What Happened to Change We Can All Believe In?

As we inch closer to the big primary runoff showdown in Jackson on Tuesday it apparently is becoming very popular for every other candidate who did not make it in to the top two to chime in with their endorsements.  We found out today that John Horhn will give his endorsement to Harvey Johnson.  Brenda Scott apparently has also endorsed Johnson and Robert Johnson will announce his support for Marshand Crisler later today.  Stay tuned, still waiting on the rest of the single digit winners to make their endorsements.

I’m not real sure what the real attraction of Harvey Johnson is to those who are endorsing him, but I have a feeling its a fear of the unknown.  The unknown is Marshand Crisler in this case.  No one knows for sure what Marshand Crisler could be as mayor.  We all know what Johnson has done as mayor and the results speak for themselves and if you don’t know what I mean just stroll through Jackson one day and witness it for yourself. 

I think it even goes deeper than that though.  These people endorsing Johnson know that he is the ”real” black candidate in this race.  It is no secret that Marshand Crisler is getting a large majority of the white vote still left in the city and I think that scares them.   They are scared of what impact that might have on Crisler and his dealings as mayor potentially.  As a result, they are lining up behind Harvey Johnson who they know will protect the black interest in Jackson.

This kind of backwards thinking has made Jackson what it is today.  I hope that if Johnson is elected he can further drill Jackson into the ground and the good people of Jackson can be proud of the man they thought so highly of to run out of office after 8 miserable years only to bring him back 4 years later.   

I’m not saying if Crisler won that he would be a great mayor, only time will tell on that.  What I do think though is that there is a strong racial undertone to this election and Crisler is being shunned because he is getting white support.  Ultimately, it should be more about the city’s best interest and not protecting ones own self interest.    

Lastly, I find quite a bit of irony in the rallying behind Johnson, who has had 8 suspect years of mayor, instead of Crisler, the potential agent of change in the city.  What happened to Change We Can All Believe In?