JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Jackson city leaders set a date for a new Ward 3 election Tuesday.
They also heard an update on procedure changes in awarding community improvement contracts.
After a judge ordered a new trial for the Ward 3 election, Jackson city council members set a date. Voters return to the polls Tuesday July 24 to again decide between councilwoman Lorita Cooper-Stokes and former Jackson educator and insurance agent Joyce Jackson.
A jury found that the February election was filled with illegal activity by poll workers.
"I'm not going to be a part of the problem, but I will be a part of a solution, and I think the people need to know that when they go to the polls to vote, that whoever they vote for, that vote should be counted for that person," said Ward 3 candidate Joyce Jackson.
Councilwoman Stokes did not attend the meeting.
In other events, Ward 1 councilman Quentin Whitwell asked for a report following an investigation of the awarding of contracts in the Community Improvement Division.
The investigation was the result of allegations that relatives of employees were being given contracts.
"We need to be forthcoming. If there was anyone that was determined to have done wrong that they were either re-assigned, terminated, they were sited or whatever. We haven't gotten any information," said Whitwell.
"There was some concern about a relative receiving contracts. That was an allegation that was made. There was a relative that worked in community improvement, but he did not award contracts. But just that perception caused us to go and look at reassignment, looked at where we need to better use that individual, and we did that," said Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr.
The mayor said an investigation found inadequacies in the process that have now been rectified and new procedures will eliminate future problems.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
