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Mayor candidates say they are ready to lead city forward
Published Sunday, April 27, 2008
NATCHEZ — The three mayoral candidates are ready to give the city the leadership it needs to be fiscally strong, physically appealing and to bolster it economically.
Chick Graning
Chick Graning wants foremost to build a solid foundation as mayor of Natchez.
In order to do so, he’s running on a platform of financial stability and making improvements to the public school system.
He said while it’s good to have goals such as paving streets and building recreational complexes, first the city must have money to do that.
“Our budget has no money for either (project) and hasn’t had,” Graning said. “Until we get our budget under control we won’t have money for those.”
He said the same thing goes for making improvements to the police and fire departments.
“We must be in a position budgetwise to pay them more and equip them better,” he said.
Once that financial stability is found, Graning said he would like to begin doing so.
“(I want to do that) so Natchez can be the safest city in Mississippi, if not the South,” he said.
As far as getting the budget in a good place, he said it’s all about trimming the fat in the budget.
He said sometimes those can be difficult decisions, but he’s prepared to make them.
“I’m tired of seeing poor people in Natchez,” he said. “We need to bring them up to a lifestyle that they can be proud of.”
For improving public schools, Graning said his background as an economics teacher and football coach in the public school system in Oakridge, Tenn., a system that was in the top 10 percent in the nation, has prepared him to take on this task.
“I’m very familiar with what works and with what doesn’t work in the education of our young people,” he said.
He broke down how to improve education into three parts.
He said he wants to increase parental involvement in the students’ lives, have the students be surrounded by good role models such as student athletes and other student leaders and finally improve leadership at the highest tier of the education system.
He said without strong schools, the city won’t be able to attract new industries.
“So far as public education is concerned, until our public schools can offer young people a viable education so hat they can be an effective work force, industries are not going to come to Natchez, where children of their employees can’t get that education from public schools and right now they can’t,” he said.
Graning said he believes he has many qualities that make him right for the job as mayor.
“My training in management, teaching economics, in the military, on the football field, coaching and taking an insurance business from zero to retirement in 16 years qualifies me to be the mayor of Natchez,” he said. “My intense desire to protect the future of our wonderful town and the training that I’ve had throughout my lifetime gives me the unique qualifications for this job.”
He said his inexperience in politics is a positive factor.
“Not having been in government is a relative term,” he said. “I’ve not had experience in government which can be a good thing.”
“But I have had leadership training and experience in economic applications which can easily be transposed to city government.”
He said leadership is three things.
“Leadership is communication, education and persuasion,” he said. “I’ve had lots of successful experience in all of those areas.”
Finally, Graning said he would like to address the issue of dilapidated houses, but it’s going to take time, as there is a legal process in doing that.
“I’ll do whatever I possibly can to speed that process up but where education, the budget and abandoned houses are concerned, I’m not a miracle worker,” he said. “But I will be a hands on, available open door mayor who is a hard worker.”
Graning said he is running as an Independent because he is neither a Democrat or a Republican.
“I think independently and I feel like the mayor’s position should not be a partisan position,” Graning said.
Jake Middleton
Age— 56
Occupation— owner of Big M Supply Company
Family– wife, Dr. Mitzi Ferguson, four children; Leslie Davis, 30, and her husband Brian, who have two beautiful daughters, Ella Wesley and Lucy; daughter Kerry, 19, and two sons; Wes, 24, and Evan, 24.
Education— 1969 graduate from Natchez Adams County High School and a 1973 graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Previous political experience— served on the board of aldermen for 16 years.
Jake Middleton
Jake Middleton has five main goals he is set to accomplish as mayor of Natchez.
He said first, he wants to be a hands on mayor.
“I want to serve the city as a full time, hands on mayor because running the city is just like running any other business,” he said. “You’ve got to be there to make sure it runs right.”
One way of doing this is having an open line of communication with the city department heads, he said.
“That is of the utmost importance,” he said. “I plan on meeting monthly with my department heads.”
He said meeting monthly is key that way if there are any problems in the department, they can be addressed early and stopped before they spiral out of control.
He said he would also like to increase the amount of patrol officers in the police department.
He said this can be done not through additional funds, but by streamlining the current budget and cutting out any overspending the city has been doing.
