By Othor Cain,
Contributing Writer,
A simmering power struggle between the Jackson City Council and Mayor John Horhn has come to a head, not over qualifications, but over dollars and process.
In a 6–1 vote, the Council confirmed the mayor’s selection of Dr. Rashall Brackney as Jackson’s next police chief, clearing the way for her to take office April 1. While council members voiced confidence in her credentials and leadership background, the debate quickly shifted from public safety to fiscal authority.
At issue is the chief’s salary.
The approved city budget allocates a little more than $133,000 for the position. However, Mayor Horhn offered Dr. Brackney $150,000, nearly $17,000 above what had been budgeted. That decision, some council members argue, placed them in an uncomfortable and avoidable bind.
Under Jackson’s governing structure, the City Council controls the purse strings of municipal government. Several members openly scorned the mayor during recent meetings, saying he failed to follow established protocol by not first seeking Council approval for the higher salary before extending the offer.
“This isn’t about the chief,” one council member emphasized. “It’s about respecting the legislative authority of this body.”
The tension was especially visible in Ward 2. Councilwoman Tina Clay wrestled publicly with the salary discrepancy during the confirmation hearings. Though she ultimately voted to confirm Brackney, Clay later signaled regret over how the process unfolded.
At a subsequent council meeting, Clay asked whether she could rescind her vote, saying she wanted to change it because the mayor had circumvented established procedure. Her request underscored the depth of frustration among some members who feel they were forced to choose between supporting a qualified police chief and defending the Council’s fiscal authority.
Despite the discord, …Brackney is scheduled to begin her tenure April 1. Before then, the Council will have to reconvene to address the salary adjustment formally. Whether members approve the $150,000 figure or hold firm to the originally budgeted amount could signal how this administration and Council will navigate power, protocol, and partnership moving forward. Council President Brian Grizzell suggested the mayor “should pay the difference out of his budget,” which would not require council approval.
For a city seeking stability in public safety and governance, the coming vote may prove just as consequential as the confirmation itself.
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