Latest news with #JacksonCityCouncil
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor Lumumba addresses council's hiring freeze, says recent hires were about serving residents
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba defended two recent hires made during the final weeks of his second term — decisions that prompted the Jackson City Council to pass an ordinance implementing a hiring freeze on most city positions through the end of June. Lumumba recently appointed Tariq Abdul-Tawwab as deputy director of the Public Works Department and former Hinds County Supervisor David Archie as a staff assistant in the mayor's office. Abdul-Tawwab previously served as 'chief experience officer' at JXN Water in 2023 but left later that year. His wife, Candace Abdul-Tawwab, is a director at the People's Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit founded by the mayor's sister, Rukia Lumumba. Archie, who ran against Lumumba in the April 1 primary, endorsed the mayor ahead of the April 22 runoff, according to a Facebook post shared by Lumumba on April 18. Council President and Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay, who introduced the hiring freeze ordinance on May 20, previously confirmed the two appointments influenced her decision to bring the legislation forward. Speaking after the council's Tuesday meeting, Lumumba initially declined to comment, saying, 'I don't have any thoughts,' when asked about the council's hiring freeze. But he later defended the hires, saying both positions were vacant and essential to city operations. "Both of those positions were vacant and they both serve the community and our responsibility is to serve the community until the end," Lumumba said. "One vacancy deals directly with constituent complaints every day, so if people are in need of water at senior centers, if people need somebody to come check out their pothole — I would imagine that the residents don't want me to leave them with 60 days of not responding to those issues." Lumumba also pushed back on criticism that the hires were politically motivated. "It's not a political thing. It's a responding thing. So both of those positions are about responding to residents needs," Lumumba said. Before Lumumba addressed the hiring freeze, the council approved an amendment to the original ordinance during its regular meeting to allow for additional hires. The original ordinance, obtained by the Clarion Ledger, freezes all vacant positions — and those expected to become vacant — within the executive branch, except for roles specifically assigned to the Jackson Police Department and Jackson Fire Department. Lindsay introduced the amendment to allow JPD to hire critical positions, such as 911 dispatchers. It also permits the hiring of seasonal workers in the Department of Parks and Recreation, including an educational specialist and three zookeepers at the Jackson Zoo, two lifeguards and park maintenance staff. The amendment further allows the city to hire CDL drivers for the Division of Solid Waste and two employees in the Department of Finance and Administration, positions Chief Financial Officer Fidelis Malembeka said he is prepared to fill. The council passed the amended ordinance in a 6-0 vote. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes was not in attendance when the vote was called. The hiring freeze remains until June 30. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS mayor Lumumba defends hires as council tweaks city hiring freeze
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jackson voters bring back familiar faces — and welcome a new one — to City Council
Unofficial results for Jackson's Tuesday, June 3, municipal election are in, with familiar faces returning to the Jackson City Council in three wards and a new face joining them, and one ward still up for grabs. Let's start with the familiar faces. Guess who's back? Longtime Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, a political powerhouse who has served on the council for more than three decades, won a decisive reelection victory. Stokes dominated independent challenger Marques T. Jackson, who received only 20.93% of the vote, or 665 votes. Stokes nearly tripled that total, receiving 77.15% of the vote, or 2,451 votes, according to the unofficial votes. In Ward 2, the newest member of the council, incumbent Councilwoman Tina Clay, retained her seat and will serve her first full-term in office. She was previously elected in October 2024 in a special election after former Councilwoman Angelique Lee resigned and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with Jackson's bribery scandal. Clay, a longtime insurance professional, crushed her Republican challenger Bethany Williams-Sherif in the Ward 2 race. Clay earned 91.32%, or 4,082 votes. Williams-Sherif only earned 6.13% of the vote, or 274 votes, according to the unofficial results. And in Ward 5, incumbent Councilman Vernon Hartley was reelected to a second term after defeating independent challenger Raymond McCants III. Hartley received 71.22%, or 1,619 votes, compared to McCants 27.28%, or 620 votes. "I humbly thank all the people of Ward 5. Now WE get to work