WEST POINT — The man removed and arrested at West Point”s Tuesday Board of Selectmen meeting claims he was improperly barred from making a public statement.
Harold Lathon, owner of H.D. Lathon & Associates business services in Jackson, was forcibly removed from the meeting when he refused to be silent and subsequently charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
A two-time mayoral candidate who lost both times to Mayor Scott Ross, Lathon insisted his presence at the meeting had nothing to do with Ross” announcement two weeks ago he would take an indefinite leave. Vice Mayor and Ward 4 Selectman Keith McBrayer was scheduled to preside over the meeting until Ross appeared at City Hall approximately 30 minutes prior to the meeting.
In fact, it was McBrayer who received two requests from Lathon on Nov. 3 and deemed the stated topics too vague to be given a spot on the agenda.
McBrayer was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but City Attorney Orlando Richmond confirmed McBrayer consulted him before denying Lathon”s requests.
“There”s a blank on the form for the topic. The first one contains two words: economic development,” explained Richmond. “The second request under topic says ”City of West Point vision, growth and transparency.”
Richmond and Lathon agree that discussion of economic development is better reserved for executive session to avoid prematurely revealing sensitive business possibilities. But Richmond said Lathon should have approached the West Point-Clay County Growth Alliance or sought a personal audience with one or more selectmen to discuss the topic.
Reached Wednesday for comment, Lathon expressed a lack of confidence in the Growth Alliance and questioned the $100,000 the city pays the economic development entity annually to attract business and industry.
Lathon also criticized Ross” $50,000 salary for “part-time” work and the $8,400 paid to Richmond, whom Lathon accused of operating “as if he”s the mayor”s personal attorney.”
With regard to economic development, Lathon wondered aloud why the board refused to hear someone with his experience when West Point and Clay County are in desperate need of jobs.
“The mayor feels maybe threatened because I know more about how to run a city than he does,” he said.
During his career, which includes serving as Jackson”s director of economic development during Mayor Harvey Johnson”s first administration, Lathon claims to have attracted $300 million and 2,000 jobs to Mississippi.
While serving in Jackson, he claims to have played a major role in bringing a $200 million Duke Energy plant locating to Jackson.
As executive director of the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Lathon helped bring a $30 million, 900-job Dollar General distribution center to Indianola.
“Had I been allowed to speak, from my previous experience in economic development, I had found several opportunities for low hanging fruit (jobs) in West Point,” he said.
Lathon scoffed at suggestions his request to speak before the board was political opportunism due to uncertainty surrounding Ross” whereabouts and status and insists he would have requested to speak regardless.
He says he hasn”t ruled out a third campaign for mayor.
“We”re taking a look at it. I”m keeping all my options open,” said Lathon. “I don”t believe Ross has the city”s best interest at heart. He”s spread too thin. He was president of the Institutions of Higher Learning. He”s trying to run a law firm. And amidst the constant bickering and arguing the city has no real leadership.”
Reflecting on Tuesday”s events, Lathon said he felt compelled to make a statement.
“If I had it to do over again I probably would have done it a little different. What bothered me was I felt that as a citizen I should have the right to speak. I know others have voiced their opinions before with even less than what I had submitted,” he said.
At least one selectman agreed Lathon had a valid complaint.
“A lot of people the mayor has allowed to talk don”t meet the requirements. We could have let him speak,” said Ward 5 Selectman Jasper Pittman.
West Point police report Lathon was bonded out by a bail bondsman for $661. He is due to appear in West Point Municipal Court Nov. 16. Both charges carry up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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