Bribery scandal: What happens to mayor's office in Jackson? Is a special election possible?
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced Wednesday that he has been indicted as part of the Jackson bribery scandal, calling it "political prosecution."
Lumumba released a video statement at 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday. It read, in part:
"To be clear, I have never accepted a bribe of any type. As mayor, I have always acted in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson. We believe this to be a political prosecution against me, primarily designed to destroy my credibility and reputation within the community."
After Lumumba's indictment, questions remain as to if he will resign as the City of Jackson's mayor and what that means going forward.
Here is what could happen as the case moves forward.
If Lumumba chose to resign, Mississippi Code § 21-8-19 states he must appoint a member of the Jackson City Council to assume his duties as mayor. It's not clear whether an indicted-but-not-convicted individual has the right to appoint a successor.
If he was incapable of making that appointment or if he was "unable to attend to the duties of his office for a period of sixty consecutive days," then the council would decide on a member to become mayor for the rest of Lumumba's term.
If Lumumba resigned and did not appoint a member of the council to serve the rest of his term, Mississippi statute states the council would select a member to serve as mayor for the rest of Lumumba's term.
But first, the council would hold a special meeting where they will vote the mayor incapable of completing his term.
Lumumba was first elected in 2017 with 55.14% of the vote, then reelected in a blowout victory in 2021 with 69.23% of the vote. His second term was to end on July 1, 2025. In October, he again announced his intention to run for a third term as mayor.
Eight opponents have already lined up to run against Lumumba, including State Sen. John Horhn, who has run against Lumumba in the past.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What happens to Jackson, MS mayor's office if Lumumba resigns after indictment
