Ellington

Chokwe Lumumba

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba welcomed lawmakers and encouraged them to spend money in the capital city. Pictured, from left: Rep. Jim Evans, D-Jackson, Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, Rep. Adrienne Wooten, D-Jackson, Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson, Lumumba, Rep. Alyce Clarke, D-Jackson, Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton and Rep. Credell Calhoun, D-Jackson.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

Mayor Lumumba.

Mayor Lumumba.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba takes it all in as he waits for the numbers.

Lumumba and members of his staff hear the numbers from last night's vote on the 1% sales tax.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba came into office with an eye on addressing some of Jackson's biggest, and longest-standing, problems.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba has said that his previous experience working with former Gov. Haley Barbour to get clemency for his clients, the Scott Sisters, demonstrates that he will be able to effectively lobby state officials.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba has said the one-percent sales tax will help bring the city's water distribution system—parts of which are a hundred years old—into the modern era, make improvements to city streets and fix drainage issues.

File photo: Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's plan to empower the people of Jackson by having Jackson Rising build grassroots citizen cooperatives in the capital city along the lines of Rainbow Cooperative Grocery in the Fondren neighborhood.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and Clarence Chapman, president of Chartre Consulting Ltd., helped break ground on a downtown housing development that Lumumba called part of an intelligent urban renewal plan.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba stands out outside his former law office on Mill Street, a bumpy potholed road and favorite dumpsite, in June 2103. City officials hope a citywide beautification effort will spruce up areas like those along Mill Street.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba announced the nominations of Lindsey Horton, new police chief (left), and Willie Owens, new fire chief (right) a week before they had taken the oath of office.

Lumumba urges every Jacksonian to get out and vote.

Chokwe Lumumba took the oath of office on July 1, 2013.

Chokwe Lumumba believes the best way to lift Jackson’s economy is to put money in the pockets of the city’s poor residents.

Lumumba speaks on election night.

Lumumba, pictured with wife, Nubia, said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Kwame Toure (nee Stokely Carmichael) influenced his political philosophy.

Chokwe Lumumba celebrates with his son and daughter following his nomination in the Democratic primary runoff Tuesday night at the Clarion Hotel in Jackson.

Pictured here with his children, Rukia (center, top) and Chokwe (center, bottom) and wife, Nubia (right), who died in 2003, Lumumba is intensely involved with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM), which promotes universal human rights. A part of the MXGM called the Jackson Plan seeks to develop young Jacksonians into leaders.

Activist and lawyer Chokwe Lumumba has tempered his fiery rhetoric while preserving his message of community organizing.

Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba announced Thursday he will run for mayor of Jackson in 2013.

Chokwe Lumumba at the MC Law debate -- May 17, 2013.

Attorney Chokwe Lumumba delivered a petition with 24,000 signatures to Gov. Haley Barbour's office Nov. 24.

Jackson attorney Chokwe Lumumba announced his intention to run for the Ward 2 City Council seat Monday.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba convinced the Jackson City Council to pass his massive $502.5 million budget by holding town-hall meetings and public hearings to address the finer points of his plan.

The moment before Chokwe Lumumba walked onstage to be sworn in as mayor of Jackson. July 1, 2013.

Chokwe Lumumba holds his son and daughter's hands as he walks in the Clarion Hotel's "Trinity II" room upon winning the Democratic Primary.