Frank Melton Hospitalized in Critical Condition, Council Appoints Interim

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton

Jackson City Council President Leslie Mclemore will serve as the city's interim mayor, as Mayor Frank Melton remains in guarded but critical condition at at a local hospital. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports how the mayors health crisis could impact the city, and the mayors upcoming federal civil rights trial.

As Mayor Frank Melton recovers from his ongoing heart ailment, city leaders met Wednesday to elect an interim mayor.

They chose Jackson City Council President Leslie Mclemore to serve until Melton returns or a new mayor is elected next month. Ironically Mclemore who didn't run for re-election is now stepping up to serve in a position many thought he would have sought.

“I’m going to hold the car in the road as long as I can. But to move the city forward, we don’t want to go backward. And ah, I just think that I am working with people that know their jobs so I’m looking forward to making sure we don’t miss a beat.”

Jury selection is set to begin Monday in The mayors 2nd civil rights trial. Mississippi College of Law Professor, Matt Steffy discusses the irony in it all.
“I thought one of the gutsiest things I’d ever seen a public figure do was erect billboards identifying drug dealers. And to fall from that to where he is now, in intensive care, failing his bid for re-election and facing federal criminal charges is a fall of Shakespearean dimensions.

Melton's attorney John Reeves has requested a delay in the mayors upcoming trial. A decision by US Judge Dan Jordan could come as early as today.