While additional funds can be found once the new casinos come into town and the tax base is increased, it’s not always the best idea to rely on those funds coming through, so a more logical source of income needs to be found, he said.
Another improvement he said he would like to see in the police department is adding GPS systems, making the department more efficient and reliable.
He said he also wants to see the streets improved and this could be done through adding a new department to public works.
“This is going to take additional funding but (I would like) to create a street department for paving,” he said.
He said while that kind of money is not currently present in the city coffers, he feels it will be in the future.
Middleton said he was been involved in getting the $1.2 million from the state for street overlays — even driving to Jackson to meet with MDOT director Larry L. Butch Brown.
The fourth thing Middleton wants to accomplish as mayor is partnering with CCA to clean up the entrance streets to Natchez.
“The way I plan on doing that, of course partnering with CCA, but having the city hiring an individual which we would pay to oversee inmates from CCA, five to six inmates, working on a daily basis, doing nothing but cutting grass, edging, keeping (the entrances) clean,” he said.
He said this would free up the public works department so they could spend more time on other work, like fixing pot holes.
“Public works does a good job, but I’m sure they’re log is backed up at this time,” Middleton said.
Finally, Middleton wants to see a outdoor recreation facility created.
This will require city and county cooperation and he said that it’s viable.
The city and county own 140 acres of land by the river and he said this could be developed into ball fields.
He said he would also like to build a marina there as he said there is no marina between Memphis and New Orleans for recreational water vessels.
“(They’d) have a place to stop, gas up, dock their boat, make sure it’s watched and go into our city when they stop and shop in our downtown area, go to our casinos, stay in our hotels and eat some mighty fine meals because we’ve got the bst restaurants in the state of Mississippi as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
He said this is the perfect way for the city and the county to start consolidation.
“It’s an exciting time in our city right now and it’s going to take a team effort to make it happen,” he said. “It’s going to take the city, the county, the EDA and the chamber all working together.”
Phillip West
Age— 61
Family— two sons, Samuel, 28, Kareem, 35
Education— 1964 graduate from Xavier Thompson High School. Attended Alcorn State University from 1965-68.
Previous political experience— Seven years for the Mississippi House of Representatives and 17 1/2 years of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, four years as Natchez mayor.
Phillip West
Incumbent Phillip West said he wants to keep moving the city forward as he has been doing in the past four years.
He said he plans to accomplish this by bringing some major city projects to fruition.
The first would be overlaying the major arteries — St. Catherine, Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin and Homochitto streets.
The city has been working to get $1.2 million from the state for this project and West is hopeful the money will come through.
However, he still has an in the hole.
“I already have a plan if that doesn’t go through,” he said. “I always have other options when I make a proposal.”
He said no matter the means by which the city gets money for the project, it’s going to happen.
He said he would also like to see the St. Catherine Creek Project to fruition.
He said an initial feasibility study has already been done and monies have been asked to do another more in depth study.
He said funding for the total project will have to come from state and federal funds.
“Most of the funding for that particular project would have to come from the federal government because of the enormity of it,” he said. “It’s going to take a major effort but I think we can sell it.”
“You just have to keep selling and selling, it’s not an overnight sort of thing.”
He said he also wants to see an indoor and outdoor recreation complex built — a vision he’s had for over 30 years now.
He said the value of a recreation complex is immeasurable, but compared it to bringing a major industry to town.
“Recreation is more than just recreation,” he said. “It’s economic development, it’s quality of life, it’s an attraction for people who visit our city or move back to our city.”
“It plays a vital role in the overall development of the city and the overall attitude of the citizens and families. It’s as important as a major company.”
West said it’s like having good public school systems.
“You’ve got to have good schools even though you don’t make money,” he said. “If you don’t have those schools the community suffers. You may not directly see a profit, but you’re profiting from it.”
He said while it would be nice to partner with the county in building a complex, he doesn’t want to wait on them.
“I don’t take the position that if my wife isn’t going to feed me I’m not going to eat,” he said.
The city is in such dire need of recreation that it can’t wait any longer.
“Recreation is a major void in this city,” he said. “A city this size with no public swimming pool is bad.”
