Harvey Johnson, Jr.
| Harvey Johnson, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Speaking at a campaign rally at Belhaven Heights Park in Jackson, 2009 | |
| Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office July 6, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Leslie B. McLemore (Interim) |
| Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi | |
| In office July 1997 – July 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | J. Kane Ditto |
| Succeeded by | Frank Melton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1947 Vicksburg, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy Ezell Johnson |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Website | Mayor's Office |
Harvey Johnson, Jr. (born December 21, 1946),[1][2] is the current mayor and first African American mayor of Jackson, Mississippi.
[edit] Biography
Harvey Johnson, Jr. was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and attended the Vicksburg Public Schools, graduating from Rosa A. Temple High School. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Tennessee State University and a master's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati.[3]
His professional career includes the founding of the Mississippi Institute of Small Towns, a non-profit agency developed to assist small economically depressed towns with minority leadership with housing, community development and infrastructure needs.
In 1993, Johnson ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Jackson, placing third in the Democratic primary behind two white candidates, incumbent mayor J. Kane Ditto and former mayor Dale Danks. But in 1997, Johnson defeated Ditto in the Democratic primary, and later defeated Republican opponent Charlotte Reeves in the general election, becoming Jackson's first African-American mayor.
Supporters credited Johnson with overseeing a dramatic renaissance in the city, leading the charge for several projects to help revive a decaying downtown area, including the revitalization of the Farish Street entertainment district and the strong passage of a controversial bond issue to build a convention center. Critics charged that he was an unresponsive leader who was not appropriately concerned with the city's large crime problem, neglected the maintenance of streets, and did little to curb the exodus of Jackson's upper- and middle-class residents to places outside the city limits.
During his reelection bid in 2001, Johnson faced off against Republican challenger, C. Daryl Neely, a city councilman. It was the first time in the city's history that two African American mayoral candidates faced each other in the general election. Johnson soundly defeated Neely with 61% of the vote.[2]
In 2005, Johnson was challenged in the Democratic primary by Frank Melton, a controversial TV station manager who promised to solve the city's crime problem in 90 days while giving few specific crime plans, making crime the central focus of the election. Critics charged that Johnson said crime was only a "perception," although his perception complaints were, in fact, about the "perception of hopelessness" that he argued that crime sensationalism by the media promoted in the city. Even though Johnson did not actually say that crime was only a "perception," the phrase "perception of crime" was used widely by opponents and critics of the incumbent mayor. Melton defeated the incumbent by 63 percent of the vote in the Democratic Primary. Melton went on to easily defeat Republican challenger Rick Whitlow in the general election and succeeded Johnson as mayor of Jackson.
Johnson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Johnson is also an alum of National Urban Fellows, class of 1976.
In early 2009, Johnson once again became a candidate for Mayor of Jackson. On Tuesday, May 5, 2009, he led a crowded field of ten candidates in the Democratic primary. However, with only 28% of the vote, Johnson was forced into a runoff with City Councilman Marshand Crisler, who finished a close second with 27% of the vote.[4] In the runoff two weeks later, Johnson defeated Crisler, winning in five of the seven wards, despite being outspent four to one.[4][5] In a city that votes heavily Democratic, Johnson handily defeated Republican challenger George Lambus and four independent candidates in the June 2nd general election.[1][4] Johnson's election has made him become the city's first three-term mayor since Dale Danks.[4]
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Harvey Johnson, Jr. |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Agnew, Ronnie (2009-05-24). "The new Harvey Johnson is needed". The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS). http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905200362. Retrieved 2009-05-25.[dead link]
- ^ a b "1st Black Mayor Of Jackson, MS, Wins 2nd Term". Jet at Findarticles.com. 2005-06-25. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_2_100/ai_75950923/. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "Biography". Harvey Johnson for Mayor. January 2009. http://harveyjohnsonformayor.com/bio.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ a b c d Goldstein, Blair (2009-05-20). "'Another chance' for ex-Jackson mayor". The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS). http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905200362. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ Stringfellow, Eric (2009-05-25). "Johnson has been charged to get city 'back on track'". The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS). http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905200362. Retrieved 2009-05-25.[dead link]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by J. Kane Ditto |
Mayor of Jackson, MS 1997–2005 |
Succeeded by Frank Melton |
| Preceded by Leslie B. McLemore Interim |
Mayor of Jackson, MS 2009– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
