John Horhn served more than 32 years as a member of the Mississippi Senate, where he championed small business development and projects for the City of Jackson. He served parts of Hinds and Madison Counties in District 26. Prior to his election, his public service included serving as program manager at the Mississippi Art Commission, director of the Mississippi Film Office, director of the Mississippi Tourism Office, and executive director of the Governor’s Office of Federal/State Programs.

For 12 years, he chaired the Senate Economic Development Committee, and he sponsored and/or led the passage of bills authorizing more than $1billion in projects specifically to support the City of Jackson, including public facilities, hotels, museums, and water/sewer improvements. John considers his crowning achievement in the Legislature to be the successful development of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the only state-supported civil rights museum in the United States. He served as the original author of that legislation.

In private life, John has worked as a business development consultant in healthcare, housing, engineering, and small business development. An accomplished actor and story-teller, John is a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, and he has appeared in numerous TV and film projects.

On June 3rd of this year, John was elected as the 54th Mayor of the City of Jackson, with 67% of the vote, out of a field of six candidates, having run on a platform of restoring trust and accountability, ensuring the delivery of basic services, and creating a new vision and strategic plan for the Capital City.

He is married to the former Lydia Gail Cole, and they are the proud parents of two children.