Mark Braboy
News Editor
As a result of the unexpected passing of Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, the City of Jackson will hold a special election on April 8 and a runoff, if necessary on April 22 to fill this position.
There are 13 candidates that include people who ran in the 2013 election along with a several newcomers. This article will briefly shine a spotlight on who they are, their background, and their platforms.
Chokwe Antar Lumumba (D): The son of deceased Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, attorney Chokwe Antar Lumumba says he plans to continue the legacy that his father started during his brief time in office. With a grassroots campaign, Lumumba seeks to enact what he calls “The People’s Progress Plan”. In a nutshell, the very detailed plan focuses on crime, education, health, culture, and education. Some major points of it are to build alternative programs for young people to be a part of the community, develop areas surrounding Farish Street and Medgar Evers Boulevard, improve the city’s infrastructure, and initiate a health campaign.
Lumumba is a 2001 graduate of Callaway High School and received his B.S. from Tuskeegee University. He currently serves as Managing Partner of Lumumba, Freelon, & Associates. His resume includes a background in community service and activism as a guest mentor for the Ambassadors for the Evers Academy for African-American Male, Advocate and Spokesperson for the Support of the 1% Sales Tax Referendum, and Campaign Coordinating Committee Co-Chair for 2013 Committee to Elect Chokwe Lumumba Mayor of Jackson.
Tony Yarber (D): Yarber, also known as Mr. Motivation, is the current Ward 6 councilman, former city council president, a motivational speaker, a pastor, and alumni of Jackson State University. He is a native of Jackson, Miss. area and received his B. S. in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and his M.S. in Secondary Education at JSU.
Yarber’s background includes working with young people in his time as a teacher, and administrator and he has strong ties in the community.
His platform consists of a three point plan that involves improving the city’s ailing infrastructure, working with partners in the community in order to reduce crime, and creating a supportive and incentive based approach in order to grow and retain business in Jackson.
John Horhn (D): Mississippi State Senator John Horhn, has also entered the election for Mayor of Jackson. He brings a great deal of political experience to the table as he has been in state government since 1993.
In a press conference announcing his involvement with the race as reported by WAPT News, he stated “I’ve had more of a few rocks thrown my way, and in the next several weeks, I expect my opponents and their supporters to hurl even more stones. And to be honest, I have probably thrown some of the biggest rocks at myself for even being in this situation,” Horhn said referencing his recent DUI arrest. “So, why would I put myself out here like this? The answer is that I love Jackson, Miss. I’ve dedicated my life to Jackson.”
According to his profile, he is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Alpha Epsilon, A. Philip Randolph Institute, NAACP, and Leadership Jackson Alumni Association. He has also been involved with many committees as a senator including the Labor, Public Health and Welfare, and Highways and Transportation committees.
Melvin Priester Jr. (D): Atty. Melvin Priester Jr., son of Hinds County court judge Melvin Priester, Sr. is informing voters that great things are still ahead for Jackson. As the current City Council president and during his time on the City Council, he was involved in re-establishing bus services between Jackson Public Schools and city-ran after school programs, along with establishing music education programs. He often has community movie nights in his district for families and children to give them something to do and to keep them informed.
He is a 1997 graduate of Murrah High School, 2001 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Harvard University, 2004 graduate of Stanford Law School, and a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
Regina Quinn (D): Quinn is a native of Jackson, Miss. who was a candidate in the previous election, but lost in the primary. She is a practicing attorney with over 27 years of experience and was appointed as Jackson State University’s General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer in 2001 and served for over 10 years.
The University of Southern Mississippi graduate is affiliated with many organizations, including The Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women, The Magnolia Bar Association, and the Mississippi Women for Progress, Inc. among many others.
Under her administration, she aspires to “clean up the city, fix what’s broken, and plan wisely for the future.” She also claims that if she was elected mayor, there will be no more new taxes.
Gwendolyn Ward Osborne Chapman: Chapman also ran unsuccessfully in the 2013 mayoral election. Very little information was known about her at that time and little since then. The March 21, 2013 issue of The Flash states that a forum hosted by the People’s Assembly on March 9, 2013, Chapman stated that she was family oriented and uses the Kwanzaa Principles as guide for unity and getting along as a whole.
Harvey Johnson Jr. (D): The previous mayor of the City of Jackson is running once again in the Special Election. When he ran for re-election in 2013, he was defeated in the primary. While he is tackling the same issues that the rest of the candidates are, his plans consist of implementing a $10 million dollar street repaving program, working with the JSU to finalize options involved with building its proposed domed stadium, and work to bring a new movie theater to Jackson.
First elected in 1997, Johnson was the first African-American mayor of Jackson and was re-elected in 2001 where he continued to serve until 2013. He once worked as an assistant professor of political science at JSU. As mayor, he began the Fortification reconstruction project, secured $300 million dollars to improve infrastructure and public facilities, created the 311 system, and established many initiatives to help the youth in the city.
Margaret Barrett-Simon: As a 29 year council veteran, Barrett-Simon has been active in the community for many years, serving on the board of the Salvation Army, the College of Liberal Arts at Jackson State, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Since 1985, Barrett-Simon has served as President, Vice President, Chairs of the Budget Committee, Legislative Committee, Rules Committee, Transportation Committee, and Homeless Task Force Committee with the Jackson City Council.
She is a native of Jackson, Miss. and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. She currently serves as the Ward 7 councilwoman.
Kenneth A. Swarts: Little information could be found about Swarts. According to his Facebook page, he is a republican, works at Pizza Hut and studied at Belhaven University.
Francis P. Smith Jr. (I): Smith, an independent is throwing his hat in the special election after losing in the 2013 primary for the mayoral election.
He is the pastor of Total Praise and Worship church in South Jackson and served as the Housing and Rehabilitation Manager from 2002 until 2011. In an interview with Jacob Fuller of the Jackson Free Press, he feels that he is the best candidate because of his experience.
“The best candidate would require integrity. I have 49 years of integrity. I plan, then I execute. I don’t stop until it’s complete. Track record: I’ve pastored over five churches. I am an ordained bishop. These churches are still in operation. We have a nice flow of attendance in our churches. (I have) organization skills, management skills, and research and development (skills),” said Smith.
Albert Wilson: According to his Facebook page, Wilson is the owner and founder of the Genesis and Light Center, a non-profit social service agency whose goal is to improve physical, social and economic status of communities. In a flyer on his FB page, it states that his platform is People, Places and Things, which includes investing in the people, marketing and assisting Jackson businesses and addressing things like high property and vehicle taxes, education deficiencies and lack of opportunities. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from JSU and pursing his master’s degree from Mississippi College.
John Reed: No information could be found about this candidate at press time.
Rodrick “Rod” Walker: No information could be found about this candidate at press time.
Information for this article was compiled from the following: http://yarberformayor.com, http://www.chokweantarformayor.com/donate, http://www.harveyjohnsonjr.com, http://www.electmelpriester.com, http://www.reginaquinnformayor.com, and http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2013/mar/20/pastor-and-politician.