He said he believes the city has the ability to come up with the resources to build a complex.
“I have confidence in the citizens of Natchez that if they want something of quality and see that it’s important, they’ll be willing to support it in whatever way necessary,” West said.
He has many qualities to serve as mayor and that have proven helpful recently.
For example, West worked hard to get the $2 per occupied room tax passed by the legislature, a lot of which had to do with the contacts West has made in Jackson, he said.
“It is an asset to have knowledge and contacts,” he said. “It’s one of my biggest assets as it relates to what I offer to the city.”
He said his vision for the city is also an asset, and that if he felt he had done a poor job in the past four years or that he wasn’t capable for the job we wouldn’t be running for re-election.
“I’m running for the position because I know I’ve done a good job and I want to continue to offer my services to the city of Natchez to help bring other major projects to fruition,” West said.
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Middleton is proposing inmate labor, but we already have it with Mayor West. And I'm old enough to know that most guys elected continue with most of the policies they inherit, so that would possibly include Graning. So to all three candidates let me say - Please drop the inmate labor idea. At least in areas where they are highly visible. This looks terrible in a town that is trying to attract tourists. Visitors do not want to see this or walk past a chain gang with their children. Sorry, but that's how it is. I have nothing against inmates working or hard labor for convicts, but putting them at our town's entrances or in prime tourist locations is a bad bad idea. My exception to this would be if they are allowed to wear normal clothes, look like normal citizen workers and not be forced to look like convicts on our streets. In all ways we need to be putting our best feet forward.
Other than that, I'm starting to hear some idea from y'all. Jake, thanks for the mention of the acres available for development down by the river. We've had posters here deny that any was there for us. Chick, Thanks for your concern about the rotting homes. No person wants to live next to one, but from a business point of view, lets start with the ones in the areas of town where we invite our visitors to see. Best foot forward. Mayor West, thanks for your work on the hotel tax among other issues. We need to educate people that they are already paying the tax. They pay it when they visit Gulf Shores, Orlando, and other places. Now we have a chance for people from those areas to pay it back to us.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 1:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo Mayor West!
The unemployment rate has been cut in half, new business openings have doubled, 4 new hotels, 2 major entertainment projects, over $140 million dollars in investments, over 10 million dollars invested in infrastructure and things in our city are finally looking up.
Job well done.
Posted by adamstanton (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you don't get some real jobs down that way with some real benefits for their workers you really not accomplishing much. I read in here where we gonna get this money and that money and we gonna get some help from this government agency and that agency for improvemnts but what you really need is jobs. If you had the jobs that are going to the toyaota plant in north mississippi you would have something or the nissan plant in Jackson Canton area but what you need is real jobs. The people would then make some real money for homes,. The hospital would then have real insurance to bill for services. I grew up down in that area and if you look at Natchez and the first thing that doesn't come to mind is jobs jobs jobs you really in my estimation have lost sight on how depressed the area really has become.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen adamstanton....
The population has also dropped here due to no jobs...
West didn't graduate from alcorn?
Election is always a funny thing what they think people want is always what they have already begged the goverment for or going to beg the goverment for...
What about a zoo,aquarium, something like that?
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad great post, agree with you all the way. hitormiss, JMO, please brush up on the past four years, better yet start start your research further back. Go back about 12 yrs and consolidate all your findings. Why do you think the majority disagrees with you. Most of us know the history. It's time for you to learn what it's all about. When you do, I'm almost sure you will change your mind and your vote. As I always beg others to to do, forget kith and kin when voting and vote for what is best for everyone and the community. In the long run you will reap the rewards for pushing that right button on voting day. Percentages and figures speak for themselves. It will take only a short while for you to study the past to help you make a better judgement in your selection for our future. Actions whether good or bad influence the future, lets try to have a better future for our community and put the bad parts of our past behind us. Only we voters can make that happen.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
adamstanton, yes this area is depressed. We are suffering from the same depression that has affected most of the delta towns in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas for many years. All the counties and parishes that built private academies in the late 60's have been (for the most part) economically depressed ever since. All extra disposable income goes into private education. I do not see that changing anytime soon. So all we can do is try our best to overcome it. Tourism is an industry and provides jobs. This is only one of the avenues that we pursue for our economics. Some of us choose to hang in here, so try to understand we do what we can to make a living. Jobs and industry don't grow on trees. We'd love for some manufactoring plants to move in.
