Jackson Mayor Suing to get on Ballot

Published by Lawayne Childrey on 19 Mar 2009 6:02pm
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Jackson Mayor Frank Melton
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Troubles continue for Jackson mayor Frank Melton. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports the capitol city mayor is going to court to prove his residency.

In question is whether or not the capitol city mayor is a legal resident of Jackson. The Jackson Democratic Municipal Executive Committee said Melton did not meet residency requirements after he failed to file documents designating his Jackson Home as his primary residence for tax purposes. It's a charge the mayor calls ridiculous.

“Everybody knows where I live. Half of the kids in Jackson have been out to my house. And I’ve lived there for over 17 years. And if I don’t live there why do they keep sending me a tax bill?”

With at least 17 candidates lined up to challenge him for the job of mayor, Melton believes the move may be both political and personal.

“Apparently there are some people who are running kind of frightened right now. And I mean, it’s just a job where you are a servant to 184 thousand people. And I mean there’s something out there that I don’t know about. And you know I’m just like every other American now. I’m struggling just like everybody else, I’m not going to take anything. I don’t want to be involved in anybody influencing me and apparently other people might have some other agendas.”

Dr. D'Andra Orey, Chair of the political Science Department at Jackson State university believes there may be some credence to Melton's conspiracy theory.

“Clearly there was some knowledge at least of mayor Melton’s residential status prior to this election thus so allowing him to be elected the first time. It could very well be the case that they were simply trying to discard in this case the mayor, but a candidate whom they deemed to be hurtful to their goals.”

The Jackson Democratic Municipal Executive Committee claims the rules were not followed to allow Melton's name on the Democratic primary ballot. A hearing on the lawsuit will be heard in Hinds County Circuit Court next week.. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.