Councilman Stokes Urges Mayor Lumumba to Consider a Leave of Absence

Jackson: So, there’s some drama brewing in the Jackson City Council. Councilman Kenneth Stokes has put a resolution on the agenda asking Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba to take a leave of absence. This comes after Lumumba was indicted last November in a bribery scandal. Stokes thinks it’s time for the mayor to step aside for the good of the city.

Stokes believes that Lumumba’s situation is casting a shadow over Jackson. He feels that if the mayor takes a break, it might help the city heal. Stokes said, “We’re not saying he’s guilty or innocent, but we need to put Jackson first.”

The whole thing started when Lumumba, along with some others, was indicted for allegedly accepting bribes from developers. They were supposedly trying to turn a downtown property into a hotel. Turns out, those developers were actually working with the FBI.

Lumumba is accused of pushing a city employee to speed up a project deadline that would benefit these developers, all while he was on a yacht in Florida. He’s pleaded not guilty to the charges, but Stokes thinks the mayor should take a sick leave with pay while this plays out.

Stokes wants Jackson’s Chief Administrative Officer, Louis Wright, to step in during Lumumba’s absence. He believes this could help clear the air around the city. Interestingly, Stokes isn’t pushing for a similar resolution for Councilman Aaron Banks, who’s also involved in the scandal.

When asked about Stokes’ resolution, Lumumba seemed surprised and politely declined the suggestion. He thanked Stokes for his concern but has no plans to take a leave. The council is set to discuss this resolution in their upcoming meeting.