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[Fraiser] What's a Northsider to Do?

Recently, instead of hearing, "I really do hate/love your columns in the Northside Sun," I've been hearing, "What's your take on the Jackson mayoral election?" That's apparently on everyone's minds, nowadays, but readers have taken some devilish delight in asking my opinion because of my past articles in support of Harvey Johnson's police chief, Robert Moore, and my myriad of columns praising Frank Melton's "Bottom Line" commentaries over the years. Well, dear reader, you asked for it, so here it is:

C-L: Mayoral debate at JSU canceled

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

[Update] Millsaps Young Dems Endorse Harvey Johnson

Barbour Signs Ten Commandments Bill

[verbatim statement] April 21, 2005—Governor Haley Barbour yesterday signed Senate Bill 2486, that authorizes the display of "In God We Trust," the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes at public buildings and property in Mississippi. "When I went to Yazoo High, we started each day with prayer and a Ten Commandments monument stood right outside the front door, on the grounds of our school," said Governor Barbour. "Those were good things back then, and they would be good things today."

[Barbour] Education Funding Going Up, Not Down

April 12, 2005 You may not know it, but some people say that if you favor giving our public schools a 4% increase in funding to serve the same number of students as last year, you are against public education. If this sounds a little confusing - join the club. According to some editorial writers, Mississippi schools are on the verge of total collapse because of education funding "cuts." Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

Planet Weekly: Blogging the Mayor

Alan Lange's mayoral Web site is written up in the Planet Weekly this week. It's interesting that quite a bit of time is spent trying to show that Lange is not part of anyone's campaign staff:

Unions vs. Harvey Johnson

April 20, 2005 Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. gave a smile when International Association of Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger signed a proposed labor agreement April 11 in City Hall. With the chambers filled with about 100 local and national firefighters, both Johnson and City Council lavished praise upon the agreement.

Mayoral Forum: ‘Acting Like Teenagers'

April 20, 2005 An April 14 candidate forum hosted by the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods was bereft of Democratic mayoral candidate Frank Melton. Melton was to have joined incumbent Harvey Johnson Jr., and challenger Annell Smith at the forum in the Jackson Medical Mall's commnity room, but Johnson had arranged for business owner and friend James Covington to stand in from 6:30 p.m. until Johnson could arrive at 7 p.m. Melton walked out minutes after his own arrival at about 6:40 p.m., however, saying he did not want to be near Johnson's temporary stand-in.

Ward 5: Business And Flood Control, Please

April 20, 2005 The sound system may not have been spiffy, but Ward 5 Democratic candidates for City Council didn't have a hard time conveying their messages at an April 11 forum at Provine High School. Hosted by the League of Women Voters, candidates had barely an hour to sort out the issues driving them to seek the council seat. Lanier High School teacher Bettye K. Dagner Cook faces former state worker Chris Gray, retired school Principal Charles Tillman, 72, substitute teacher Charles Alexander, self-employed Carl "Moses" Rankin, 47, and business owner, Kesha Evans, 30. Evans ran for a Jackson City council seat in 2001.

Dolphus Weary

Dr. Dolphus Weary, 58, has devoted his life to "Christian community development" in Mississippi. He began serving as the executive director of Mission Mississippi in 1998 and was named president in 2005. Having already earned a bachelor's degree in biology, a master's degree in Christian education, an additional master's in Christian education administration, Weary recently decided to earn his doctorate at Reformed Theological Seminary. Weary, a native of Mendenhall, says his current job is "totally outside the character of what I wanted to do" as a young man.

Lott to Chair Hearing on Amtrak's Future

[statement/verbatim] April 20, 2005–U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, chairman of the U.S. Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, will conduct a hearing Thursday morning on the future of America's National Railroad Passenger Corporation–Amtrak.

Mayoral Debate: Cheap Talk and Sound Bites

Read full story here.

C-L: City-county relations key issue

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

C-L: Voters' minds not changed by debate

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

Eric Stringfellow: Dem ticket's mayoral race needs leader to stand up

Eric Stringfellow at the Clarion-Ledger writes:

WLBT 3 - Johnson, Melton Speak at Forum

WLBT 3 reports:

Tuesday Mayor Harvey Johnson and Frank Melton spoke out at an election forum, voicing their very different views of Jackson.

The JacksonChannel: Sunday Debate A Success, Candidates Say

The JacksonChannel reports:

C-L: Foes clash on crime, jobs

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

WLBT 3 - Crime A Major Issue in the Ward 6 Race

WLBT 3 reports:

Ward six council candidates answered questions from voters and shared their take on the issues during a debate Monday night.

[UPDATE] WJTV to Re-Air Debate, Apologizes for Mess-Up

C-L: Mayoral campaign advertising

The Clarion-Ledger here:

C-L: Mayoral ad blitz hits city's airwaves

The CLarion-Ledger reports:

WLBT 3 - Johnson, Melton Face Off in Debate

WLBT 3 reports:

Three days after their first ill-fated debate, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson and Democratic challenger Frank Melton took to the stage in a battle for votes.

C_L: Johnson runs late, Melton leaves candidates' forum

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

The JacksonChannel: Mayoral Debate Takes Strange Turn

The JacksonChannel reports:

C-L: Buzz before the vote: Crime

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

C-L: Chief: Felonies down 7% in Jackson

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

Tyler Connection An Issue for Candidate

The Tyler (Texas) Morning Telegraph reports on Frank Melton's homestead issues.

Emmerich Weighs Pros and Cons of Johnson and Melton

As a newspaperman and an American, I don't think there's anything more exciting and fulfilling than having a front-row seat to a no-holds-barred, tough, vigorous political race. The Jackson mayoral race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting local races I've ever witnessed. May the best man win.

Planet Weekly: [Melton Is] Rep in Dem's Clothing

A Planet Weekly columnist this week endorses Mayor Johnson and rips Frank Melton and some of his supporters:

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