as a united ward 5 and united Capital City," Hartley posted to his Facebook account after the unofficial results came in. Hartley is a retired U.S. Air Force reservist with a 30-year military career, who also held positions with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and served as Jackson's Solid Waste Manager. Democrat Kevin Parkinson outlasted independent Ron Aldridge in the race for the Ward 7 seat, according to the unofficial election results. Parkinson received 1,697 votes, compared to Aldridge's 1,165 votes. Republican Taylor Turcotte only took home 129 votes. Parkinson, a longtime educator, will replace Ward 7 Councilwoman and Council President Virgi Lindsay, who announced in January she was not seeking reelection. Mississippi law requires that municipal election results be certified within 10 days, so results are all unofficial until then. Jackson election commissioners are still counting affidavit ballots on Wednesday, June 4 and mail-in ballots still have five days to be received from Election Day. Ward 1 remains too close to call with only 25 votes separating incumbent Ashby Foote and two challengers — Grace Green and Jasmine Barnes. All had around 33% of the vote with affidavit and mail-in votes to be counted. Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the Democratic April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council. Democrat Lashia Brown-Thomas won the April 22 primary runoff election, defeating Emon Thompson. Brown-Thomas will be the Ward 6 representative on the Jackson City Council as she is running unopposed in the general election. She replaces current Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, who decided not to run for reelection. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who won seats on Jackson MS City Council in 2025 election?
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jackson, MS, election results for June 3 general election for mayor, city council races
Jackson voters returned to the polls Tuesday, June 3, to vote in the general election to decide the mayor of Jackson as well as five Jackson City Council races. One thing is certain: Jackson will have a new mayor. Two-term Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba was defeated by Democratic Sen. John Horhn in the April 22 primary runoff. Horhn is facing Republican challenger Kenneth Gee and four independents: Rodney DePriest, Zach Servis, Lillie Stewart-Robinson and Kim Wade. Wade announced in mid-May that he is endorsing DePriest and is urging his supporters to vote for him. His name still appeared on the June 3 ballot because he did not withdraw from the race in time. For the Jackson City Council, five seats are up grabs: Wards 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. Unlike the earlier rounds, there will be no runoff. The candidate with the most votes wins and assumes office starting July 1. Below is a look at the results for the Jackson mayor and city council races: Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the Democratic April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council. Democrat Lashia Brown-Thomas won the April 22 primary runoff election, defeating Emon Thompson. Brown-Thomas will be the Ward 6 representative on the Jackson City Council as she is running unopposed in the general election. She replaces current Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, who decided not to run for reelection. Council President Virgi Lindsay announced in January that she would not seek reelection. Three candidates are vying to replace her to represent Ward 7. Contact Charlie Drape at cdrape@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson, MS, election results for June 3, 2025 for mayor, city council
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jackson Election Day is here: candidates, wards, polling info and what to expect
In just days, Jacksonians will return to the polls one last time to elect a new mayor and decide whether to keep or replace members of the Jackson City Council. June 3 is general election day in the capital city. The primaries and runoffs are in the books — now it's winner takes all. The candidate with the most votes wins their race, no runoffs this time. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you're in line by 7 p.m., you'll still be allowed to vote. Voters can find their precinct by visiting the Mississippi Secretary of State's website and entering their address and zip code. Here's everything you need to know. The race to become Jackson's mayor started with 20 candidates - plus two who were disqualified - and has been narrowed down to just six: one Democrat, one Republican and four independents. State Sen. John Horhn, the Democratic nominee, is the heavy favorite to become next mayor as Jackson has not elected a Republican or independent candidate to the position in decades. Horhn defeated incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the Democratic primary and runoff elections held in April. In the runoff, Horhn carried 74.77% of the vote, according to the official results certified by the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. His Republican challenger is