Jackson Free Press

One might expect Willie Earl Robinson to be riding high and ready to shout from the rooftops after landing several big endorsements in the Hinds County Democratic primary for District 2.

Thursday, local officials expressed their full-throated supported for Robinson, a Bolton resident and director of the county's central-repair division. He meets fellow county department director Darrel McQuirter of Clinton in the Democratic runoff Oct. 8.

About 650 votes separated Robinson and McQuirter, the top vote recipients in the Sept. 24 Democratic primary that featured a total of nine candidates. Asked whether he believed the endorsements would carry him to victory, Robinson told the Jackson Free Press Thursday morning:

"I hope they will, and I hope that the residents of Hinds County, as well, support me also. I don't want to be dependent on one entity. I want to be a supervisor for all of Hinds County."

Yet, Robinson has been quiet about his plans for the county. Robinson did not respond to multiple attempts to schedule an interview with the Jackson Free Press prior to the primary, and he was a no-show at a Democratic runoff candidate's forum held Thursday night.

Robinson's attendance at the forum, which the local Democratic Party sponsored, would have been interesting in light of recent attempts his backers have made to cast McQuirter as an agent of local Republicans. The tactic stems from the fact that former District 4 Supervisor and now-Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher, a republican, endorsed McQuirter.

Earlier this year, Fisher, along with Democratic District 3 Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun, attempted to nominate McQuirter to fill the vacancy that opened due to longtime Supervisor Doug Anderson's death. The nomination stalled for lack of a majority vote. After Fisher left the board, board President Robert Graham and Vice President Kenneth Stokes filled the District 2 and District 4 seats without Calhoun's input.

Hind's District 2 includes parts of the city of Jackson, including the Fondren neighborhood. On Thursday, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said he tosses his "total support" behind Robinson, whom Lumumba called "the people's candidate."

"He's the true Democrat. He's supported by Democrats. I want to point out that the other candidate is supported by the last two mayors of Clinton, and they are both Republicans. By all indications, this is the candidate we should all be supporting," Lumumba said at a press conference at Jackson City Hall.

This past weekend, McQuirter appeared on The Othor Cain Show on BDAY 99.1 FM, where he addressed his ties to Fisher and former Clinton Mayor Rosemary Aultman by pointing out that he resides in Clinton. McQuirter was a city employee during Aultman's administration and during Fisher's tenure on the Clinton City Council. McQuirter quipped that if Fisher and the Republicans are so in favor of his candidacy, he's still waiting on their check.

A review of campaign finance reports show that McQuirter raised $29,160 through Sept. 17 compared to Robinson's roughly $24,200 through Oct. 1. Both men have contributed to their own campaigns. Candidate Alphonso Hunter, who is not in the Democratic runoff but will compete as an Independent in November, reported having neither raised nor spent any funds despite the fact that his campaign signs recently started popping up along key thoroughfares. Hunter previously vowed not to seek the seat.

The strategy to raise questions about McQuirter's allegiance to the Democratic Party is one that Lumumba deployed successfully in his mayoral bid against Jonathan Lee earlier this year. In that race, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who lives in Bolton, unleashed a torrent of hard-hitting radio ads tying Lee to supporters of Republican Mitt Romney.

Robinson also lives in Bolton and has support from Thompson (who once held the District 2 supervisor's seat) as well current Bolton Mayor Lawrence Butler.

"Mr. Robinson has worked for Hinds County, and he's worked for and knows Hinds County. We need somebody who is concerned about us, and (will) help us meet our needs. We need somebody who will speak up for us. At the present time, we don't have that, and I know he will be that person," Butler said this morning.

Ward 2 Jackson Councilman Melvin Priester Jr. also expressed his support for Robinson at the Thursday press conference.