Also, we'd really like to know the name of that parent company in Rankin County where he told us his car was registered from 2011-12. Someone have him get in touch so we can add it to this Factcheck.

Note: The above story is now updated with more information about Lee's contention that his three opponents other than Johnson voted Republican; more information about his Rankin County car tag; and some details about when he ran his family's business.

I should make it clear that I couldn't care less if Lee or Quinn voted Republican in the past. I've voted Republican, and we've endorsed Republicans. I am more concerned about who gives money to candidates and what promises they'll end up expected to fulfill. And something must be said to get staunch wealthy Republicans like Leland Speed and Leslie Lampton to endorse a Democrat. Wish I could be a fly on THAT wall.

Sarahmina, it's cool with me if we stipulate that I'm not black. We might also stipulate that not all African Americans think the same way. It would seem insulting to imply that they do.

We were surprised to see that [The Clarion-Ledger today also endorsed Johnso][1]n for very similar reasoning as our endorsement. And they make no bones about none of the other candidates being ready to be mayor. Cheers to them for seeing this, and I don't often get to say that to the Ledger.

They also admitted their role in endorsing Melton, which was huge egg on their faces. They also know first hand what it's like to have a mayor mired in lawsuits dating from before he took office. They were involved in some of the legal proceedings with Melton.

This is the first time in three city elections that the Ledger and the JFP agreed. They endorsed Melton eight years ago, then they didn't endorse four years ago. This year, they stepped up and did the right thing even though they know it'll anger the white business community. That is probably the most courage I've seen the Ledger show since we've been in existence. Credit where it's due for being willing to do the right thing even if the powerful disagree.

[1]: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20…

Update: The Jackson City Clerk compared our list to hers this morning and sent these reports we hadn't received, but that were filed on time. We apologize to these folks for their 24 hours on the Wall of Shame! It has been corrected above!

James Paige
Charity Wright
Tom Stingley
Plavise Patterson
Charles Alexander

As for supporters guaranteeing loans for candidates, we have a message in for Jonathan Lee to talk about that $140,000 check he suddenly threw into his campaign in March. Our guess is that it must be a loan, considering his company's financial difficulties and all the unpaid bills he seems on the hook for after those default judgments.

Considering that his campaign is accusing other candidates of being bought by campaign backers, we would like to assume that he will call us back and tell us if it is a loan and from who.

I'll also add that from the tone of their accusations, it seems clear that Lee is pledging not to give any contracts or other benefits to campaign donors. If he's elected, we'll be watching to see if he is consistent on this point with his campaign rhetoric. If he is, I expect, there will be some angry folks both in Jackson and out in the suburbs.

To be fair, Slick, more people in general approved of what David Watkins was trying to do downtown then than now. Here's what Johnson said about Farish and the developer in his JFP interview int he current issue:

> What's the short answer to what needs
> to happen with Farish Street next?
>
> An assessment of the ability of the
> developer to make it happen. I mean a
> real assessment, and that's on the
> part of the JRA as well as the
> developer. I think everybody's
> frustrated. I'm going to give you the
> longer view and answer.
>
> What's so frustrating is that people
> have forgotten how far that project
> has come. They've forgotten that. When
> I was in office before, we did the
> water lines, sewer lines, landscaping,
> lighting. And this developer has fixed
> up the outside, the store-front
> glasses, and has put in $4 (million)
> to $6 million depending on who you
> talk to--not city money, but state
> money and private money. I think that
> once people start throwing out dates,
> when it's going to be open and that
> kind of thing, I don't think they had
> an appreciation of how difficult a
> project this was going to be with
> historic buildings. You can't just go
> an tear down walls and all that kind
> of stuff. You've got to do it within
> standards and that's a costly process.
> At the same time, the financing market
> went dry for these type projects.
> There were a lot of things whirling
> around that has caused this project to
> be delayed. But I think that the
> developer and JRA will have to make a
> true and honest assessment of the
> developer's ability to move this
> project forward, and if that
> assessment is that they aren't able to
> do it, then they need to step aside or
> JRA needs to terminate the
> relationship and get somebody who can
> make it happen. I'm convinced that it
> can happen.
>
> With the current developer?
>
> With a developer. I'm not sure with
> the current developer, but with a
> developer. But JRA's going to have to
> make that assessment, because they're
> the one who, right now, has the lease
> arrangement with the developer and is
> looking to the developer to come
> through to fulfill that lease.
>
> Do you think the vision makes sense
> for us still--the vision from years
> ago?
>
> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I'm want Jackson
> to become a destination city. I think
> part of that, clearly, is the
> convention center, the telcom center
> which we've done--we've gotten that
> done--the convention-center hotel,
> which we will be getting done

.

Ms. Pree asked me to post this as well, verbatim:

Announcement

> The City of Jackson is excited to
> announce the use of a new Digital
> Scanning Voting System, the DS200™. It
> will be implemented for the May 7
> Municipal Primary and June 4 General
> Election. The Voting System is
> supplied and supported by Election
> Systems & Software (ES&S). ES&S has a
> regional office in Hinds County and
> supports all of the State’s 82
> counties. The DS200™ is the
> nation’s most widely used paper-based
> digital precinct scanner with more
> than 15,000 units in use. The DS200
> equips the City of Jackson with the
> most advanced tabulation technology
> available. Technicians will be located
> around the City on Election Day to
> assist at all precincts. Polls open
> at 7:00 am and closeat 7:00 pm.
> Interested in learning more? Check
> outwww.essvote.com/CityofJackson.

Brenda Pree, not Press. She confirmed that Barrett-Simon did file Tuesday. Tomorrow morning, she's checking her list against what we received and alerting me if others on our list have filed as well. Thanks to her!