Monday, March 11, 2013
Eight candidates and one campaign manager took the stage in the first mayoral forum of the 2013 election season Saturday. Photo by Jacob Fuller.
The People's Assembly Task Force hosted eight candidates for mayor of Jackson Saturday in the first public forum of the 2013 election season.
Six Democratic candidates, all of whom will be on the party's primary ballot May 7, and two independents, who will take on the Democratic candidate June 4, answered questions from forum organizers and from the crowd on infrastructure, crime and what makes them the best candidate.
On the Democratic side, William Bright, Gwendolyn Ward Osborne Chapman, John H. Jones Jr., Regina Quinn, Chokwe Lumumba and Jonathan Lee were in attendance. Incumbent Harvey Johnson Jr. sent his campaign manager as a proxy. Candidates Frank Bluntson, Audrey Nichols, Robert Amos and Charles Taylor Sr. did not attend.
Cornelius Griggs and Francis Smith Jr. were the independent candidates.
A crowd of between 100 and 200 citizens and supporters attended the forum at Word and Worship Church on Hanging Moss Road. Many wore T-shirts supporting specific mayoral or city council candidates.
The Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee will host a mayoral forum Monday, March 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Greater Mount Bethel Church at 4125 Robinson Road, across from Metrocenter Mall.