Jackson Free Press

Physician Jonathan S. Jones announced today that he is withdrawing his candidacy for the Ward 1 City Council seat currently held by Jeff Weill. In a statement, Jones, who was running as a Republican, said that he is dropping out because of the "difficult constraints placed on municipal primary elections."

"By removing my name from the Republican City Council race, now all residents of Ward 1 will be able to vote in the Democratic Primary election for mayor if they so choose," Jones said.

Mississippi election law bars voting in both Democratic and Republican primaries. In his April 23 endorsement of Marshand Crisler for mayor, Northside Sun editor Wyatt Emmerich bemoaned the fact that a contested city council race would draw away Republican votes for Crisler.

"Jeff (Weill) suggested that families split their vote, having the husband vote in the Republican primary and the wife in the Democratic. Not a bad idea," Emmerich wrote. "Would half a Northside vote…be enough to get Crisler into the runoff? Doubtful. Could Jeff Weill win with a small Republican turnout? I have no idea."

Claude McInnis, president of the Jackson Democratic Municipal Executive Committee, refrained from speculating as to which mayoral candidates would benefit from Jones' dropping out and an accompanying influx of Republican voters. He did suggest, though, that Mayor Frank Melton would probably not benefit from high turnout in Ward 1, as he did in 2005.

"In that ward, in that area, it really did give the incumbent a leg up," McInnis said. "It really pushed that race to what looked like a landslide. The rest of Jackson was very competitive. I don't know if the incumbent has the same support out there that he had."

Previous Comments

ID

146389

Comment

Ironically, this does sound like very bad news for Melton.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-04-28T10:07:48-06:00

ID

146392

Comment

Donna- I agree Which candidates will find this news good? Crisler and Horhn? Or just Crisler?

Author

News Junkie

Date

2009-04-28T10:56:46-06:00

ID

146407

Comment

Politricks as usual.

Author

BuyJxn

Date

2009-04-28T13:16:57-06:00

ID

146408

Comment

Robert Johnson says Jones' withdrawal helps him. Just in: NEWS RELEASE Ward 1 Friends Say Jones Withdrawal Helps Robert Johnson Campaign Tremendously (Jackson, Miss.) – April 28, 2009 – Jackson Mayoral Candidate Robert L. Johnson issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement that Dr. Jonathan S. Jones has withdrawn his candidacy for Ward 1 City Council seat. “Our friends in Ward 1 tell us this will help our campaign tremendously as it will afford them an opportunity to vote in the Mayoral primary. We have talked with a number of Ward 1 residents who have expressed their desire to support our campaign and the leadership I will bring and have always brought to every position I have held.” Johnson, former Jackson Police Chief and Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner, who is currently the owner of two businesses has stated that his first priority as Mayor will be to appoint a Blue Ribbon Panel of financial experts to review every city budget. Johnson believes Jackson is a World-Class city with all of the talent, resources and ability in the world. “The only thing lacking is good leadership. I am that leadership.”

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-04-28T13:26:58-06:00

ID

146410

Comment

This undoubetedly helps Crisler and it is designed to help Crisler.

Author

Powerman

Date

2009-04-28T13:39:31-06:00

ID

146420

Comment

WE will see powerman

Author

NewJackson

Date

2009-04-28T14:13:38-06:00

ID

146426

Comment

WAPT is reporting that Weill, now running unopposed, has endorsed Crisler. "He's a solid, dynamic young man, and he can take the city in the direction that Jackson needs to go," Weill said of Crisler. Weill referred to Crisler as his good friend, saying he feels Crisler can take the city in the right direction. The councilman called on all his supporters to also support Crisler.

Author

Ronni_Mott

Date

2009-04-28T17:16:41-06:00

ID

146430

Comment

All candidates drop out and endorse HJ. Thats just my wish but crisler got his.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2009-04-28T18:19:33-06:00