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Ward 5 sees four newcomers ready to fill seat
Published Friday, April 25, 2008
NATCHEZ — There is no incumbent running for reelection in Ward 5, but there are four contenders.
Frances Thompson Bailey
Running as a Democrat, Frances Thompson Bailey said her decision to run was based on a life-long desire to be involved in government.
“I felt this was my opportunity because I had the time to do it and I felt I had the dedication to do it,” Bailey said.
The quality of education in the community would be a priority for Bailey, she said.
“I would also like the school superintendent become an elected position because that would make that position obligated to serve the whole community,” she said.
Recreation is also high on Bailey’s list of things to do if elected.
“I feel the children in our community feel left out because there is nothing to do, especially in the summer months,” she said.
Baseball fields, swimming pools, soccer fields and indoor recreation are a few of the things Bailey said she wants to be available in Natchez.
“I feel that without a good school system, recreation facilities and hospitals we will never be able to bring in good industry,” she said. “When they decide to come to a community, they look at those things.”
Bailey said she is in favor of government consolidation, and that she will be available to everyone if elected.
“If your problems get brought to me they would make it to the board,” she said. “I feel once we open up to the people and get a good understanding of everybody, we will be able to work together.”
Mark Fortenbery
Mark Fortenbery, a Democrat, is in it for the kids.
“I decided to fun for the chance for our young people to be able to come back to town as I did, and that’s not happening today,” Fortenbery said.
To address that, Fortenbery said the board of aldermen needs to support the public school system and have a representative present at meetings so they can be aware of the issues the school district is facing.
The city’s overall infrastructure — including streets, sidewalks and equipment to maintain them — needs to be addressed, Fortenbery said.
That would also mean giving police and fire department employees pay raises and providing them with up to date technical equipment, he said.
Funds to do so will come from the new casinos and businesses opening in the area, he said.
The issue of recreation also needs to be addressed with some action, Fortenbery said.
“That is an issue that has been tossed around for years, but it is time to make it a reality,” he said. “It would benefit this city tremendously.”
Fortenbery is also in favor of government consolidation.
“We are divided by wards, by race and economic status,” he said. “We need not to let those things hinder the process of this city and this county furthering itself.”
Tim Sessions
The decision for Democrat Tim Sessions to run came after he was asked to by a number of people, he said.
“I served on the Woodville Town Council for 16 years, and a lot of people knew I had experience in municipal government,” Sessions said.
The main interest of his campaign is making sure the people of his ward and of the city are heard, Sessions said.
Sessions also supports government consolidation.
“We can at least share in some of the areas where you have a kind-of double act,” Sessions said.
Promising to work with the economic development commission, Sessions said street and sidewalk improvement is incredibly important for the city.
“It’s a strict concern because you have to have those in order to attract people to come and live here,” he said.
Sessions also promised to have an open door policy.
“I don’t mind people calling me or coming by the office or even if I am at home,” he said. “You have to be accessible to your constituents or you’re not going to be good at your job.”
Charles Zuccaro
The sole Republican in the race, Charles Zuccaro said he decided to run for alderman because he could provide a different point of view.
One of the big issues that needs to be addressed is improvement to some of the city’s busiest streets, Zuccaro said.
“We need to work on Homochitto, East Franklin, St. Catherine and Martin Luther King Jr. Streets, the ones that people use the most,” he said.
Zuccaro said the city needs to hire more police and firemen.
“If we don’t have enough firemen, we will lose our fire rating and have higher insurance rates,” he said.
To do that, as well as to build the proposed recreation complex, the city will have to collect more taxes, Zuccaro said.
“I am opposed to any tax increase to the taxpayers,” he said. “To collect more taxes, we’re going to have to bring more businesses into the city.”
If government consolidation means it will save the city money, Zuccaro said he supports it.
“You have to operate within you means,” Zuccaro said. “If you want a businessman approach for business, I’m your man.”
Because he has no Republican challengers, Zuccaro won’t appear on the ballot until the June 3 general election.
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There they go again, all of them expressing a fondness for "consolidation" which seems to be some mystical concept thrown out to the masses every election. It's strange that no one can direct me to the plans for this consolidation. Maybe Charles Zaccaro's (only for example) concept of consolidation is completely different from that of the others. Do they all have an idea of what consolidation should accomplish? What services would be improved? What positions (elected?) would be abolished? If this plan were to be formulated and presented to the public, maybe we could make intelligent choices in our voting. Normally governments, even local, tend to grow and grow. Would this consolidation increase the growth of local government, remain the same or reduce it? I'd like to know.
