Ellington

The Ledger reports:

Jackson Police Chief Robert Moore and Chief Administrative Officer Otha Burton are out. City Attorney Terry Wallace might be leaving as well.

A change in leadership at the top has put on hold the careers of some City Hall department heads. And most have been tight-lipped about their plans as they prepare for the transition from Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. to Rick Whitlow or Frank Melton.

While city residents may not know many department heads, decisions made by the directors impact the daily lives of Jacksonians.

The winner of the June 7 general election between Whitlow, a Republican, and Melton, a Democrat, will decide whether to retain or let go eight of the nine department heads who are appointed by the mayor and serve at his will and pleasure.

Melton and Whitlow said they would give the directors a chance to keep their jobs. But aside from Moore, Melton also has made it public he would fire Wallace.

When asked about Melton's plans, Wallace feigned surprise last week. "I hadn't heard that. Frank loves me," he said last week, laughing and asking other city workers if they had heard the same.

City Council members openly have questioned Wallace's leadership in the past. Asked why those questions had surfaced, Wallace blamed the media.

"The reason why the public has a poor perception of the legal department is because of The Clarion-Ledger," he said.

Some other directors might be in better standing. Fire Department Chief Raymond McNulty plans to stay unless told otherwise.

Full article here.