Kenneth Gee, a Bailey Magnet High School graduate currently attending Rasmussen University, who has worked as a law enforcement officer. To say Gee faces an uphill battle in the race isn't an exaggeration. In the April 22 GOP runoff, he secured the nomination by winning 100 of the 159 total votes cast, outlasting candidate Wilfred Beal. The four independent candidates are Rodney DePriest, Zach Servis, Lillie Stewart-Robinson, and Kim Wade. Because they're not affiliated with a political party, the independents skipped the primaries and advanced straight to the general election. Five of the seven seats on the council will be up for grabs come Election Day. Two seats — Wards 4 and 6 — have already been decided. That leaves Wards 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 still up for grabs. Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council. Similarly, Lashia Brown-Thomas became the next Ward 6 councilwoman after defeating Democratic candidate Emon Thompson in the April 22 runoff. She is also running unopposed in the general election. Brown-Thomas replaces incumbent Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, who is not running for reelection this year. More information on the candidates vying for seats on the council can be found on the Clarion Ledger website. In early January, Jackson Municipal Clerk Angela Harris confirmed to the Clarion Ledger that letters had been sent to residents whose wards may have changed due to last year's redistricting. To assist residents who are still unsure of their ward, use the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District's — the group that helped the council with the redistricting process — online tool. Residents can enter their address to check their ward. The tool is available on CMPDD's website. Gray Ouzts, a principal planner with CMPDD, previously told the Clarion Ledger the online tool is open to the public, but residents should confirm they are voting in the correct ward with the city. Residents can also check with the city to verify their polling precinct. To do so, visit Jackson City Hall or call the Municipal Clerk's Office at (601) 960-1035. Contact Charlie Drape at cdrape@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Everything to know before voting in Jackson for Election Day on June 3
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackson City Council election: What to know about the 12 candidates on the June 3 ballot
Thirty-five candidates qualified to run for Jackson City Council in January. Now, just 12 remain. Tuesday, June 3, is general election day in Jackson, and voters will decide whether to keep or replace members of the council. Five of the seven seats are up for grabs. Two seats have candidates running unopposed and, barring a major write-in campaign, those candidates are expected to win. Below is a look at the candidates who will be on the ballot in each ward, as well as their campaign finance reports that were due Tuesday, May 27. The Clarion Ledger reviewed the reports on Wednesday, May 28. Incumbent Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote is seeking reelection to the seat he has held since 2014. Typically a Republican, Foote chose to run as an independent this year as a way to encourage voters to participate in the April 1 Democratic mayoral primary — a contest that has historically determined Jackson's next mayor. Foote's challengers include Democratic candidate Jasmine Barnes and independent Grace Greene. All three candidates submitted the latest batch of campaign finance reports due on May 27. The reports show each candidate has raised tens-of-thousands of dollars, with Foote leading the way. Foote has raised $48,660 in contributions and has nearly $20,000 in cash on hand, according to his report. Greene reported $42,605 in contributions and $13,562.85 remaining. Barnes raised $32,521 and is entering the final stretch with just under $2,500. Ward 1 is located in Northeast Jackson, and is one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods. The ward begins as far south as LeFleur's Bluff with County Line Road and the Ross Barnett Reservoir serving as the northern boundary. Ward 1 includes neighborhoods such as Eastover, The Country Club of Jackson, Colonial Heights and Sheffield. See the Ward 1 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 1 election: 4 Democrats, 2 Independents running. Primary election is April 1 Incumbent Ward 2 Councilwoman Tina Clay, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican challenger Bethany Williams-Sherif. Clay is the newest member currently serving on the council, having won the Ward 2 special election in October 2024. The special election was held due to the resignation of Councilwoman Angelique Lee. Hours after her resignation, Lee ended up pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in a wide-reaching scandal that includes other elected officials such as Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks. Unlike Lee, all three have pleaded not guilty. According to her latest campaign finance report, Clay has raised over $9,000. The report shows she has spent $2,430.35 on campaign mailers from Chrome Strategies. Williams-Sherif