As voters in Jackson contemplate electing a mayor and a new slate of leaders to the Jackson City Council, the Mississippi Free Press listened to people who live and work in the capital city as they spoke about Jackson’s challenges, the issues they care about and what they’re looking for from the candidates.
Incumbent Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is seeking a third term but faces a host of challengers in the April 1 primary and June 3 general election following allegations of bribery and a federal indictment.
Ward 1: Bethan Read
Read is a Jackson native who spent 13 years in Canton before moving back to the capital city. She is a former volunteer with Keep Jackson Beautiful.
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Jackson, Miss., native Bethan Read told the Mississippi Free Press that the capital city needs to focus on code enforcement and educating residents on city ordinances. Photo courtesy of Bethan Read ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?fit=295%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?fit=780%2C794&ssl=1″ onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?resize=780%2C794&ssl=1″ alt=”a photo of a woman smiling” class=”wp-image-331649″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?resize=1006%2C1024&ssl=1 1006w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?resize=295%2C300&ssl=1 295w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?resize=768%2C782&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?resize=1200%2C1222&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?resize=400%2C407&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read.jpg?w=1333&ssl=1 1333w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bethan-Read_courtesy-of-Bethan-Read-1006×1024.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>Jackson, Miss., native Bethan Read told the Mississippi Free Press that the capital city needs to focus on code enforcement and educating residents on city ordinances. Photo courtesy of Bethan Read
“We’ve got to have a strong leader to pull this city together.” —Bethan Read
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Q: What are the most pressing issues in Jackson right now?
A: Read cited code enforcement, creek maintenance and residents having a lack of education about the existing ordinances. “I’m not in an HOA. We don’t have covenants and bylaws for things that the City needs to take care of and they just don’t do it and people do not know the ordinances,” Read said.
Q: What do you think is going well in Jackson?
A: “Nonprofits that are taking care of the city.”
Q: How can Jackson improve in the next 4
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