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Frank Melton
Frank Melton (born 1950) is mayor of Jackson from 2005 until his death in 2009 on the night of the Democratic primary run-off, which he lost. He was elected in 2005 with the slogan “Help is on the way!” The former television executive and flamboyant gadfly had vowed to rid the city of crime within 90 days and was a popular choice of mainstream media, including the Gannett-owned Clarion-Ledger, which endorsed him even though the editors knew that he was lying under oath in a lawsuit for providing a faulty memo to the paper.
At his July 4, 2005, inauguration, Melton vowed to run all the “thugs” out of town. However, on his watch, crime has skyrocketed, and several of the young accused felons who live with in his home have been arrested.
City management has also faltered, with the city budget in shambles. Citation Needed Melton has been under multiple criminal indictments for illegally carrying weapons and for destroying a so-called “crackhouse” at 1305 Ridgeway St. in 2006, and by mid-2007 was under investigation by the FBI. The FBI indicted him and former bodyguard Michael Recio on three counts for the duplex attack. At the trial in early 2009, the jury could not reach a decision, and Judge Dan Jordan declared a mistrial. A new trial is scheduled for May 11, 2009.
The Jackson Free Press has won awards for investigative reporting about Melton, including breaking the story about the 1305 Ridgeway St. demolition.
Read the JFP Melton Blog/Archive here.
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Mayor Accused of Taking Law Into His Own Hands, NPR.org, July 11, 2008