fire39212, Back in the 70's Leslie Whitt worked very hard to have a zoo created in Natchez. He got nowhere. He took a job as director of the Alexandria zoo and has been very succesful with it. Its a shame we lost Leslie to Alexandria but the zoo there is absolutely great. I think that is an example of what we could have had and done. We need no more of those mistakes.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad...I have to disagree with you slightly on the inmate labor issue. I have no problem at all with seeing inmates doing labor to help our city and county. We are providing them a roof over their heads and three squares a day with our tax dollars...the least that should be expected is for them to pick up trash, cut grass and set out barricades for special events. In fact, it happens in all sorts of other tourist areas, I see them down here in Gulfport/Biloxi working on the beach. I saw them in San Antonio cleaning up the Riverwalk. It rather makes me happy to see these convicts doing something good for a change.
Several statements by Mr. Middleton and Mr. West disturbed me. They have a lot of grandiose ideas and projects to be built, but now way to pay for them. Chick is right, before you can have the icing you have to make the cake. Budget, infrastructure, education and security must be addressed first!
A new department specifically for streets is a ridiculous "overlay" of another layer of bureaucracy. We already have a department for that, it's called "Public Works".
Recreation...improve what we have before building large, new complexes...this smacks of the old Butch Brown approach...does PW just want his name on it? Renovate the golf course, renovate Chester Willis Field, renovate the four ball fields and tennis courts in Duncan Park, repair the existing pool or dig it up and replace it. All of this can be done with minimal expenditure before we go into further debt to build big complexes.
hitormiss...I'd like to see a break down of PW's statistics...where specifically did the $140M in investment come from, where was the $10M in infrastructure spent and where did the money come from, how many business opened and how many closed, i.e. what was the net result? I think if people look deeper, many of PW's acheivements as mayor actually were the result of a strong national economy and/or were in the works long before he took office.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam, I don't mind you disagreeing with me, but try and see this outside of the Mississippi – Texas area “box”. Would you see convict labor like this on the sidewalks in the tourist towns of Vermont, Pennsylvania, Colorado or California? Would you see it in the UK or France?
And besides, I’m not saying don’t work the convicts. Just don’t work ‘em in front of our tourists. Or else dress them a little better. Put ‘em in nice khaki short pants and white polo shirts. If necessary, put a little round red target emblem on the shirt pocket. That way they won’t look so….. convictory. There. I made up a word. But I do believe strongly we should work on good first impressions with our tourists and always (again) put our best foot forward in all areas.
Short of that, we can always use these guys in a positive manner for tourism. We can display them in a caricature of the old chain gangs. Have them in the old striped outfits, have a few chained together at the leg and a few more with the proverbial ball-and-chain. It doesn't even have to be real. Plastic will do. But have them singing together as they work, just like in the old movies. We can even pay them extra for it. And give them singing lessons. Instead of being uncomfortable or frightened, the tourists will eat it up. The guys will be cleaning and working for us and yet they will become attractions for us. Imagine the tourists going home and telling everyone about the finest rendition of Old Man River they ever heard.
But personally, I would prefer to simply keep them out of the main tourist areas and the main arteries into and about town.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey...I like the second idea, but then you knew I'd jump at that bait...LOL.
I've never been to any of the states you mention save California (I am planning to visit Pennsylvania this summer), but the thought occurs to me that all of them, as well as the UK and France, are notoriously liberal when it comes to convicts...I wouldn't expect them to do anything but treat their convicts like royalty.
Posted by loneconservative (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since I do not live in the city limits, there isn't much that directly affects me. However, I do not want my area to be anexed like some of the candidates have suggested they are willing to do. If we are anexed, the incubents will most likely not get my vote or the votes of most of the people in my neighborhood. So, it would be a politically suicidal move.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As for the inmate labor idea, Louisiana used inmate labor at the Governors mansion until the Romer administration. The inmates used at the mansion were considered to best reformed.
During the Romer administration, one of these inmates left the mansion and killed someone. The practice of using inmate labor stopped. I do not advocate using inmate labor especially around the elderly and children.
