There are 21 candidates for mayor of Jackson. I’ve prepared a simple list to help voters get their bearings.
The serious candidates are John Hohrn, Kim Wade, Rodney DePriest, Socrates Garrett, Tim Henderson, Delano Funches and Marcus Wallace.
Of these, I prefer DePriest, Hohrn and Wade, in that order. The primary is April 1.
Incumbent mayor Lumumba needs to do us all a favor and drop out. He has run the city into the ground and now faces felony bribery charges.
Here’s the list and a brief summary:
Delano Funches - Democratic -- Funches is a Jackson attorney. His campaign slogan is "Building a Brighter Future for Jackson" with emphasis on crime, infrastructure and supporting our educators. He's a lifelong Jackson resident and attended Jackson State.
James E. Hopkins - Democratic -- Hopkins is founder of a grassroots organization called Reset Jackson, which organizes violence prevention rallies and community clean ups. Affordable housing is a main theme and he wants to sell dilapidated houses to Jackson residents for a dollar to encourage home ownership.
LaKeisha J. Crye - Democratic -- She has been active in trying to resolve the water crisis in Utica with the rallying cry "My People in Utica are Suffering." She wrote a letter to Gov. Tate Reeves asking for help, saying residents have been without water for three months. She posts, "The brave new Jackson requires a brave new captain and creative transformation." She has a master’s in sociology from Jackson State. She is a psychiatric nurse.
Albert Wilson - Democratic -- Wilson's website states: "Albert graduated from Jackson State University in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He has over 30 years of experience in business, technology, social service, and community development. Before becoming the full-time executive director of Genesis and Light Center, Albert worked in the corporate world as a computer professional for companies such as MCI WorldCom and Fermi Laboratories in Batavia, Ill., and as a geometry teacher in the Jackson Public School District." He says he is happily married with three children and is a member of the Greater Pearlie Grove MB Church in Jackson.
John Horhn - Democratic -- Seventy year old John Horhn has been a previous candidate for mayor. He has been a state senator for more than 20 years. He was a former state tourism director. Hohrn has been endorsed by a group of influential Jacksonians, including Robert Gibbs and Jeff Good. His platform is to grow the city, attract resources and unite leadership.
Marcus Wallace - Democratic -- Two-term Edwards mayor. His company, M.A.C. & Associates, was caught up in the Siemens water meter controversy as a subcontractor. Wallace's company was accused of being unqualified to install water meters and a minority contractor front for other interests.
Ali M. Shamsiddeen - Democratic -- Shamsiddeen is having trouble meeting the residency requirement and will probably be disqualified, although he is fighting this. He was a Jackson municipal court judge for 15 years up until 2022.
Kourtney Christopher Page - Democratic -- I could not find much about this candidate on the web. He is a photojournalist and a radio show host. He is a graduate of JPS and JSU.
Tim Henderson - Democratic -- A retired lieutenant colonel, his website states, "Mr. Timothy Henderson is a dedicated leader with over 25 years of experience in space acquisitions, space operations, and community leadership. With a background that spans the Department of Defense acquisitions and grassroots community development, Mr. Henderson brings a diverse and robust skill set to his mayoral candidacy for the city of Jackson. Committed to integrity, innovation, and inclusivity." His platform is to restore integrity and trust, prioritize public safety and enhance cleanliness and pride.
Socrates Garrett - Democratic -- Garrett is a well-known Jackson mover and shaker who has received numerous city contracts over the years. He was one of the main contractors for Jackson's Savanna Waste Treatment Plant. The multi-million contract was mired in allegations of favoritism.
David Archie - Democratic -- He is a former Hinds County supervisor. He is known for having a temper tantrum after losing a vote for which he was arrested. He subsequently lost re-election and is suing to have that overturned. I couldn't find much about his campaign on the web.
James “Blue” Butler - Democratic -- Mystery candidate. I could not find out anything about him.
Keyshia E. Sanders - Democratic -- Constituent services manager and a grants administrator under Chokwe Lumumba. Convicted of felony wire fraud in connection with fake invoices. Had to repay $54,000 in restitution and serve five years of probation. Her legal problems may keep her off the ballot.
Chokwe A. Lumumba - Democratic -- The incumbent. Facing federal indictments for accepting bribes disguised as campaign contributions.
Zach Servis - Independent -- Servis has the most Facebook followers. His slogan is "Let's take our city back." He writes on Facebook, "Demand a government that works for us. End corruption and dysfunction keeping Jackson in the past. Build a city that doesn't just survive -- but thrives." He describes himself as "Father to 4. Husband. Minister. Music Maker. Entrepreneur."
Rodney DePriest - Independent -- DePriest grew up in south Jackson. His campaign emphasizes cooperation and working together to make Jackson a better place. His main priority is safety and racial reconciliation. His campaign slogan is "Better Together" and "Pray, Plan and Proceed." He owned and operated DePriest Construction for 20+ years and was a senior manager at Trustmark National Bank from 2012 – 2021. He was a Clinton alderman from 1993 to 2001. Served on the board of Jackson Downtown Partners and has been a deacon at First Baptist Church of Jackson.
Lille Stewart-Robinson - Independent -- Another mystery candidate.
Kim Wade - Independent -- Jackson real estate professional for four decades and talk show host. He writes, "I step forward to enlist fellow Jacksonians to stop Jackson's decline beyond the point of no return. The first thing needed is a change of direction, heart, and attitude. I suggest replacing it with a collective spirit of gratitude and thankfulness by Jacksonians and its leadership." He's bullish about the new Amazon data center stating, "Crucial to parlaying this investment is getting the schools located near the Amazon Data Center on Beasley Road, Callaway High School, and Kirksey Middle School in North Jackson Elementary up to a level five school rating consistently over the next five years."
Wilfred Beal - Republican -- Former city of Jackson employee, he touts his experience as a professional city manager and his service on a national board for city managers. He is a former state aide for U. S. Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia. Northsider John Zehr posted a 22 minute You Tube video interview of Beal.
Kenny Gee - Republican -- With a career in law enforcement, including being a Hinds County deputy sheriff, Gee's platform is "A stronger economy, safer neighborhoods and better quality of life."
Ponto Ronnie Downing - Republican -- Downing has run for mayor before. In 2021 he received 26 percent of the vote in the Republican primary. Downing, who has run for public office 11 times, is known for his unusual comments and unconventional perspective.
