Jackson Free Press

Mayor Frank Melton chose Council President Ben Allen to head up the executive branch if the mayor was incapacitated by his heart surgery last month.

In a Jan. 12 e-mail to Allen (PDF, 108 KB) acquired by the Jackson Free Press, Melton asked Allen to act as mayor if anything went wrong with his surgery.

"For any reason, should things not work out and the fact that they will have to put me under for a short while--I want you to be prepared to assume my position as mayor," Melton wrote. "You will have the votes without question. Becuase (sic) of what we have going on in economic development I feel that this is in the best interest of the city. Race is no longer a big factor in Jackson it is about leadership AND YOU CAN DO IT." (Emphasis in original.)

Allen has mentioned publicly that such an e-mail existed, most recently on WJNT on March 1, but he has previously refused to disclose its contents or release a copy to the press. Today, Allen agreed to release the e-mail after reviewing a letter from the Jackson Free Press (PDF, 204 KB) insisting that the e-mail was a public record that had to be released upon request. Allen consulted with an attorney who advised him that a judge would very likely order the release of the e-mail.

At a press conference this afternoon, Allen said that he was not willing to serve as interim mayor should Melton be incapacitated. He also said that the e-mail--the contents of which he did not disclose during the press conference--concerned mayoral succession. Allen said that the e-mail did not follow proper due process. Instead of an e-mail sent to him, the mayor should have signed an executive order and sent it to the city attorney's office for review, Allen said.

Previous Comments

ID

91429

Comment

:-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-02T18:19:32-06:00

ID

91430

Comment

My question is this, who else would Frank select as interim Maya?

Author

Fitz

Date

2007-03-02T18:24:32-06:00

ID

91431

Comment

Thanks, JFP, for reminding the government that the rule of law determines what is and isn't a public document. And kudos to Ben Allen for doing the right thing after reading the JFP's letter.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-03-02T18:24:43-06:00

ID

91432

Comment

Praise Jesus.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-02T18:37:52-06:00

ID

91433

Comment

WAPT Poll: http://www.wapt.com/index.html Do you think Mayor Frank Melton should be put in jail? Yes. No.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-03-02T19:10:32-06:00

ID

91434

Comment

An alternative to that question: Do you think Mayor Frank Melton should be allowed to violate the law anytime he wants to? Yes. No.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T19:21:09-06:00

ID

91435

Comment

Just had an idea. All of you should suggest online "poll" questions about the mayor that we can run in the paper. Here's another: Do you think Frank Melton is above the law? Yes. No.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T19:22:15-06:00

ID

91436

Comment

Do you think it is OK to commit crimes if you "mean well"? Yes. No.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T19:23:20-06:00

ID

91437

Comment

One does wonder what Melton's supporters at the Jackson Advocate think of his choice of successor? Tonight is Tisdale's show, right? What time? I haven't tuned in in a while.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T19:24:35-06:00

ID

91438

Comment

The sad thing is, 66% right now are saying he should NOT be put in jail.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-02T19:34:59-06:00

ID

91439

Comment

views from the blackside 8:00pm.

Author

jada

Date

2007-03-02T19:40:19-06:00

ID

91440

Comment

Bad leaders are often popular because they tell people what they want to hear. But the law isn't about popularity contests. Can't be. That's why "poll" questions like this are so silly. It doesn't matter what they answer is. You can't vote someone innocent, although Bob Hickingbottom might not have gotten that legal memo.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T19:47:51-06:00

ID

91441

Comment

I am confused even more. Why would Melton ask Allen to replace him and Allen has opposed him? Or any I getting confused? I thought Stokes and two other council members were the ones in his corner.

Author

Goldenae

Date

2007-03-02T22:18:30-06:00

ID

91442

Comment

Anyone listening to "blackside?" I can't get it to stream.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-02T22:19:55-06:00

ID

91443

Comment

Tisdale is ill and no one is doing his show.

Author

jada

Date

2007-03-02T22:32:36-06:00

ID

91444

Comment

Oh, I'm sorry he's ill. Goldenae, Allen has gone back and forth with Mr. Melton—sometimes providing the vote he needs to stay out of trouble, basically, and sometimes voting with the Melton critics. Melton lost him when he booted Ramie Ford to put Charles Melvin over Parks—which was sheer absurdity by any standard. I don't think Melton is going to swing him back this time, but I've thought that in the past. We'll see.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T00:09:30-06:00

ID

91445

Comment

I was wondering what happened to Tisdale's show. I've tuned in the last few Friday nights and the show wasn't on. I had wondered if it were still on or had moved to another night.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-03-03T00:26:38-06:00

ID

91446

Comment

Frank Melton was captured in 1997 and replaced with an andriod carrying a time capsule in his chest cavity due to be opened in January of 2007. Yea Nay

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-03T13:39:32-06:00

ID

91447

Comment

weak. very weak.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T19:20:47-06:00

ID

91448

Comment

Donna and Todd, I am having trouble viewing the documents posted on the site. I want to see the emails and letters! And I thought moving to New Orleans would allow for me to witness a mayor and his crazy antics. And to think! For over a year I get to see the buildup for this " sideshow" and then I move and it all hits the fan! Great job covering this issue. Me and Jessica Richardson were just talking about you guys last night and we both miss the JFP!

Author

Jes

Date

2007-03-05T10:39:47-06:00

ID

91449

Comment

Hang on, Jes. It's probably due to the server move this weekend. I've alerted the iTodd. All, keep us posted of any other glitches you experience.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T10:54:53-06:00