WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Melton, Whitlow in Final Stretch

Melton, Whitlow in Final Stretch

By Bert Case
bert@wlbt.net

The race for mayor in Jackson is down to its final week, and both candidates are running very low-key campaigns.  Democrat Frank Melton and Republican Rick Whitlow face each other in the June 7 General Election. 

We went to look for Melton campaigning Wednesday and instead found him turning on a fire hydrant to get water into the Farish Street YMCA swimming pool.  He has volunteered to teach kids to swim there for the past 19 years.  Melton vowed to tear down some delapidated housing in the area, the first day he is in office, if he is elected. 

Republican Rick Whitlow, a former TV news and sports anchorman, was in downtown Jackson handing out campaign literature. Whitlow says despite Melton's 62.8 percent win in the Democratic primary, he thinks he can win the general election.

"I think people who voted -- they wanted to make a point.  They wanted to make a statement that they wanted change, and they have made that statement," Whitlow said. "Now if we can get a lot of those who crossed over to get back voting Republican, the numbers are going to be very interesting Tuesday night."