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Are voters running in circles again?
Published Friday, May 30, 2008
The first photograph I ever took for The Natchez Democrat was published on May 27, 2000.
I mention this not because it was the best photo I have ever shot (it isn’t) or because of the subject matter (two Cathedral seniors adjusting their caps before graduation).
In fact, the photograph I took that night was not particularly memorable to me, except for when I took it.
I started work for the newspaper 11 days after F.L. “Hank” Smith ousted two-term mayor Larry L. “Butch” Brown in the race for Natchez mayor.
In the eight years since, the mayor’s office has been like a revolving door.
Every four years, voters have ousted the incumbent mayor to elect a new man for the job — not because of fresh ideas or revolutionary governmental proposals.
No. It has been the “anti” vote that has brought down the incumbent each four years in favor of change.
In 2000, it was the anti-Butch vote that elected Smith into office. My first few days of photographing were filled with conversations from residents who felt like Smith would bring a breath of fresh air to city government. Despite Brown’s accomplishments, Smith narrowly defeated the two-term mayor in a run-off.
It wasn’t so much because of Smith’s platform, but because he wasn’t Butch. Even Brown admitted as much when he said it was the “anti-Butch vote” that was responsible for getting him in a run-off with Smith in the first place.
But then the tables turned. After four years of Smith’s administration, the “anti” vote reared its ugly head to oust Smith from office.
Granted, Smith’s administration was fraught with many difficulties, including the closing of Johns Manville and International Paper. The loss of jobs and industry ultimately did in Smith’s administration.
But not far from the top of the list of reasons of why voters turned against Smith, was the fact they didn’t like how he governed. The anti-Smith vote elected Phillip West into office.
It was the politics of personality that did in both Brown and Smith and it was the politics of personality that would bring down Phillip West too.
Despite record low unemployment rates, a growing downtown, four new hotels and two new casinos on the horizon, voters decided West was not the right man for the job.
If the city was headed in such a positive direction, then what was it that made voters decide to turn their backs on West in favor of change?
The Democrat editorial board has been meeting with aldermen and mayoral candidates on the June 3 ballot.
The discussions have been filled with frank, informative discussions about the past, present and future of the city.
Out of all the comments that have been made this week, it was one statement that has stuck in my mind this week.
“It’s all a popularity contest, you know — especially in a small-town,” one of the alderman candidates asserted.
Unfortunately this candidate is probably right.
In a time when the city government seems more complicated than ever, it is easier to vote for someone because we like them or worse yet because we don’t like their opponent — not because of their platform.
But where has this thinking led us in the last eight years, except running in circles.
For the third time in a row, voters have decided that it is a time for a change.
Now comes the hard part. In which direction do they want the city to go?
My hope is that voters this Tuesday will know what the candidates stand for before they walk up to the voting machine. After three times of voting against a candidate, maybe voters will finally vote for good ideas and a solid platform.
If not we're likely headed for the revolving door once again.
Ben Hillyer is the web editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdeocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by aesa (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 1:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ben,,,You are a GREAT photographer! I always agree with your phtographs, that is not usually the case in regards to your opinions.
...I digress...
The higher the turnover rate in the mayor's seat, the better Nat will be...the more newspapers you will sell...the more interesting it will all be...otherwise there is no reason to read the NatDem at 1 am in the morning....LOL!!!
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The saying is, you don't know what the mayor or president was worth until they have been out of office 4 to 8 years. If this is the case I don't think Butch Brown really did much other that burden our town with terrible debt on the promise of profit, i.e convention center, and promote more regulations and laws to help the tourist industry. Eventually people wised up to him and drummed him out. Remember his casa aircraft plant debacle? You can fool most of the people most of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time. Hank Smith got skewered because he told me and a lot other people when he got in office he was going to roll some heads and clean house downtown. When he got into office he fell prey to the "special interests" and wasn't strong, bold, or man enough to stand up to them. Then came Mr West. A true historic election for a small Mississippi town. Trips to Swenden a crooked cop deal and no vision. He got booted. What we need is someone who wants to SERVE first and be liked second. A parent can't be his childs best friend first. He has to be a parent FIRST. If whoever he is will get into office on the platform of vision and making the wrongs right instead of telling everybody what they want to hear he will be the man of our time. I wonder is it Jake or Chic that will say we did that wrong lets make it right, cut that here so we can have it there. Who will say we tried that and it didn't work. Who will say no we arent wasting time fishing for minnows, we are going for bass. Who will say " sorry, you have been here 10 years with no results, here is you last check. Who will say I work for the people of Natchez, NOT DOWNTOWN NATCHEZ AND NO NOT YOU EITHER MR. SPECIAL INTERESTS ! Who will hold all departments accountable and stay on top of them. How long do you think Binkey would have made it in Bill Gates office, or in Gen. Pattons army? Who will bring the LEADERSHIP, new blood and vision this town needs so desperately and shun the old way of loss and mismanagement. Three is a charm I hope we will get our knight in shiny armour. If we don't get him this time I feel all will be lost. Nobody in this state, country or world is going to pull our town up or wait on us. There are a million ways to do something wrong as we have seen in Natchez, and one way to do it right. Lets get it right Mr Mayor, whoever you will be! You hear me Jake? lol
Posted by oldsaw (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 1:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez really doesn't want anyone who brings anything new to the city. We say we do but we really don't. The fact is that nothing is ever good enough for the old natchez.
