The city of Jackson has elected a new mayor, but the winner is no stranger to the office. On Tuesday, with over 85 percent of the vote, two-time former mayor Harvey Johnson reclaimed his position as the city’s leader.
“Thank you for the confidence that you have demonstrated and that you have shown in our campaign and our leadership,” said Harvey Johnson in front of his campaign headquarters after declaring victory.
Johnson defeated his opponents in a landslide victory with his closest competitor, Indepen-dent Rick Whitlow, receiving less than 10 percent of the vote.
“We still need all hands on deck,” Johnson told his crowd of about 300 supporters, police officers and city officials after Tuesday’s general election. “We’re going to move this city ahead and make sure we get Jackson back on track.”
Johnson will replace Interim Mayor Leslie McLemore on July 6. McLemore has been serving as Interim since Mayor Frank Melton died while in office on May 7.
One Jackson supporter said he felt that the city of Jackson got exactly what they wanted.
“Tonight was evidence that Jackson is ready to move forward to the next level,” said Walter Lee Johnson, Jr., Harvey Johnson’s pastor. “It’s an awesome night for Jackson, Miss. to allow a visionary man of his capability and caliber to actually get the opportunity again to move the city forward with vision, integrity, structure and accountability,” said Walter Johnson.
Johnson’s campaign headquarters was lively and full of spirit, especially when the upbeat Johnson excited the crowd with his proclamation of hope.
“We need hope in this community,” said Johnson. “We’re going to hope that every citizen that wants to work in Jackson gets the opportunity to work. We are going to make sure that everyone has hope; we’re going to make sure that west Jackson has hope; northeast Jackson has hope, hope in Virden addition, and hope in Presidential Hills. Hope in the city of Jackson.
“Everyone has a seat at the table, but there is a price to be paid,” said Johnson. “You have to pay the price of respect, tolerance, goodwill, understanding and cooperation to sit around this table. We have to do a better job of working together in this city.”
The mayor will serve a four-year term and will earn $120,000 a year.
Johnson’s competitors in the general election were Republi-can George Lambus and Independents Robert Amos, David Archie, Charlotte Reeves and Rick Whitlow.
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