Ellington

The Ledge writes:

Jackson mayoral candidate and Democrat Frank Melton has raised $600,268 more than Republican opponent Rick Whitlow heading into Tuesday's general election.

Campaign finance reports filed Tuesday show Melton has raised $617,000 this year and Whitlow $16,732.

"The message that I'm getting is that people want good government," Melton said.

Melton, 54, a former television executive and director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, beat Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. in the May 3 primary to become the Democratic Party's nominee.

More than $1 million total has been raised by four candidates running for the four-year position, which pays $120,000 annually. The winner will take office July 4.

Johnson raised $444,559 before the primary. At that point, Melton was $10,200 ahead of him. Johnson, too, was supposed to have filed a report but hadn't by the 5 p.m. close of City Hall on Tuesday.

Whitlow, 51, recently told The Clarion-Ledger he was disappointed by the low donations but not discouraged.

"One thing that doesn't cost me anything is hitting the streets," he said. "I'm not going to outspend this guy, but I can work sunup to sunset."

Full article here.