Union Endorsing Chokwe Antar Lumumba
In a fax sent to media this afternoon, union president Brenda Scott announced that the Mississippi Alliance of State Workers, Communications Workers of America, Local 3570, AFL-CIO (that's all one union) will endorse Chokwe Antar Lumumba in his bid for his father's seat. "Among his other qualities," the release says, ...
Moak on the Closing of Harrah's Tunica Casino
House Minority Leader Bobby Moak released the following statement on the announcement that Harrah's will close its Tunica casino: Jackson, MS- Today Harrah’s announced they are closing their casino in the Tunica market. This is a loss of Thirteen-Hundred (1300) Mississippi jobs, not to mention a tremendous blow to the ...
ACLU Responds to Drug-Testing-the-Poor Bill Signing
Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, made the following statement about Gov. Phil Bryant's signature of HB 49, which would require drug testing for some people receiving federal-state assistance: Today is a sad day as Governor Bryant signed into law HB 49, thereby subjecting Mississippi's most vulnerable ...
Mississippi AG Jim Hood declines interview, sends statement on Michelle Byrom execution
The Jackson Free Press last week requested an interview with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood about the pending Michelle Byrom execution. He so far has declined an interview issued this statement instead. Needless to say, we still have questions. Reprinted verbatim: Basis for Requesting an Execution Date When Certiorari has ...
In the Fight for Jackson's Future, Who Can Immigrant Communities Trust?
The late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba didn't just inspire his voters, he also took risks for others without expecting to be repaid in return. As others remembered him, the immigrant community never got to say goodbye to the late Lumumba, who won a Freedom from Fear award in 2011 for an ...
Two Booted Off Mayor's Ballot
Despite submitting paperwork to run in the city of Jackson's special election for mayor, two individuals have been removed for not meeting requirements to seek the office. They are: Tonya Brooks of Valley North Boulevard Tammie Patterson of Carleton Street. That shaves the number of people seeking the office down ...
Money Talks/Where are Yarber and Barrett-Simon's Economic Impact Statements?
In an election this short, money can make all the difference. Unfortunately, we won't know who the big money players in the Jackson mayor's race are for at least another week, however. Information from the Jackson city clerk's office shows that pre-election reports are due April 1, 2014 — one ...
15 Candidates Filed to Run for Mayor; Qualification Still Under Way
The Jackson city clerk's office provided 15 names of potential mayoral candidates who have filed paperwork to run in the special election. The deadline was today at 5 p.m. The election commissioners are still qualifying the list, however, so it could shrink. They are: Kenneth A. Swarts, Sedgwick Drive Albert ...
#JxnMayor Candidates at #StPaddysJXN
We took a spin around social media to see what the candidates did for St. Paddy's Day. Here's what we've found so far. (Candidates -- if we missed anything give us a shout @jxnfreepress on Twitter.) [View the story "#JxnMayor Candidates at #StPaddysJXN" on Storify]
Chapman, Priester, Yarber File Paperwork
Three more candidates have submitted paperwork to run in the April 8 special election for mayor of Jackson. Last week, the first to file their documents were Albert Wilson and Francis P. Smith — both of whom sought offices last year — and Kenneth Swarts. The latest information from municipal ...
Lumumbas Welcome Baby Girl
Verbatim, from the Chokwe Antar Lumumba campaign: The Lumumba family would like to announce the birth of their baby girl Alakè Maryama Lumumba! She was born today March 18th at 11:01 a.m. Weighing approximately 6 lbs 4 ounces. Both Ebony and baby Alakè are doing well. Alakè (means: one to ...
Robocall Discourages Margaret Barrett-Simon From Running
A resident in Fondren sent us this voicemail message, which is an apparent robocall trying to suggest that Margaret Barrett-Simon's campaign is designed to help Tony Yarber. Link: Robocall Audio Barrett-Simon responded to the call on her Facebook page last week: "I want to be clear that, should I decide ...
West Jackson Hosts Mayoral Forum Thursday
From a Facebook post: The West Central Jackson Improvement Association (WCJIA) invites the public to attend the upcoming Mayoral Forum to hear candidates for Mayor discuss their vision for the City of Jackson. All candidates for Mayor of the City of Jackson are invited. The Forum will be held Thursday, ...
Bennie Thompson is Backing Priester for Mayor, but Why?
Melvin Priester Jr. is getting support from the U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson—their campaign radio ads are even similar—who represents most of Jackson on the U.S. House of Representatives and is the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation. It's an interesting turn of events, considering the following: Thompson was fairly ...
Barrett-Simon Announces Mayoral Run
Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon officially announced her candidacy for mayor March 17.
Margaret Barrett-Simon: 'petty politics and turf battles are over'
A source close to Margaret Barrett-Simon's family confirmed to the Jackson Free Press tonight that she is entering the mayor's race. She will officially announce Monday. Stay tuned for time and location. We reported Monday that Barrett-Simon was considering a run and would decide by today.