did not submit a campaign finance report. Ward 2 covers the northern and northwestern parts of Jackson, including neighborhoods such as Presidential Hills, Woodhaven, Natchez Trace Estates and Briarwood Heights. Tougaloo College is also located in the ward. See the Ward 2 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 2 election: 3 candidates set to face-off. Primary is April 1 Longtime Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who has held the position since 1989 except from 2012-2015, is back on the ballot and will face off against independent Marques Jackson. Neither Stokes nor Jackson submitted a campaign finance report by the May 27 deadline. Ward 3 is located in the central and west parts of Jackson. It includes the neighborhoods of Georgetown, Mid-City, Virden Addition and Cottage Grove, as well as Hawkins Field Airport. See the Ward 3 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 3 election: 2 candidates, a Democrat and an Independent, face off. Primary set for April 1 Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the Democratic April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council. According to the latest campaign finance report submitted May 27, the "Committee to Re-Elect Brian Grizzell" has raised a total of $18,042 and spent $17,583.30, leaving $458.70 on hand. Ward 4 is one of the largest in the city, covering the western portion of Jackson. It extends as far north as Northside Drive, as far west as Buddy Butts Park, and south to parts of South Jackson, including Forest Hill High School. The ward includes neighborhoods such as Belair, Brookhollow Place, Cedar Hills, Oak Creek and parts of Queen-Magnolia Terrace. See the Ward 4 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 4 election: 2 Democrats face-off to become next councilman in April 1 primary Incumbent Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley is seeking reelection for a second term after defeating two Democratic challengers, ReJohnna Brown-Mitchell and Charles Alexander, in the April 1 primary election. Now, Hartley will face independent candidate Raymond McCants III in the general election. Hartley did not submit a campaign finance report, while McCants did. McCants' report shows he has raised $1,646 while spending $1,593. A total of $1,546 of McCant's contributions came from loans from himself, while $100 came from Yolanda Bullock, who lives in Detroit, according to the report. Ward 5 is located in West Jackson with its eastern boundary being Downtown Jackson. The ward encompasses the Jackson State University campus and the Jackson Zoo, as well as neighborhoods such as College Park, Capitol Neighbors, Alta Woods, Colonial Heights and Washington Addition. See the Ward 5 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 5 election: Four candidates challenging for the seat. Primary election is April 1 Lashia Brown-Thomas is the next Ward 6 councilwoman after defeating Democratic candidate Emon Thompson in the April 22 runoff. She is also running unopposed in the general election and therefore has won the council seat. Brown-Thomas replaces incumbent Banks, who has been representing Ward 6 since 2017. He is not running for reelection this year. Banks is under indictment in the Jackson bribery scandal. Brown-Thomas did not file a campaign finance report. Ward 6 makes up South Jackson, including neighborhoods such as Appleridge, Briarcliff, Brookwood Estates, Pecan Acres and Windsor Forest. The ward also includes the Neighborhood Association of South Jackson. See the Ward 6 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 6 election: 9 Democratic candidates vying for the Ward 6 seat. Primary election is April 1 Democratic candidate Kevin Parkinson, Republican Taylor Turcotte and independent Ron Aldridge are all vying for the Ward 7 seat currently held by Council President Virgi Lindsay. In January, Lindsay announced she would not seek reelection. Parkinson defeated Democratic challenger Quint Withers in the Democratic runoff while Turcotte did not have any challengers in the Republican primaries. Aldridge advances straight to the general election as independents do not hold primaries. Turcotte did not submit a campaign finance report. Parkinson's report shows he has raised $46,417.65, while spending just over $44,800. Aldridge's report shows he has raised $14,903 while spending $14,360. Aldridge has $542.26 on hand, according to the report. In the period between April 15 and May 27, Parkinson's report shows he raised just over $5,700 and spent just over $9,900, leaving him some -$4,200 in the red. Ward 7 encompasses the eastern portion of Jackson, starting as far south as Bounds Road and as far north as Meadowbrook Road. It includes neighborhoods such as Fondren, LOHO, Belhaven Heights, Belhaven and Midtown. The ward also encompasses Downtown Jackson and the Farish Street Historic District. See the Ward 7 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 7 election: Five Democrats, one Republican and one Independent. Primary election set for April 1 This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who will lead Jackson, MS, next? City Council race heads to June 3
