In an email circulated Wednesday night, the Jonathan Lee campaign accused Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. of funneling big contracts for legal representation of the city to his campaign contributors. Courtesy Flickr/Jenni from the block
Friday, May 3, 2013
In an email circulated Wednesday night, the Jonathan Lee campaign accused Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. of funneling big contracts for legal representation of the city to his campaign contributors.
The email, signed at the bottom by Lee's Deputy Campaign Manager Jared Turner, says Johnson "failed to mention he has received $13,750 in campaign contributions from a prominent law firm, and coincidentally, they were in turn awarded $170,000 worth of work as part of the $90 million Siemens water system deal with the city."
That charge can only refer to prominent southeastern firm Baker Donelson, which is based out of Huntsville, Tenn., and has 18 offices in seven states, including one in Jackson. The Jackson City Council voted 4-0 to approve the contract with Baker Donelson on Dec. 17, 2012, according to council minutes.
According to campaign-finance records, Baker Donelson did contribute $1,000 to the Johnson campaign 13 days before they were named Bond Counsel for the city and $1,000 through their Political Action Committee Baker Donelson MS PAC on May 13, 2009, for the last mayoral race. That's nowhere near the $13,750 figure Lee's campaign said the firm donated.
The second accusation the email leveled against Johnson is that a local attorney contributed $16,500 to Johnson's campaign and was subsequently awarded a $100,000 contract on the Siemens deal. Those lawyers were Sam Begley and Betty Mallett, two Jackson attorneys who underwrote the bond issuance.
In this instance, Lee's campaign is spot on.
Both lawyers have supported Johnson in the past. Records from a report filed Feb. 5, 2009 show Begley donated $16,000 to Johnson's campaign. The JFP previously reported that Begley had only given $500 in 2009. When we asked for Johnson's 2009 campaign finance reports at the City Clerk's office, this report, showing Begley's contribution, was not included.
Reached by phone on Friday afternoon, Begley said the contribution, which appeared Johnson's finance report filed Feb. 5, 2009, but has a date of Feb. 23, 2006, was payment on a loan.
In the final stretches of the 2005 mayoral race between Johnson and Frank Melton, Begley said Johnson's campaign took out a $50,000 loan. Begley, business owner Andrew Jenkins, Neel-Schaffer co-owner Gorman Schaffer, developer Socrates Garrett and David Watkins combined to guarantee the loan. When the campaign didn't repay the debt, all five of the co-guarantors were on the hook.
They paid the money back in 2006, which Johnson reported in his 2008 report.
That $100,000 Begley and Mallett received was the total fee for both lawyers, which Begley says they split evenly between them.
The Lee campaign did not provide backup documentation for its claims, and would not comment for this story.
Comments
thabian 11 years ago
This story further demonstrates the desperate attacks and lies the Lee camp is perpetuating. What's even more disturbing is that all the inference is that the Mayor is doing something illegal. I challenge the Jackson Free Press to keep up this exceptional reporting. And put to the test the legality of any claim made by Lee and his Merry Band of Liars.
Lee’s lied about being a businessman. He’s lied about lying about being a businessman. He’s lied about the Mayor’s established (and public) record.
He’s lied about growing up in Georgetown.
When is Lee going to produce contributions to the 20/20 PAC they created to launder money and skirt campaign finance laws?
donnaladd 10 years, 12 months ago
Thabian, that is the first we've heard that Lee lied about growing up in Georgetown. Didn't he live there and go to school in JPS until middle school before moving to Rankin County? If so, that can be characterized as "growing up in," right?
As for the 20/20 PAC, you are correct that we still do not have its PAC report. I'm about to blog about the saga that has been this week.
Slick 10 years, 12 months ago
Reading about the loan guarantors it explains why Harvey never said anything about David Watkins and the missing $11 million from Farish ST. and the Metro Center projects. You wash my hands and I will wash yours!!
donnaladd 10 years, 12 months ago
To be fair, Slick, more people in general approved of what David Watkins was trying to do downtown then than now. Here's what Johnson said about Farish and the developer in his JFP interview int he current issue:
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donnaladd 10 years, 12 months ago
As for supporters guaranteeing loans for candidates, we have a message in for Jonathan Lee to talk about that $140,000 check he suddenly threw into his campaign in March. Our guess is that it must be a loan, considering his company's financial difficulties and all the unpaid bills he seems on the hook for after those default judgments.
Considering that his campaign is accusing other candidates of being bought by campaign backers, we would like to assume that he will call us back and tell us if it is a loan and from who.
I'll also add that from the tone of their accusations, it seems clear that Lee is pledging not to give any contracts or other benefits to campaign donors. If he's elected, we'll be watching to see if he is consistent on this point with his campaign rhetoric. If he is, I expect, there will be some angry folks both in Jackson and out in the suburbs.
Sarahmina7294 10 years, 12 months ago
Come on people. Do you really live on another planet. Johnathan Lee isn't doing anything more than Harvey Johnson has done in the past and is doing now. They are both products of the white power structure in the city and those Blacks who have been anointed by that same power structure. It's the same old story in every major urban city where the white power structure wants control back! The city changed after integration - white flight = investment money flight = state stops supporting the city in any significant way = people remaining try to compensate for lower tax base for YEARS. Money pours into suburban growth areas while the city gets poorer . White run cities struggle JUST like Black run cities do EXCEPT white run cities retain the economic investment to address their problems. They retain state influence that funnels money and access to enable them to grow. The system is designed for Minority run cities to FAIL when we PLAY THEIR GAME. Mayor Johnson is backed by white money-look at the people who influence his decisions and those who benefit the MOST from city contracts . Johnathan Lee is no different - look at his web pages to see who dominates as his supporters & where his campaign money comes from. Johnathan Lee and Harvey Jackson are at each other's throat because they are vying for the same voter (whites and anointed Blacks). Fortunately they don't make up the majority of city voters. The working class citizens r going to elect this mayor and the ONLY candidate who is principled enough NOT to be bought and who truly Believes thatBlack people can run, live n and create a stable, progressive, thriving city with OR without whites. Whites are welcome to join in as full partners but if they DON'T, SO WHAT. WE can and will prevail with new, creative energy that can utilize ALL resources for ALL the people living and working in Jackson. JACKSONIANS, don't sell your heritage. DON'T SELL your vote to the highest buyer! DON'T Let Jackson be just another urban city turn over! Stand your ground, believe in your ability to govern yourselves with or without whites. VOTE FOR THE ONE CANDIDATE THAT BELIEVES IN YOU, CHOWKE LUMUMBA!!!!!!!!!!'
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