Johnson ignored the basics of politics as Jackson mayor
Frank Melton says he doesn’t do politics, but last week’s Jackson mayoral primary showed he does politics quite well – with a lot of help from Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.
Johnson’s loss in the Democratic Primary was more than an election defeat; it was a trouncing. For a first-time challenger to get 63 percent of the vote against a two-term incumbent says the race was probably over before it started.
While municipal elections can turn on issues as mundane as drainage, this one was less about policy and more about style. And politics is all about style.
Melton’s straightforward, aggressive style has been his trademark throughout his career. It served him well as CEO of WLBT-Channel 3 and has made him a natural for local politics.
David Hampton
Clarion Ledger
