List of potential mayors growing
Here’s a look at the candidates:
Robert Amos
Amos formally announced his bid to run for mayor at a private gathering several weeks ago.
He said he has collected the 50 signatures required by the state to get on the ballot as an Independent candidate.
Amos is an adjunct professor at Jackson State University, where he teaches health education. This is his first run for public office. “I felt if I was going to make a difference, I was going to do it now,” he said.
Marshand Crisler
Crisler, a City Council member, recently held a fundraiser at a local restaurant to begin raising money for his bid. When asked when he planned to announce his candidacy, Crisler said a campaign event was scheduled for Jan. 22.
Crisler has represented Ward 6 since 2001. He works for the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department as a crime prevention coordinator and would run as a Democrat.
Eddie Fair
Fair, Hinds County’s tax collector, said he plans to announce his candidacy on Wednesday, likely at City Hall.
Fair said he has held a fundraiser as well as a community meet and greet. He said he also has started to put together his campaign team.
“We feel great about the race,” he said. “We have gotten a lot of positive reaction.”
He said he will run as a Democrat on his record as tax collector. He was elected to that position in 2003 and again in 2007.
Harvey Johnson Jr.
The former two-term mayor said he likely will announce his plans to run in “the very near future.”
“We have been doing what’s required to make sure we have a strong campaign,” Johnson said.
Since leaving office in 2005, Johnson has worked at Jackson State. He is the executive director of JSU’s Center for University-Based Development. Johnson was defeated by Melton in the 2005 Democratic primary.
Robert Johnson
Johnson, a former police chief in Jackson, has held meet and greets to get his candidacy started.
He said he heard from people at those events with many serious concerns about the city, including its crime rate.
“It’s encouraging in terms of support for my candidacy but a little depressing in terms of the issues people are concerned about,” he said.
Johnson said he plans to announce his candidacy during the first few weeks of the new year.
Johnson was forced out of his job as police chief after Harvey Johnson Jr. defeated then-Mayor Kane Ditto. After leaving the city, he worked as state Department of Corrections commissioner. He resigned for a job as federal security director for the Detroit Metropolitan Regional Airport System. He later returned to Mississippi.
Johnson runs a security consulting business, RLJohnson and Associates LLC. He also is the managing partner for Probation Services Co. of Mississippi.
John Horhn
After serving about 16 years in the Mississippi Senate, Horhn said he decided to run for mayor about two weeks ago and plans to make an official announcement in “the next couple of weeks.”
Horhn represents Hinds and Madison counties as a Democrat. He is the chairman of the Labor Committee and vice chairman of the County Affairs Committee.
Horhn said he would vacate his seat, if elected. He has three years left in his four-year term.
“I love the Senate, and I have done well there,” he said. “But I think the city of Jackson needs my skills now.”
Jabari Toins
Toins announced his plans to run for mayor at the beginning of the year. He said he has not started to raise money but has begun to pass out campaign fliers.
He plans to hold community meetings at area libraries early next year to talk to people about their concerns.
He said he expects crime will top the list. Toins is a former attendance officer for the state Department of Education.
Rick Whitlow
Whitlow said he will announce his plans to run as an independent early next year.
This is Whitlow’s second bid for the city’s top office.
The former local TV sports anchor lost to Melton in the 2005 general election as a Republican.
He said he would have run as an independent last time if he thought he could have gotten the 50 signatures needed to file as an independent. He said he is more confident he can get the support this time around.
Clarion Ledger
12/15/8