Ellington

Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill, who turns 53 tomorrow, is announcing this morning that he will run for the seat of Hinds County Circuit Judge Swan Yerger this year. Yerger, 75, announced his retirement last year, and Weill said he believes his 28 years of legal experience has him ready for the job. "I've been an assistant DA, an investigator for the DA's office, I've handled public safety issues on the city council, and I'm a mediator," said Weill, who has served on the city council since winning a special election in 2007 after Ben Allen stepped down suddenly, citing health reasons.

"I like criminal-justice cases, but the civil realm is an important feature of a functioning society. I've mediated more than 300 cases, most in the civil realm. I believe I can take that to the bench to get them resolved and make room for the criminal cases."

Weill, who represents Northeast Jackson, is the sole Republican serving on the Jackson City Council and often criticizes Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., a Democrat. The councilman makes a habit of questioning budget decisions, and accuses the administration of not doing more to prevent wasteful spending.

The mayor and Weill have butted heads on freedom of information issues, particularly regarding details on city employees. He remains one of the council's loudest critics of the city's employee fuel accounts. In 2008--one of the most expensive years on record in terms of gasoline prices--city employees made a record number of unapproved fuel purchases through the city's Fuel Man account, raising the possibility of widespread fuel theft that year.

The council will have 35 days to hold a special election after Weill's departure, should Weill win the Circuit court seat, giving the city at least eight more months with Weill in his current seat.

Weill graduated from Michigan State University, then got his law degree from Ole Miss. He has been married to his wife, Tracy, for 22 years and has three sons: Alan, Joshua and Elliot. For more information in his own words, see his Jackpedia page.