Council questions if Melton well enough to remain as mayor

The Clarion-Ledger, 1/6/9

Members of the Jackson City Council are questioning whether Mayor Frank Melton can continue to run the city with his chronic health problems.

Melton checked into St. Dominic Hospital this past weekend for the third time since November. A city spokeswoman said she did not know when Melton would leave the hospital, saying only that he would stay Monday night.

But Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker said the city is still running smoothly.

“We know what our jobs are, and we do them,” he said.

A court document released last week shed new light on Melton’s health. It says the mayor is in end stage cardiomyopathy. His cardiologist has recommended a heart transplant, but Melton does not want one, the order says.