The Bottom Line Is, It's Not All About Politics

Television executive mogul turned mayor, Frank Melton, doesn't change his behavior for anyone, and certainly not for a new job. His actions since he has become mayor have been a topic of controversy locally and across the nation. The former outspoken host of WLBT 3 news' "The Bottom Line" has a history of speaking his mind and stepping on toes if he feels it to be a necessity. If he could be accused of anything, the only charge that Mayor Frank Melton could truly plead guilty to is following the outline of the platform that allowed him to be elected. He made a promise to focus on the city's record crime levels and he has kept to his word, even if it means doing some things that are considered unconventional for someone in the position of Mayor.

Can you give us a little background on yourself?

Mayor Melton: I began my career in Lufton, Texas. I was the weatherman. Then I did sports. After that, I did the whole thirty minute segment. For a while I did the news, sports, and weather like they do on network news with just one anchor. I became the news director there at that station for 6 months, and then I became a general manager. I was the second black general manager in the United States at that particular time. I did that for about a year and then I got transferred up to their headquarters in Tyler, Texas. I stayed the general manager of the station in Tyler for about a year, and then I became president of the company - Buford Television out of Tyler, Texas. Then I came over to Mississippi twenty six years ago to buy WLBT, and I fell in love with the station and just chose never to leave. But then I turned back around, and the story in the media history is that I'm probably one of the few people that owned every television station that he worked for. I went back and bought the two stations in Texas, and they became part of the WLBT family. We operated that for a number of years. I did a merger in 2000 with Liberty Communications. It was a very substantial and financial transaction in the media. I was on the NBC and the BMI board for a period of time - I continue to serve on the BMI board.