Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced who will be taking over on an interim basis in the city’s public works and parks and recreation departments after two resignations last week.City engineer Robert Lee will once again step into the public works interim director position after Khalid Woods resigned for a second time. Steve Hutton is taking over for Ison Harris, who resigned last week as the city’s parks and recs director. The mayor said Hutton has been managing the city’s Pete Brown Golf Facility and once oversaw the Sanderson Farms Tournament when it was held at Annandale. Hutton also worked as executive director of the Mississippi Fair Commission until he was arrested in Madison County in 2020 on a charge of promoting prostitution. Hutton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with seven suspended. Of the remaining three years, Hutton was ordered to spend one year in prison.Lumumba said he is aware of Hutton’s conviction.“Mr. Hutton and I have had significant discussions about that conviction. I acknowledge that he has taken full accountability for his actions and that which he was convicted of,” Lumumba said. “I believe that it is important when someone pays their debt, that we give them opportunity.”The mayor said the city decided some time ago to stop asking job applicants if they had prior criminal convictions unless it was relevant to the job for which they were applying. Lumumba said that also applies to positions higher in the administration.“I am completely comfortable with the debt that he paid. I am completely comfortable with his acknowledgement of his failures in the past, and more importantly, I am completely comfortable with his skills and abilities,” Lumumba said. A nationwide search is underway to fill the positions on a permanent basis.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced who will be taking over on an interim basis in the city’s public works and parks and recreation departments after two resignations last week.
City engineer Robert Lee will once again step into the public works interim director position after Khalid Woods resigned for a second time.
Steve Hutton is taking over for Ison Harris, who resigned last week as the city’s parks and recs director. The mayor said Hutton has been managing the city’s Pete Brown Golf Facility and once oversaw the Sanderson Farms Tournament when it was held at Annandale.
Hutton also worked as executive director of the Mississippi Fair Commission until he was arrested in Madison County in 2020 on a charge of promoting prostitution. Hutton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with seven suspended. Of the remaining three years, Hutton was ordered to spend one year in prison.
Lumumba said he is aware of Hutton’s conviction.
“Mr. Hutton and I have had significant discussions about that conviction. I acknowledge that he has taken full accountability for his actions and that which he was convicted of,” Lumumba said. “I believe that it is important when someone pays their debt, that we give them opportunity.”
The mayor said the city decided some time ago to stop asking job applicants if they had prior criminal convictions unless it was relevant to the job for which they were applying. Lumumba said that also applies to positions higher in the administration.
“I am completely comfortable with the debt that he paid. I am completely comfortable with his acknowledgement of his failures in the past, and more importantly, I am completely comfortable with his skills and abilities,” Lumumba said.
A nationwide search is underway to fill the positions on a permanent basis.
