Jackson Jambalaya

It's just priceless! And the june 2nd deadline, they knew nothing about....knowing nothing is their standard m.o. I noticed that Derrick has been silent, lately...now the big question...will he give the money back or will the NAACP step in and save his rearend?

This is the one you have to watch:

WLBT Sound Off: Hinds Co Supervisors

The Hinds grassroots is already contacting these other states to make them aware that Derrick Johnson IS NOT an attorney and to bring them up to speed on the Hinds County redistricting debacle. We're alerting the BAR associatons, AGs, Muni and County organizations in the other five states to bring them up to speed:

After completing Law School, Mr. Johnson joined the staff of Southern Echo, Inc., a non-
profit organization located in Jackson, Mississippi. Serving as the Regional Organizer for
Southern Echo; Mr. Johnson provided legal, technical and training support for
communities within 6 states across the south (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee,
Louisiana, Arkansas and South Carolina). Mr. Johnson is GIS (geographic information
system) and database management trained. He has provided redistricting services to
municipal and county governments across the state of Mississippi.

Nice to have Marsha back.

As you post your comments, are you giving the general public the proper information. For example: Does Mr. Johnson who is qualified to do redistricting, have to be an attorney. If so, why is it that Central Mississippi Planning Development District is not an attorney? I personally welcome statements as long as they are factual.

If this is George Smith, I have to know... What were you thinking when you were facing the Communications Committee?

And Mr. Smith, in your situation where he was hired under a Professional Services Contract - he has to be a PROFESSIONAL, or in this case as the contract states, an attorney.

Since he is not an attorney, you should have put the contract out to bid. You did not. From what I've read that is in violation of State Statute. Others better versed in the subject can probably comment more.

As to confusing the "general public"; we are not the general public; we are not the Clarion Ledger readership. We have followed the actions of the Hinds BOS and know exactly the facts because we watch/attended the meetings, read the contracts, followed the minutes, learned the processes and know what is going on with Hinds BOS.

For a great summary of what a majority of people here have concluded, go look at Marshall Ramsey's political cartoon posted on this blog.

No George, just as I told you at the BOS meeting - He doesn't have to be an attorney to do redistricting. But he does have to be an attorney for ya'll to use the "professional services" authority to issue him a contract without notice, public bid and meeting required parts of the MS Code before spending our tax dollars.

But, you and the board attorney both tried to explain to me, while reasoning as to the amount of his contract, that he was providing the Board and the County with "Legal Advice" to help them in this process and to getting DOJ approval. In fact, Crystal specifically asked me if "I didn't think that having an attorney do this would be an advantage." Frankly, I answered that no I didn't, but that was beside the point. But if you were hiring him to provide "legal advice" as you said when defending this contract, YES, HE DOES have to be an attorney.

As to your attempt to point to CMPDD - where both you and Derrick are on the board representing Hinds County, as the alternative. They charged neighboring counties $20k while you paid Derrick $40k (or, lets correct and say, TRIED to pay him that). The John Stennis group at MSU has been charging counties $6,500 - $7,500 to do their redistricting. So you didn't waste twice the county's money, your extravagence is SIX TIMES what you could have been paying. And then, maybe, you might have had someone do it that knew what they were doing and the plan would have been approved.

BTW, I am not an attorney, but I was well aware of the statute that says you cannot move voters within 60 days of the election. Sorry your consultant, Mr. Johnson - attorney or not, but supposedly hired at a premium to give you legal advice - didn't bother to tell you about this requirement prior to Monday's meeting.

OK Mr. Smith, if you want to trot out that argument I will deal with it as Pete didn't really address it in the meeting that day.

As you know, Hinds County, along with several other GOVERNMENT entities, created CMPDD. Since it is a creation of Hinds County and Hinds is a shareholder, obviously the law concerning professional services agreements, 19-3-69, does not apply. Same thing if the BOS hired a full time redistricting employee and put him on the payroll, withheld taxes, and paid salary and benefits, AS AN EMPLOYEE.

However, YOU did not do that. You awarded a professional services contract to Mr. Johnson without bidding it out. Under the law cited above, your actions were illegal. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Mr. Johnson can still get a contract but he has to BID for it. He can't have an attorney work for him and advertise it as you know since the Bar would take action against him. Don't believe me? Ask Steve Patterson.

However Mr. Smith, I've gotten to the point where I do not believe anything you say, with all due respect.

1. You told everyone the county paid for the radios. That was not true.

2. You told everyone the MWCC had approved the purchase. That was not true as I have thoroughly documented.

3. You told me at the Feb 22 meeting the county HAD placed the hiring of Mr. Johnson on the agenda AND placed notice of that meeting on the website. Neither were true.

Please try to disagree with me on these points Mr. Smith as I have them all on video.

I busted your nephew two years ago when he tried to rip off the City of Jackson for nearly a million dollars and stopped him cold. Now what is happening is the illegal contracts, illegal hirings, and illegal purchases by Hinds County are being exposed for everyone to see.

As you post your comments, are you giving the general public the proper information.

You are so lame Smith. Hinds is majorly screwed up and you think you uniquely possess the "proper information". You are a joke.

Y'all don't get it. George is big time worried that Superstar Bobby Graham has so f'd the pooch with his ignorant meddling that attitudes in the south of Georgie's district this time 'round won't be enough to hold off Kenny Stokes' upset bid. Let's face it. What is one idiot Sup (Smith) versus another (Stokes)?