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
West is anti-law enforcement and could care less about how safe the citizens of natchez are. Ask him when is the last time he sat with Chief mullins and had a real converstion about the safety and security of natchez? when west was elected he said that he was the top dog now and he would hire and fire any officer he wanted to. (and he proved that by by-passing civil service and hiring Willie B. Jones) ask west when was the last time he walked through the doors of the police dept to see how thing were going and how the officers were doing? Mayor Butch Brown was at the PD all the time. If he interacted with his employees as much as he was on the golf course things would probably be a little better. i worked at the police dept and saw west on several occasions and never once did he say hello or acknowledge my or any other officers presence
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyeinthesky...what was the second thing Chick mentioned?...SECURITY...he has the common sense to know that if you aren't secure you can't accomplish much else. Vote for Chick!
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyeinthesky,
Law enforcement had not recieved a raise in the five years prior to West. They recieved a raise under Mayor West. West has conversations all the time with Chief Mullins.
sammohon,
Our crime rate is down, in fact the lowest in a decade. Please tell Chick he is safe.
http://www.natchezpd.org/crime.html
Below are the Part 1 crime statistics for the past thirteen years. The crime rate has decreased 43.7% since 1994 with a 14% decrease from 2005 to 2006 with the greatest decrease in larceny. Year Homicide Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary Larceny Motor Vehicle Theft Total
1994 6 11 36 90 346 1268 30 1787
1995 2 24 20 91 311 1276 35 1759
1996 3 10 31 75 236 1353 41 1746
1997 3 10 24 49 235 1271 41 1633
1998 0 6 28 51 251 1196 37 1569
1999 3 8 26 34 255 1161 38 1525
2000 1 3 22 31 211 1192 26 1486
2001 1 4 30 29 189 994 28 1275
2002 2 9 21 25 183 1016 27 1283
2003 2 9 18 27 191 1027 24 1298
2004 1 4 20 16 199 1094 18 1352
2005 1 7 15 15 153 967 13 1171
2006 2 8 13 27 176 759 21 1006
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I beg to differ hit or miss, crime is down because the population is down. and the police and fire recieved raises under hank smith and butch brown. and since you seem to know everything about phillip west tell me why he hired Willie b jones back after civil service rejected him for bribing another officer to drop charges in a drug dealer? you know everything else you should have the answer to this question. the only time he talks to mullins is in aldermen meetings otherwise he gets his secretary to call mullins when he needs something.
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
by the way hisormiss do you know what the average number of kids being arrested at the high scholl are a week? 8. Last week there were 12. that is horrible. I mean level 2. there is no way i would send my kids to that mad house.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyeinthesky,
Police and Fire had gone without a raise for the 5 years prior to West. That is a fact.
I just talked to Mike and his relationship with West is good. They do talk, regardless of what you are trying to put out there. Also please provide the numbers on the population being down enough to affect the crime numbers. Crime is down, the unemployment rate has been cut in half and the West administration has delivered the progress it promised. Others promise, West delivered.
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
of course he' gonna say thier relationship is fine, thats his boss. you seem to avoid answering the tough questions and answering only the questions that seem to make west look good. i know police recieved a raise under hank smith because i was there. Provide number? Its a known fact.
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hit or miss, you are wrong. that is a fact.
http://natchezdemocrat.com/news/2001/may...
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and lets don't forget that west broke the tie to give the aldermen thier raises(the third highest for aldermen in the state) before the police and firemen recieved thiers 3 months later.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss...seems your PW blinders are skewing your sense of reality...as eyeinthesky points out, school kids aren't safe and crime rate statistics are down due to reduced population. We've recently had a rash of burglaries resulting in an unfortunate mistaken identity shooting, we read daily of drug busts and associated crime. Lower population, i.e. people without jobs leaving to get them, will lead to lower unemployment rates. Additionally, as I have pointed out before, unemployment also went down due to a strong national economy, not because of anything PW did.
