Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is required by law to replace Ward 7's outgoing Jackson Public Schools Board member George Schimmel by the end of the month, that much is certain. Whether or not that will happen is a different matter.

At Monday's special meeting of the Jackson City Council, Johnson raised concerns that a vote for confirmation of his appointment of J. Patrick Harkins to the school board was not on the council's agenda. He said it was supposed to be, and that he would bring the issue before the council at the next meeting, scheduled for June 25.

That set off a debate over the last-minute attempt to appoint Harkins, a local businessman, by a mayor who has less than two weeks left in office. Johnson's successor, Mayor-elect Chokwe Lumumba, sits on the city council, representing Ward 2, until July 1.

Deputy City Attorney James Anderson explained that the Mississippi Code states clearly that a new appointee must be named by end of his predecessor's term, but could not say whether that appointee had to be confirmed by that time or if there were any penalties against a municipality that did not get the appointment through.

"My concern is a practical one," Lumumba said. "We are about to have a change in administrations, and it doesn't seem to make any sense that the outgoing administration would appoint someone who will serve five years, but won't take office until two weeks after the old administration is out of office."

Johnson contends that it is his job to appoint a board member by the end of the month, and whether that appointment needed to be confirmed by the city council before then was not of concern.

"These 11th-hour appointments are always tricky," Johnson said. "But the code says what it says, and once I discovered that, I put his name forward. We probably should have done this earlier than now, but we weren't aware that it had to be done by this time. He's a good guy and hopefully (his nomination) will survive the process."

Harkins, 31, is a 2001 graduate of St. Joseph's Catholic School and owner of Fondren Guitars.

If approved, he will replace Schimmel, whose term is set to end June 30. Reached by phone Tuesday morning, Schimmel said he is not familiar with Harkins. He added that he had enjoyed serving on the board.

"I've got mixed feelings on leaving office," Schimmel said. "It's very rewarding work, but it certainly takes up time."

The school board is made up of seven members, one from each of Jackson's seven wards. Appointed members serve five-year terms.