Mayor to spend week in Turkey

Johnson hopes to establish cultural exchange tie with city

Written by

Bill Campbell

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. left the country Monday night, bound for Turkey on a weeklong trip seeking a “sister city” relationship with the municipality of Kahramanmaras.

The city of 412,000 sits in the Mediterranean region of southeastern Turkey and dates to 1000 BC. It is known as Turkey’s ice cream capital.

The cultural exchange trip is sponsored and paid for by the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians, city spokesman Chris Mims said.

The TCAE is a Houston, Texas-based agency created to form good relationships between peoples and governments in the United States and Turkey.

It has sponsored events with governing bodies in seven U.S. states, including Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.

“We are exploring the possibility of establishing a sister city relationship with one of the municipalities in Turkey,” Johnson’s spokesman Chris Mims said.

“Sister city relationships foster economic development opportunities, cultural and diplomatic exchange programs, educational programs and other benefits for the cities who participate.”

Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell asked for legal guidance on whether an interim mayor should be appointed.

“When the governor leaves the country, the lieutenant governor is automatically appointed interim governor,” Whitwell said. “I think it’s at least a good civics question.”

City attorney Pieter Teuwissen said under state statute, no “acting mayor” need be appointed in this circumstance.

An attorney general’s opinion offered during the health-related absences of then-Mayor Frank Melton said an interim mayor is required only if the mayor is absent for 60 days.

The mayor designated Council President Frank Bluntson for “any signatory matters that require immediate attention,” based on a memo Johnson’s chief of staff Sean Perkins passed out to council members at Monday’s special council meeting. Johnson did not attend.

The memo states the mayor will be “in regular contact with staff regarding day-to-day operations of the city.”

To comment on this story, call Bill Campbell at 601-360-4619.

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