As for the inmate labor issue...Buddy Roemer's decisions aren't exactly a shining standard, but be that as it may...lightening may fall from the sky, airplanes crash occasionally, trains derail, sometimes inmates allowed on work release are poorly vetted or do something stupid...is it cause to throw the baby out with the bath water? I say NO! These people should repay their debt to society with good works rather than sitting around in air-conditioned cells watching TV and eating three squares a day that we pay for.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sometimes these inmates get the rabbit in 'em. Sometimes there's a failure to communicate. But at the end of the day, in most cases, it just makes for an interesting day and no one is hurt. Yes, some of our tourists are liberals. But I really do not mind our town seperating them from their money. And to do it on a repeat basis would be lovely. So there are plenty of places we could be working the inmates; garbage dumps, skateboard parks, landfills, ditch digging and so on. Even streets and overgrown lots and rotting houses. I'd just like some discretion in their use around the prime tourist areas and town entrances.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think there's room for compromise here...on the inmate labor issue.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sam,
4 years ago our unemployment rate was 11.6% --more than twice the national average. Our latest number was around 6%-- back in line with the national average. I don't know if you have read lately, but the national economy is not strong and most think we are in a depression. So... your statement "as I have pointed out before, unemployment also went down due to a strong national economy" doesn't make any sense. Our ecomony is growing because of Phillip West.
The Unemployment rate is figured on those who live in our county and are working minus those who are not working.
On crime, you state we have had a rash of burglaries, yes we have. A small rash. Even with these high-profile burglaries, the crime rate itself is still less than we experienced in previous years. We are safe.
We have 4 new hotels, 2 new large entertainment projects, nearly 200 new business and much, much more. Under Phillip West Natchez is moving.
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
West has to go. He's divisive and operates under a personal agenda.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss...the recent downturn in the national economy is relatively recent and the Natchez economy is historically slow to react to the national trends, which if you look back means that the healthy economy of the nation came slow to Natchez and the recent downturn will likewise be slow...none of this has anything to do with PW's efforts.
Don't lecture me...it's pompous and arrogant, I know how the unemployment rate is calculated...and I still say the unemployment rate looks better because of the strong national economy plus the reduction in unemployed caused by people moving away to find jobs...how do I know this? It's what alot of people I know had to do including myself!
Fewer people means statistically less crime, it doesn't solve the problems of children bringing weapons to school, assaulting teachers and each other, constant drug infractions, etc. Much of it may be perception, but PW hasn't helped perception either.
Every politician is taking credit for the new casinos, hotels, etc. At the recent political forum Ms. Arceneaux, quite loudly and unequivicably by all accounts, waved her arm and announced that SHE brought in that hotel over there! Well, she probably has a better claim than PW, because she's been there longer than PW. Again, the most of the developments you speak of were in the works for years before PW took office.
As for the business start ups...still no real stats from you or PW. What was the number before he took office? What is the number now? How many failed? What was the net gain/loss? Unless you can produce proof, you are simply blowing smoke!
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam,
Clearly you are wrong about the unemployment rate. Your anger always comes out when you are challenged.
The Board of Aldermen has remained almost the same for nearly a decade. We have made so much progress in the past 4 years. What is the difference? Phillip West.
If I am not mistaken, there were a little over a hundered business openings in the 4 years previous to West. Under West, 200 new openings. West has doubled business openings.
Sam, you could go get these numbers for yourself if you are really interested. Blowing smoke is your deal not mine.
As usual, your angry spirit has gotten the best of you.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss...nice try...now you are the injured party? Classic tactic of trying to divert the argument when you are losing it.
You resort to that tactic in desperation because you have nothing else to give to the debate except simply regurgitating talking points. You are simply in the tank for PW, possibly on the payroll, and everyone in these discussions recognizes it.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He is now believing his own lies!
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rushinghjr...who?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hitormiss!
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks...it wasn't really clear...BTW, I can't be sure, but I think he is a she from statements made before.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
(Sam) Chick is a good Rotarian and he can pass our 4-Way Test!
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 1:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sam,
Are you on the payroll for Chick?
By the way, your school yard bully attacks are not going to work here.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss--you should disclose for us your connection to Phillip including your financial connection--clearly your input here goes beyond the casual observer. Your bias is working against you (and Phillip)...
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing but generalities from the 3 of them. Other plans Phillip? Give us specifics. How about explaining your relationship with the casino??
