Melton builds huge funding lead in race campaign
Jackson mayoral candidate and Democrat Frank Melton has raised $600,268 more than Republican opponent Rick Whitlow heading into Tuesday’s general election.
Campaign finance reports filed Tuesday show Melton has raised $617,000 this year and Whitlow $16,732.
“The message that I’m getting is that people want good government,” Melton said.
Melton, 54, a former television executive and director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, beat Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. in the May 3 primary to become the Democratic Party’s nominee.
More than $1 million total has been raised by four candidates running for the four-year position, which pays $120,000 annually. The winner will take office July 4.
Johnson raised $444,559 before the primary. At that point, Melton was $10,200 ahead of him. Johnson, too, was supposed to have filed a report but hadn’t by the 5 p.m. close of City Hall on Tuesday.
Clarion Ledger
6/1/5
