Jackson Free Press

The Jackson City Council voted down this morning an order authorizing payment of Mayor Frank Melton's attorney fees incurred in his recent defense of federal charges stemming from the 2006 Ridgeway Street demolition. In a 3-3 vote, council members Charles Tillman, Frank Bluntson and Kenneth Stokes voted in favor of the order, while council members Marshand Crisler, Jeff Weill and Council President Leslie McLemore opposed. Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon was absent.

"We'll be going across the street now, and it won't be pretty," Melton said after the vote, suggesting he'd take the issue to court. "You've done this for officers who have been vindicated. This is a personality issue."

Previous Comments

ID

138702

Comment

What does he mean that "it won't be pretty"? Sounds like something out of The Sopranos. :P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-10-07T11:03:23-06:00

ID

138704

Comment

Why in the world should taxpayers pay for this? Remarkable that he'd ask us to.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-10-07T11:14:02-06:00

ID

138709

Comment

You are right, What in the Sam Hill is he talking about.... It's not a personality issue, it's a fiscal responsiblity issue.

Author

lanier77

Date

2008-10-07T12:08:29-06:00

ID

138872

Comment

What the heck? The man sells his television station at a loss so as to run for mayor and help Jackson stop crime and be all it can be. He would have succeeded in his fight to totally stop crime if the people hadn't turned on him. Then the Council which enabled, sanctioned and permitted him to fight crime Frank-style turns around and won't pay his legal bill. I know why Kenneth, Bluntson and Tillman are mad. They held their end of the bargain. Crisler, Weil and McLemore ought to be ashamed of themselves for reneging. They're jealous of Frank and want his position and standing in the community.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-09T15:46:24-06:00

ID

138964

Comment

The man sells his television station at a loss so as to run for mayor and help Jackson stop crime and be all it can be. -Walt Melton initially bragged about "his" 206 million windfall when he sold TV-3. He has also bragged about owning his own plane (even though he has been seen flying coach). During his campaign, he tried to embarass a woman who questioned his tax paying record by telling her that he pays more money in taxes than she makes in an entire year. IMO the council acted properly by not blowing money that city does not have.............thanks to Melton and his failed administrative practices. Let him use his own money, if he has any, to pay his legal bills.

Author

lance

Date

2008-10-11T13:51:19-06:00

ID

139031

Comment

In my opinion the council did exactly what it should have - protect the interests of the honest, hard-working, tax-paying citizens of Jackson. The actions of FM were so egregious that a person of less than average intelligence can see that he was coloring way outside the lines once he started his crime (fighting) campaign in Jackson. FM had no business trying to be a police officer, the chief of police, sheriff, dog catcher, or what ever he thought he was, and going around depriving citizens of their rights while "acting under color of law." If FM had just hired a strong, confident police chief, who shared his views on fighting crime and then supported the new chief 100%, then it would probably be a much different story and a successful one I would imagine. But no, FM was a wanna' be cop and instead he brought his lackey Pseudo-Chief, Shirlene Anderson allowed FM to run the police department and use and abuse the resources there of. FM has brought nothing but ridicule, contempt, unnecessary expense and a bad reputation to our beloved capitol city. No one made FM pin on a bogus badge, strap on a gun (illegally) and run rampant around Jackson, while under the influence of Wild Bird; destroying private property and terrorizing old ladies, among other things. No one is to blame here, but the man he sees in the mirror - an insecure, little man who was granted the power to rule, but lacked the strength of character to do so. If anyone has to pay these bills, it ought to be Frank Melton. Let's see if he can "man up," for just once, and do the right thing before he's (figuratively speaking) "run out of town on a rail."

Author

Jerimiah

Date

2008-10-14T08:24:13-06:00

ID

139032

Comment

Come on now, Jerimiah. Frank is good people and he put us on the national map, something no other mayor did since the 60s. I'm asked about him everywhere I go across the country. Unfortunately, they're usually grinning as they ask questions. What's up with that grin that precedes or comes along with the questions or comments about the mayor.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-14T09:08:38-06:00

ID

139048

Comment

Stokes and Bluntson should organize a fundraiser to help pay their buddy Frank's legal bills.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-10-14T11:12:47-06:00

ID

139050

Comment

I'll give to that.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-14T11:20:18-06:00

ID

139058

Comment

Whaddya gonna give 'em, Walt? Monopoly money? LOL

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-10-14T12:28:24-06:00

ID

139061

Comment

Real money, LW. Frank deserves the best defense money can buy. The lawyers "be" charging him too much! Until we castigate other Mississippi embaraasments holding office just like we have Frank, I'm supporting Frank. Sure he promised the world and delivered hell instead, but what the hell, people were stupid for beliving a trash talker could deliver anything other than trash. You spose to be sending or emailing me an address so I can send a donation to the group you're raising money for. I don't send money over the internet. People are just waiting to rob and send me back to the poor house. I just got out and don't plan to return.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-14T12:39:21-06:00

ID

139063

Comment

Whaddya gonna give 'em, Walt? Monopoly money? LOL-L.W. Lehman Bros stock?

Author

HardTravelin

Date

2008-10-14T12:43:05-06:00

ID

139065

Comment

The Monopoly money is worth more.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-10-14T12:51:32-06:00

ID

139066

Comment

With the way the council has treated Frank everyone is going to be scared to run but Frank. Meaning we got four more hilarious years of Frank!

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-14T12:53:07-06:00

ID

139067

Comment

Lehman Brothers stock. Good one, Hard Travelin. :) Walt, i don't have you email address any more, so here's the address where you can mail a check: NAMI Mississippi 411 Briarwood Dr, Ste 401 Jackson, MS 39206 Make the check payable to NAMI Mississippi. Include a note saying that the donation goes to The Church Triumphant team so I can get credit for it. Thanks! Better do a blog entry on this, too.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-10-14T13:00:09-06:00

ID

139068

Comment

Alright, LW. All this junk about Frank acting outside his duties is mumbo jumbo. Frank was the mayor, high sheriff and exalted ruler, at that time, just as we hired him to be. You can't take away bat man's mask or Superman's cape and expect them to beat the criminals down as usual. It sacandulous how the big a__ federal government has scared Wright and Recio unto running like little girls for cover while Frank is being hung out to dry. Of Course, I urge Frank to keep pimping and don't let the haters get him down.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-14T13:06:59-06:00

ID

139263

Comment

The actions of certain City Council members is a joke. They should pay their own attorney fees! Recio and Wright worked for Big Money Melton then why hasn't he paid their legal bills he was the one that order them to break the law!!!. People fought and die for their Civil Rights and Frank Melton put himself above the rights of the citizens of this country. We have convict others who are in prison right to this day for violating the Civil Rights of our citizens. What make Frank Melton thinks he's above the law. I remember Melton stating that he was not going to accept a salary for serving as Mayor of the City of Jackson, I bet if you asked him to show that he has not received in salary during his tenure as Mayor he would lie and say he never said that! Use your salarly to pay all the legal bills for Recio and Wright and while you at it make sure you pay for their lost of income, the embrassment to their families. Melton created the problem and as always used his friends to take the fall for him. Melton, is a gutless liar and we all know it.

Author

Hot Sauce

Date

2008-10-16T15:10:55-06:00