Stringfellow at the Ledge says:
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. apparently does not intend to alter any routine during his administration’s waning days.
Johnson, for instance, plans to host his monthly ward meeting Thursday at Free Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Ward 5. City department heads will be present to give updates and answer questions.
This is admirable, given that Johnson lost six of the city’s seven wards — including Ward 5 — to Frank Melton in the May 3 Democratic primary.
But what Democrats probably are more interested in is whether Johnson plans to give Melton the same boost Johnson received eight years ago: an endorsement.
Melton, a former TV executive, is heavily favored against Republican Rick Whitlow in the June 7 general election. The new mayor takes over July 4.
Full article here.
Previous Comments
At dinner last night, people were talking about how awful this column is (including some who are normally fans of Stringfellow). Why in the world is it Johnson’s responsibility to endorse Melton if he doesn’t think he’ll be a good mayor. Oh, Mr. Stringfellow is now the flag-bearer for the Democratic Party. This is partisanship at its worstóendorse a mayoral candidate just because they have adopted a certain party!? What smart person would do that? Of course, what makes it weirder is that Melton made it clear that he ran as a Democrat only so he can win. Thus, why would a strong Democrat feel compelled to endorse him!?! I understand why Dowdy thinks Johnson should endorse Melton, but why Stringfellow feels so strongly about it escapes me (and others). It sounds to me like he’s just piling onóor figuring out yet another way to dance on Johnson’s mayoral grave. His columns get weirder by the week. Not following at all.
#137450 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 26 2005
My guess is the Mayor wishes the best for both candidates. I think he is on record as complimenting both men, especially Melton’s civic leadership, and as being a democratic supporter – heck a party member too! The conventional wisdom is that the general election was May 3rd. June 7th is an after thought, so there is no real reason to endorse Melton or Whitlow. I certainly haven’t seen anything to make one think otherwise from the mainstream media. Sorry, lamestream! If he is implying that a horde of Johnson voters combined with the “real” republicans are going to upset Mayor Melton, then he is…well… yeah, I’m not following it at all either.
#137451 | Author: tortoise | Date: May 26 2005
Yeah, that is the other point. Does Stringfellow think Melton *needs* the mayor’s endorsement to win? Maybe he’s privy to a SurveyUSA poll we don’t know about, yet. ;-D
#137452 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 26 2005