Francis P. Smith Qualifies for Jackson Mayor's Race
Francis P. Smith Jr., pastor of Total Praise and Worship on Cedar Lane in south Jackson, has qualified for the race to be the next mayor of Jackson, information from the city clerk's office shows. Smith competed as an Independent in the June 2013 general election for mayor, which late ...
Tate Reeves blasts Mississippi House for voting down teacher pay raise
In case you think Republicans all get along. The lieutenant governor's verbatim response, sent earlier today: STATEMENT OF LT. GOV. REEVES ON HOUSE VOTE AGAINST TEACHER PAY PLAN “Unfortunately, the House voted today against teachers getting $3,500 more in their paycheck by July 1, 2015. I had hoped this week ...
Coffee and Conversation with Candidate Tony Yarber at Broad Street
OK, this is the first mayoral campaign event, beyond announcements, that I've heard about so far. You can get free coffee at Broad Street Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and ask Tony Yarber questions. But don't jump to conclusions (that Yarber is the candidate of owner Jeff Good, ...
Jackson Chamber and WLBT hosting live mayoral debate March 27
The Jackson Chamber of Commerce and WLBT 3 will host a Mayoral Debate live on WLBT and MSNewsNOW.com in prime time, Thursday March 27, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. location to be announced. For more information contact Cynthia Buchanan, Executive Vice President, Jackson Chamber of Commerce at 601-948-7575 or ...
Field of 8 for Mayor? Horhn announces, Wilson and Swarts file paperwork
As we told you yesterday, state Sen. John Horhn officially joined the Jackson mayoral race this morning at Cade's Courtyard on Mayes Street. Horhn ran for mayor in 2009 and is known for drawing bipartisan and multiracial support. Here is his 2009 JFP Interview when he was running for mayor: ...
Chokwe Antar Lumumba Caps Off Crazy Day of Mayoral Announcements
A campaign has several parts. First, especially, if you're an unknown candidate, you have to tell your story. Then, you have to talk about your big ideas. After that, you have to convince people that you're the best person to put those ideas into action.
Melvin Priester Jr. Announces Bid for Mayor's Seat
As if presenting to a jury, Melvin Priester Jr. paced in front of a bank of TV cameras as he made his opening argument — for his candidacy for mayor of Jackson. Priester broke with several other candidates whose announcements came at Jackson City Hall and held his first official ...
Regina Quinn on Jackson Mayor's Race: "I'm in."
Attorney Regina Quinn, former general counsel for Jackson State University, confirms she's throwing her name in the growing hat of Jackson mayoral candidates. Quinn finished in fourth place in last year's Democratic mayoral primary. When the race came down to a runoff between then-Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba and businessman ...
Jonathan Lee: 'I will not seek the office at this time'; Horhn in race
In a move that contradicts the plethora of hats flying into the mayoral ring this week, Jonathan Lee posted on his Facebook page last night that he is not running in the mayoral special election (news broken on Twitter by Ross Adams of WJTV). It was rumored that Lee, a ...
UPDATE: Antar Lumumba announces mayoral bid at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall
As the JFP reported last week, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 30, is running for mayor. He will announce today (Tuesday) at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall that he is running for his father's seat. Note that this is a new time.
Will Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon run for mayor?
We just saw Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon's Facebook posting indicating that she might announce for mayor by the end of the week. Here is a screenshot. We'll keep you posted. http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/10/16336/
Looks Like Melvin Priester Jr.'s in the Jackson Mayor's Race
We just received the following press release announcing a news conference for Ward 2 Councilman and City County President Melvin Priester Jr.: Jackson City Council President Melvin V. Priester, Jr., is scheduled to hold a press conference, Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., at Priester Law Firm, PLLC, 5375 ...
Harvey Johnson Jr. running for mayor? This letter suggests he is.
Someone just forwarded me a letter they say was distributed today at Cade Chapel M.B. Church that appears to be from former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. asking for support in his run in the special mayor election. We have been hearing that he is running again, and are trying to ...
Tony Yarber to JFP: 'I'm heavily considering a run' for mayor
UPDATED I just ran into a Facebook post that hints that (a) Councilman Tony Yarber might be running for mayor and (b) that the hashtag #runtonyrun is trending. After posting about it earlier, Yarber got back in touch with me via Facebook message, saying: "I'm heavily considering a run. I'm ...
After Haggling, City Council Sets Mayoral Special Election for April 8, 2014
JFP News Editor R.L. Nave is at City Hall for the special council meeting to set the date of the special election for the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's seat (made interesting because several members may run for the seat.) Nave tweeted that Councilman De'Keither Stamps and Quentin Whitwell wanted the ...