Cut the fat in the budget? GREAT! Spell it out NOW! Where is the fat? BE SPECIFIC!
Fix the schools? GREAT! HOW??? SPECFICS!?!?
PW is NOT the candidate of the future for Natchez. He is the victim of good timing. NOT of effective leadership.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss...I'm not on Chick's payroll nor that of anyother politician...and I'm not bullying anyone, but you sure seem to be.
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SIMPLE, JAKE 08, the only person with ideas. Beyond him, the choices are silly, a race-baiting law breaker and a former coach. Yeah, just what we need. If anyone had any common sense, they'd see that the person with a successful small business and a 17 year record in politics is the only person that is truly qualified.
Dear God, West broke the law and Granning is a former coach/nice guy. None of that qualifies anyone for being mayor. What in the heck are some of you thinking? This isn't a race to see who's friends can get into office, it's a race for someone to lead our town. JAKE 08, it's obvious.
Posted by froggie (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wasn't West responsible for the downfall of our public schools? Wasn't he the one that changed everything in 89/90? I think he better come up with a better campaign strategy than fixing the public schools!
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote West out.
I can't believe he is from the same family as my friend Sammy (not PW's son, the basketball coach).
Phillip West is a charlatan and is poison for Natchez.
Posted by MrNobody (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
C.Granning has my vote I like the way the man thinks.
Jake is a Fake!
West does not pass the test.
I like to see changes made in City hall for the better and Granning is the man for me.New Blood is needed in Politics around here.
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MrNobody, your infantile poem speaks volumes about you as well as your name. Unlike your complete nonsense, I actually don't have any personal problem with any of the three candidates. I'm just saying, of the three, JAKE is the most credible and experienced to lead our city. It's really hard to argue the facts on paper.
The other major issue that Granning will have to shake is the negative perception of the group backing him which is The garden district elitist historical groups. Sorry, but the majority of Natchezians actually frown upon this arrogant group of people. Granning is a super nice guy but the group backing him is less than desirable. And word is out that this is the group backing him, the same group of people who tried to talk Darryl Grennell (also nice guy) into running, among many others.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Phillip has been lucky (if you could find a silver lining from a tragedy like Katrina). Natchez is lucky that coastal hurricanes seem to head up I- 55 and miss us. My NOLA friends used to go to Jackson and end up with no power etc. They started staying in Natchez, during Katrina we were enjoying outside while Jackson was having terrible storms.
After Katrina my "refugees" bought a home here for Hurricane season & 6 of her friends also bought homes. Some of her friends now live here full time.
Yes people moved here & opened businesses because of Katrina, some were encouraged to build hotels here due to Go-Zone incentives. Phillip though can take credit for the new casino deals,& for businesses where owners met with Phillip before opening and were impressed by him.
Phillip did get the city employees raises, & overall has tried to support business. Phillip's connections in Jackson passed the hotel tax, the only city that managed to get it passed. Phillip has actually been pretty fair to all groups in Natchez. He supported downtown by continuing to fund the NDDA, we now have a new NDDA director, and she is doing a great job. He hired a grant writer to find extra money for the city and has supported both traditional & heritage tourism.
Chick is a nice guy - he seems to have a decent resume, he is smart, fair & would be a good manager of the revenues the city has. Chick's weakness is his lack allies in Jackson. Chick seems to have some decent ideas for the school district. I am worried how much impact Chick could have with the schools though. The city only gets to appoint a couple of school board members, and the current administration seems to be lacking.
I like Jake - he is a nice guy - he seems smart enough to talk to; but he has yet to shine. His plans for Natchez are certainly not progressive, and his achievements as an alderman are few. His ideas for the Natchez Police department are goofy, on channel 4's interview he seemed to outline a plan for some sort of sci-fi gps system with little police cars on a map of Natchez. Natchez Police are understaffed and under paid, however they seem a little happier than under Willie Huff. I know I have not been threatened by them recently.
I understand why many people won't vote for Phillip (and virtually all of them did not vote for him last time). They will vote for Jake & then the Jake supporters will pin their hopes on Chick. If either Chick or Jake is to succeed they need better ideas than they have stated so far. Phillip will get some credit for the last 4 years, and he will be tough to beat. Natchez has lost population over the last 4 years and much of that was in the white community. Some of the influx to Natchez has been with artsy liberals who don't know Phillip's history, but only know him as Mayor. On paper Phillip is still the choice, and he will be reelected unless Chick and Jake launch a strong idea driven campaign. Being White is not enough.
