Jackson Jambalaya

Nothing like county party politics where your friend may be your enemy and your enemy your friend. County Republican parties have their conventions tomorrow. The battles are growing hot today as calls are made, alliances formed, friendships at times rent asunder, and the email barrages blow up the bandwidth. The Madison County Party is choosing a new chairman tomorrow to replace Mary McLaurin. John Taylor, former owner of AJ's on the Lake and currently in chapter 7 bankruptcy, sent out this email today:

"My name is John Taylor, former Chairman of the Madison County Republican Executive Committee. I am sure that you are aware that every four years the Mississippi Republican Party reorganizes itself beginning at the precinct level at 10am on April 28th. Later that day at 3pm in Canton a, county convention is convened to select a new Executive Committee and delegates for the state convention.

If you plan on participating, and I encourage you to do so, I would welcome your support for the office of Chairman again. I have served on Madison County Republican Executive Committee for twelve years. I participated in the Capitol City Republicans before that. I was fortunate to serve four years as Vice-Chairman under Judge Dan Jordan. During that tenure I was responsible for hiring and training over 132 poll workers for each election cycle.

I was elected County Chairman four years later, where with the help of a solid team on the committee, started the Madison County Teenage Republicans. Madison County was selected as the site of the state convention for TARS. We were able to raise close to fifty three thousand dollars through our President Day Galas and other fundraisers. This money was used to support our conservative, Republican state-wide candidates and district wide candidates. We introduced a county web site and e-mail newsletter.

I say all this to emphasize that we do not want to leave our local election process to anyone who has no experience. I welcome your support. Please vote for a pro-John Taylor delegate at your precinct.

Warm Regards,
John Taylor"


I talked to Huggie Bear this morning and he said the word on the street is either Bill Billingsley or Russ Latino will challenge Mr. Taylor. One rumor is the good ole boys such as Jim Herring asked him to run. Hmmm.... how many good ole boy networks are there in Madison County? The Jim Herring one? The Gene McGhee machine? Bob Montgomery and his group? Tim-Rudy-Gerald-Karl? The Queen. The Blackmons. I can't keep track of them all.

Whoever is chosen will have some big shoes to fill. Mary McLaurin set an example for others to follow as chairwoman. She is passionate, motivated, and threw herself 100% into the job. She cares about her county and the Republican Party. Mary McLaurin stood up for what was right even what it was not popular. Not many party chairmen stand up to a machine as she did with the Madison County Board of Supervisors. Party chairmen usually stay above the fray or throw in their lot with the machine. Not Mary McClaurin. She marched up to Canton with her “Crazy Madison Republican Women” and challenged Tim and Rudy. When the Republicans needed boots on the ground, she always managed to get her troops together and show up for battle.

I was not going to make any comments about the race. However, it has come to my attention that Bill Billingsley was blamed for one of my posts. Readers of this website are familiar with Bill as he frequently comments under his own name and treats those in disagreement with him with courtesy and respect.

I published a story last week about the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing of John Taylor. I’ve posted similar stories about Schimmel’s and other failed local businesses. Bill Billingsley was blamed for leaking this information to me. That is simply not true. Mr. Billingsley is not the only person hurt by closing of AJ’s. I have sources everywhere. There are people I know who worked at AJ’s. People who unexpectedly could not pay their bills. There are the bankruptcy lawyers who give me scuttlebutt from the courthouse. Then there is my own curiosity as I pay attention to local business such as AJ’s that suddenly shut down.One could go crazy trying to figure out my sources but a good man does not deserve to be smeared when he never told me anything. They do have a dispute in bankruptcy. The two men obviously have a disagreement over a business gone bad. However, Bill Billingsley did not bring his dispute to me nor did one of his friends. If the Taylor supporters are spreading this garbage, then they need to stop and John Taylor should tell them to knock it off.

The process tomorrow is Republicans go to their voting precinct at 9:45 AM. It only takes a few minutes but a delegate to the county convention is selected. The county convention is tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM. The delegates will select an executive committee. The committee will then elect a chairman.

Forget the experience or old blood v. new blood arguments. If you are attending tomorrow, you know what the challenges facing Madison County are. Pick someone who actually showed up for the battle when it was being fought, not someone who thinks they deserve it or served the party but disappeared whenever there was combat. John Taylor served the party, worked the precincts, and put in his time. Bill Billingsley fought Madison County corruption, pounded the pavement for good government candidates last year, and showed you can disagree without being disagreeable. Russ Latino took the Madison County Board of Supervisors to court when they played their redistricting games. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. The most important thing to do tomorrow as a Madison County Republican, is show up.