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WE NEED TO LOOK AT CONSOLIDATION OF ALL COUNTY AND CITY POSITIONS BOARD OF ALDERMEN AND SUPERVISORS, TAX COLLECTOR CITY AND COUNTY, LAW ENFORCEMENT , FIRE PROTECTION, CITY COURT AND JUSTICE COURT AND COUNTY AND CITY JAILS TO NAME A FEW
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad...you haven't seen a plan because there isn't one...consolidation...not gonna happen...it's just not realistic to expect politicians to vote or otherwise act for their own extinction.
It would take major legal changes as well involving amendments to the state constitution. It is a political mirage that all politicians can say they are for knowing full well they are supporting something that will never come to pass.
Unless Natchez grows to the point that it encompasses most of Adams couny, which I don't see occurring anytime soon, things will stay the same. That's not to say that some cooperation wouldn't be good where services overlap.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My pick in this one is Tim Sessions...I've known him for years and his record as an honest businessman and banker is immaculate.
Posted by andy (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mr zuccaro is right we should look at giving the city government to the county we all know darrell and even watts can run both of them and save the tax payers money now come on tax payers and city voters maybe we need to make this happen woouldn't it be nice to cut taxes
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sammohon, I remember that you told me that. And it would seem that you are correct. But I was hoping if I threw out the question a few times some bright spark from somewhere might jump out and say "Yes, there is a plan and here it is...". As it is, our local elections are all run on personalities and not issues. Issues that are raised are all bs. Consolidation, jobs, recreation,.... All of them nice little campaign buzz words but never any substance. They might as well run on "truth, justice and the American way".
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oldgranddad ,
Sam is right on the consolidation issue. I think it would be great to have, since we have only one city in our county. But I also realize it would take a constitutional amendment and that has not happened since the 1800’s. Annexation of some outlying areas will have to come first.
There are only 2 people I know of that have the skills to make consolidation happen. They are Phillip West and Walter Brown. It would require both of them to work on it full time.
For a candidate to use consolidation as part of his platform is misleading.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So, in a nutshell, county residents who moved out of the city limits would then have to adhere to new rules and taxation, but would be able to run for office and be represented as well?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss, Please suggest to the Mayor and/or Walter that a plan be written that explains what Natchez/Adams County would expect to accomplish with consolidation. What would we gain and what would we lose? Would the Board of Supervisors be abolished? Or the office of Mayor? Or both or neither? What would be the benefits, etc.? Once this is done I would think we could be on our way to making consolidation a reality or maybe kill the idea once and for all. I'd hate for this to be a campaign issue 30 more years.
Sam and I will save a julep for you. Course I don't really know what a julep is. I hope its straight bourbon with a pretty name.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oldgranddad,
If candidates are using this issue they need to give you a plan. Ask Middleton. My account is the same as Sam's. It will be a long, long, time.
Again, we have not had a constitutional amendment since the 1800's.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Right you are OldGrandDad...I think you really knew what a julep was...shaved ice in a chilled glass or silver julep cup, 2 jiggers of bourbon or sour mash, a splash of simple syrup and a sprig of fresh mint...there you go!
Hitormiss...did I miss something or did we actually agree on something...LOL.
OldGrandDad...the only consolidated city/county governments in the US are Indianapolis, Nashville, Louisville, Kansas City KS & Lexington KY. Several other cities have tried, but alas, have met with no success due to issues similar to ours...Pittsburg being the most notable.
Another interesting fact, New York nor Los Angeles are the largest city in the US. It's Oklahoma City, whose brilliant city government determined that by encompassing the whole of the surrounding counties by annexation they could raise the tax base...they didn't think about the services they would have to provide...they've been in trouble fiscally ever since the seventies when the grab occurred.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"If candidates are using this issue they need to give you a plan"
I agree 100%. But somehow I feel like they will not.
Maybe one day someone will produce a plan that everyone (city and county) could support. That will give them something to stand on in an election.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for the info, Sam. That is interesting stuff. I wonder how many of our local candidates have read up on this. Like I said, concerning consolidation, lets plan it and do it or else retire the whole idea once and for all. I hate to have this stuff whizzed all over me for another 30 years.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad...get a raincoat...it's not gonna happen, but it ain't going away either.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote for ME. I am the candidate that represents change. I stand for Consolidation, St. Catherine Creek, Jobs, Recreation, Racial Harmony and Blue Skies.
I should have thought of this before. I can hardly wait till I can vote on my raise...
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 25, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sam,
We did agree. With an exception, Louisiana change the constitution in 1972 to allow consolidated government. Baton Rouge and Lafayette are good examples of what they refer to as "home rule charter". If Mississippi has not changed its constitution since the 1800's, we may have to wait awhile.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 26, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss...are BR and Layfayette true consolidated governments or are just SOME of their services integrated?
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sam,
Baton Rouge and Lafayette are true forms of consolidated governments. The government bodies are merged with a Mayor President and one council. If I recall just police and fire services are separate and most other services are together.
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