Posted by oldsaw (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Somebody needs to share with these guys that the city does not control the school board. That's the county. Maybe they are running for the wrong office.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam - why would less people mean that the crime rate would fall?
People like you - i.e. working types - left to find work. The poor, lazy or criminal elements did not leave. In your theory the crime rate would have gone up as the population would have fallen yet the criminal proportion of the population would have increased.
The crime rate and the actual numbers of crime has dropped. This is probably due to a rise in the numbers of people working.
A rising tide lifts all boats.
Crime in Natchez is low - always has been. One or two active criminals can have a huge impact in the numbers. A number of years ago - a "tourist" from NOLA mugged about 6 people in a day. I was his last victim. He was caught minutes later. The recent crime wave was just two of people traveling across LA & MS causing havoc.
They were caught and will not be bothering anyone for a while.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
natchez1...fewer people equals fewer criminals and fewer victims...if there are fewer victims the criminals move on to find "work" elsewhere too...that's the theory...not proven, unless there are some statistics I don't know about.
You're absolutely correct in your other two assertions, I agree.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eagle1, I would love to know more about the arrogant garden district elitist historical groups that people frown on. Is this a unified historical interest group that you are refering to? Or are you talking about the "elite" of the neighborhood? Or is it the entire neighborhood that you refer to?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's an issue I would like to see the candidates address. A mayor giving free viagra.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=...
How's that for a campaign issue? No shortage of "ideas" in that town.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eagle1...I live in the garden district and don't think of myself as elitist nor do many others...I think I would have heard something by now...I highly resent your broad brush stroke painting people with a stereotype, people you obviously know nothing about.
Jake may be full of ideas, but he hasn't put many of them into practice, and quite frankly I find some of them like his "priceless" idea for a new city department for street overlays kooky, it's just another "overlay" of bureaucracy and cost to us taxpayers.
We already have a Public Works Department...let Jake work with it and see if he can get anything done before the election!
I think you'll find that as the general election nears there will be more evidence that there are far more people in this town that support Chick than just us "arrogant" friends and neighbors who happen to live in the garden district and put a sign in our front yard. I think it is you, sir, who is actually prejudiced and arrogant.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad...now that's a hard campaign issue that will be around for a long time whether the mayor's wife likes it or not...LOL.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(OldGrandDad) You're wearing the right glasses tonight!
Posted by jepmemphis (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's set the record straight. 1st, the population wentdown 2 administrations before Mayor West because the focus has been making Natchez a retirement community. What is there to retire to? Now you expect Mayor West to come in a do Natchez like Jesus did Lazurus and raise Natchez from the dead. Mayor West is a great individual with a heart for the community but he can't do it alone. 2nd, Willie B. Jones should have been hired back because he was innocent. The other officer should have been fired instead. The only reason it didn't happened that way is because Natchez refuses to let that "Good Ole Boy" system die and because of that, the city is dying right along with it. Maybe our local morticians will help with the burial.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jepmemphis...go back to sleep in Memphis and wait for the New Madrid fault to erupt again to wake you up...you're not adding much to the debate and you're hurting Philip raising those old bones...everyone knows a mayor can't do it alone, yet he still claims he has!
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a week until the primary - have I been living under a rock or has this been a low key election. I know there was a debate sponsored by the chamber but have there been others?
Four years ago there were debates for the NAACP, the Senior Citizens center, various churches, and several other debates. T.V. ads abounded and money flowed. This year all I see is signs a couple of billboards, and a few radio ads for Phillip. I expected Middleton to spend mega bucks if he was going to have a chance. I guess his Dr. wife did not agree to fund his campaign.
I always thought that two white candidates would split the money available. If Phillip pulls through maybe Chick will get a boost and the donors money will flow. If Jake and Chick think this is a straight black/white contest and they can win on the cheap, I think they will be shocked how badly West will beat them.
Sam predicted a 64% win for West against Jake - he may be closer than I first thought.
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