A “scheduling conflict” will keep Stephen Jones from squaring off with his primary opponent in what was supposed to be a Democratic mayoral debate Feb. 25 at the Municipal Complex.
The issue has played out on Facebook since the Lowndes County Democratic Party first announced the event last week, and now party leaders are inviting the race’s two independent candidates to ensure an actual debate will take place.
Jones, who also represents Ward 5 on the city council, almost immediately objected to the party’s flyer – which noted that he and Leroy Brooks had been invited to the debate and included photos of both Democratic candidates – after party chair Kabir Karriem posted it Thursday on Facebook. Jones said he had not received an invitation.
An argument between Karriem and Jones ensued in the comments, and Jones made it official in a Facebook post Monday he would not attend a Feb. 25 debate.
“I wasn’t notified beforehand, and I had a prior engagement,” Jones told The Dispatch on Monday. “… This wouldn’t have happened if they would’ve contacted me from the start, before they even came up with it. My first knowledge of this was on Facebook.”
Jones claims that he did not receive an email from Karriem inviting him to the debate until Thursday, after Jones saw the Facebook post. He did not receive a physical letter until Saturday, he said. Both, he wrote, felt like “a rush to get it out since I brought public attention to the matter.” Jones also said the rush meant he would not have time to prepare for the debate.
“It seems unreasonable to expect a candidate to prepare for a debate after they have been notified of their participation post-event planning,” Jones wrote in a letter posted Monday on Facebook. “Common professional courtesy dictates that speakers should be informed well in advance of their inclusion in the event.”
Karriem told The Dispatch on Monday the party had to wait to issue the invitations until it held a hearing Feb. 10 to clear challenges issued against three Ward 2 Democratic candidates’ qualifications. The letter Jones received was dated Feb. 8, the day it was written but not delivered, Karriem said.
“It’s unfortunate that Councilman Jones has professed that he won’t be attending because of communication issues, which is so untrue,” Karriem said. “We tried to hand deliver Councilman Jones a letter after the hearing that we had to certify the election. We were not able to do that, so I sent him an email while I was in Jackson and I also had a letter mailed to his home, so he would be aware.”
Karriem said, since the event will be held at the Municipal Complex, he had to submit written requests to Chief Operations Officer Jammie Garrett and Court Administrator Wendy Blunt to use the facility. Jones, in his role of councilman, should have known a debate was set to happen.
Brooks, who represents District 5 on the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors, also shared his thoughts on the matter in Facebook posts and speaking to The Dispatch.
Brooks told The Dispatch Monday that he received his invitation to the debate when Jones did, and the candidates had “ample time” to prepare.
“He should have been planning for this,” Brooks said. “I think it’s a cop-out. I think he’s afraid to come and face the public. And so, if he doesn’t change his mind, I hope the public will recognize that this is not the kind of person they want for their mayor.”
Brooks also claimed by not attending the debate, Jones is avoiding hard questions from the public about his track record as councilman.
But Jones said he is “happy” to debate Brooks when he is available to do so. In a letter to Karriem dated Monday, Jones included 16 alternate dates he would be available, all after the beginning of March. Jones also asked Karriem to remove his name and likeness from the party’s debate flyer, since he will not be present Feb. 25.
“I’ve never shied away from the people,” Jones told The Dispatch. “Never. Anybody that wants to say anything to me, or anybody that wants to ask me anything, my line has always been ‘open to the people.’”
Karriem told The Dispatch that the party intends to proceed with the event as scheduled, and the invitation to Jones is still open. Brooks said he will be there regardless.
Since the Democrats opened the debate Monday to the two independent candidates, businessman Bill Strauss has agreed to participate, Karriem confirmed. There was no official word from local pastor Darren Leach on his intentions by press time.
The debate will begin at 6 p.m. Moderators are Joey Barnes from WCBI, Tanya Carter from WTVA in Tupelo and Dispatch Managing Editor Zack Plair.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
