JACKSON, Miss.—Crumbling infrastructure, blight and crime-prevention strategies were among the issues seven Jackson City Council candidates discussed while speaking to South Jackson residents during a March 10 forum.
Malcolm May, Jonathan Cottrell, Ray McCants, Emon Thompson, Daniel LaPatrick Walker, Lee Scott, and Kevin Parkinson each attended the forum, discussing their solutions to the capital city’s challenges.
The Association of South Jackson Neighborhoods, the American Medical Response and the nonprofit group Southern Echo partnered to host the forum at the Willowwood Community Center.
Councilman Brian Grizzell, the incumbent for Ward 4, was in Washington D.C., on the day of the forum and was not able to attend but sent a representative to speak to his constituents. You can find the full list of candidates running for the Jackson City Council here.
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Candidates Who Attended The Forum:
Malcolm May (Ward 4)
Jonathan Cottrell (Ward 6)
Ray McCants (Ward 6)
Emon Thompson (Ward 6)
Daniel LaPatrick Walker (Ward 6)
Lee Scott (Ward 6)
Kevin Parkinson (Ward 7)
Malcolm May: ‘Fix The Foundation’
May is a lifelong Jackson resident and formerly worked for the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. He said he was motivated to run for the position because the street where he lives is used as an illegal dumpsite and he wants to see more unity among elected officials.
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Ward 4 City Council candidate Malcolm May said during the March 10, 2025, forum that South Jackson is a prime area for new housing development. “You’re sitting on a goldmine. Where can the city grow? It’s got to come this way,” he said. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=780%2C519&ssl=1″ alt=”A man in a black jacket speaks while holding a grey mic” class=”wp-image-331579″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Malcolm-May_credit-Shaunicy-Muhammad-1024×682.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>Ward 4 City Council candidate Malcolm May said during the March 10, 2025, forum that South Jackson is a prime area
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