson, we can do better. It would be something to inspire pride.

I've heard The Clarion-Ledger criticized for being too hard on the mayor. The CL also supported him for office. Changing your mind in the face of overwhelming evidence does not require an apology, but it's a mistake to pretend you haven't shifted gears when you have. Newspapers must be careful in endorsing a candidate. They should be more than careful where backing the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are concerned—they should be fierce.

When I first began watching Melton's performance, I concluded that he must not be breaking any laws. That seemed like the best explanation for the complete absence of official disapproval from the City Council, the governor—somebody.

Now, the media question whether Melton is breaking the law, by impersonating an officer or carrying a firearm without qualifications. It's hard to get to the bottom of the issue. The Municipal Code is online, but portions of it are "reserved" and unavailable for scrutiny. But it seems clear that Melton is illegally impersonating an officer. Where are the people who are supposed to enforce the law? Should it be the district attorney? The chief of police? Both? What's the delay? Would it take so long to hold unknown, powerless people accountable?

Ordinarily in a Mayor/City Council form of municipal government, the City Council is the mayor's boss. I wrote Council President Marshand Crisler—well, I e-mailed him. I'm sure he got my letter—I got a receipt for it, but I haven't heard from him.

It frustrates me that it's easier to find out if Bush has broken laws than it is to find out if Melton has. Or hasn't. What is the procedure for sanctioning/censuring/disciplining/controlling the mayor of Jackson, short of impeachment? If he has to break laws to merit impeachment, has he? Which ones?

The people don't have any problem at all speaking up when they see wrongdoing by a public official. The only recourse the people have, however, is their vote, and that is only useful at election time. Officials the public hired as their representatives in the last election—the City Council and all other elected officials in Jackson—have a real problem speaking up. Call me cynical, but I don't think it's because they don't see anything wrong. I think it's because they're afraid of the consequences. I think they are more set on protecting themselves than on doing the important job we hired them to do.

The heck of it is that courage, and even bravado, are two things the public loves. The first public figure that steps up to this plate could hit the ball out of the park. Both George Bush and Frank Melton were elected through the illusion of courage and the voice of false bravado. The downfall of both may well come from people feeling that they've been hoodwinked.

Previous Comments

ID

72182

Comment

Bump. This is a good "Your Turn" column, all. I don't want it to get lost in the fray of everything else. Take a read.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-04T11:26:08-06:00

ID

72183

Comment

I love this article/column. Honest. Commonsense. Good writing. Clear. Unbias.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T16:26:25-06:00

ID

72184

Comment

Sometimes you read something that makes it a little easier to sift through the bull. Who'da thought Frank and George had so much in common? No question after reading this they do, and it never would have entered my mind.

Author

Trahan

Date

2006-05-14T20:04:13-06:00

ID

72185

Comment

David Hampton is falling down on the job. They ran a letter yesterday that starts: The similarities between Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. Now go read the column above from two weeks ago. All this copying is flattering -- but they could try to come up with some original thoughts, you'd think.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-15T19:38:59-06:00

ID

72186

Comment

I have a hunch the letter was sent to both papers at the same time. I think they had decided against printing it until you did, and then they just had to do it themselves -- but not without editing out the short paragraph that was critical of them. Brave souls.

Author

Prospero

Date

2006-05-16T21:25:08-06:00

ID

72187

Comment

Brave, indeed. ;-) Always following ....

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-16T21:28:29-06:00

ID

72188

Comment

You got it. Always following. . .the clear leader. If I were you I'd be very, very proud of myself. You took on the big guy and won decisively. Says a lot of real good things. You'll win that storefront/distribution fight. No question.

Author

Prospero

Date

2006-05-17T13:16:15-06:00