Posted by CitizenSane (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 6:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Once again, certain of you bloggers are blathering on about "downtown" Natchez versus "the rest of us" or "old Natchez" versus the people.
Good grief.
Get over it.
This is so ridiculous.
You sound like children.
People who have lived here for generations upon generation and people who live and work downtown have a right to representation just as much as you do.
You probably don't even realize that the historic district was carved up into multiple wards years ago to effectively disenfranchise the downtowners. They basically have no representation in city government these days.
Stop focusing on what you think "others have" that you "have not" and start focusing on what you need for your own neighborhoods etc.
I never read "we need this or that in our ward..." I only read your complaints and whines. On and on about how "old Natchez" holds you back and "downtown" gets too much attention.
Maybe the biggest problem in Natchez is your own lack of vision for the neighborhoods and communities that you call home... and your absurd fixation on what you perceive others have that you "have not." Do you elect your alderman based on their vision for your ward or their vision for doing in downtown and Old Natchez and tourism? Sounds like you're fixated on the latter.
Grow up.
Stop paying so much attention to trying to "take away" from downtown and start paying attention to building up other sections of Natchez -- like your own ward.
Unfortunately, however, it is obvious that some of you will never be happy until all of your phantom "blue hairs" are dead or run out of town and downtown Natchez is effectively leveled and all the tourism jobs are gone the way of Johns Mansville and IP.
Will that make you happy? No, of course not. Because then you might actually have to make a positive contribution to the community, instead of just complaining about the efforts that others make to boost our economy and our city.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
natchezenema, most all these new hotels & convention centers were originally pushed by Brown. He also was responsible for bringing in alot of money thru grants. I can clearly read from your blogs that you are one of these revolving door voters. If you don't get what you want, when you want it you get mad and open the revolving door. Butch was one of those mayors who did turn heads, thats why he had so much anti votes, he didn't cater to anyone.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mike8427, none of the new hotels can be attributed to Brown. I agree however, Brown did a lot for Natchez and continues to help Natchez. You have a point that he turned heads. Moving forward is not something Natchez does easily.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like NatchezEnema's point. Though I might not agree with the specifics, the general idea is "right on". I love movers and shakers. It's obvious Natchez needs this "shakin' powerhouse" to appear out of the woodwork and show the people how it's done...someone who's not scared to stand up for what's morally and ethically sound...someone to turn Natchez upside-down and shake it by the ankles, letting all the riff-raff settle down and the strong and determined survive. Moving forward WHILE preserving this historic, precious Natchez is the smart move (in my opinion...and you know what that's like!). Something tells me the "right one" is within our midst, he/she just hasn't shown up yet, unless it's Jake or Chic. Natchez shall see soon. Good luck my Natchez friends. I'm rooting for you.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike I disagree with your statement that Butch Brown didn't cater to anyone. He catered to his friends. My family was (and still is) on the opposite side of that spectrum.
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As someone who does not live downtown and not a 'bluehaired' person, and voted for Jake in alderman races, I will vote for Chick on Tuesday.Having dealt with Jake on a couple of matters that he knew nothing about, and did not try to assist with, I do not think his 16 years as alderman gives him the experience to be mayor. VOTE FOR CHICK ON TUESDAY!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
firered, you would be supirsed how many friends that turned on Butch when he didn't turn favors, thats part of the reason he didn't get re-elected. I am not sure what specturm you are refering to with your family though,
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Olderthandirt-Good Choice!
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First! let me say I AM FOR NATCHEZ! I AM FOR TOURISM, and I don't think I have ever used the term "blue haired lady" YET in any of my posts. I am not looking for a person who turns heads. A dumb good looking blond can turn a lot of heads. I voted for Butch, I might add as an after thought.. It's a shame also, as an after thought, that after he lost his office one of the first things he did was get up and get OUT of Natchez. Wonder why. Why do you think the city is trying to raise a tax? Because the are busting at the seams with cash? No, because they can't pay for what they have got. Ever heard the saying "don't bite off more than you can chew"? Well, we are blue in the face and choking on what he bit off for Natchez, maybe you can't see the fine print or the new tax as a red flag on that subject but I can. I don't think in any of my posts I have EVER said TAKE AWAY from downtown Natchez or bulldoze it either. Hey, if you don't like me fine. But business if just like mother nature in a lot of ways. The strong, wise, fast, ones that can adapt and change and be proficient survive and prosper, and the ones who can't? Well, go to a museum and see them. I hope for the best for the tourist industry, it wont be me or anyone else that brings them down, all they have to do is look at the city goverment or in a mirror and see their demise. One more thing, you, them, they or whoever can sit and rot. I'm gonna get mine in life regardless of what they do or don't do with tourism in this town, and you know what, it's not going to cost you or any of those "blue haired women" one cent of their tax dollars. Nobody will hold me back or down. I don't care if the new mayor looks like the elephant man, if he is white, black, red, or a green man from Mars. Someone needs to clean things up and have some new vision for this town. And for all of you who think everything is ok, tourism is all we have, and we have done everything we could do around here. Well, they have a display waiting for you with your name on it at the museum or at the department of archives and history. Hope I don't see you on display there any time soon. One more famous quote for all of Natchez to heed to, " If you think I will sit around as the world goes by, your are thinking like a fool, you are in a cage and will die, out there is a fortune waiting to be had, if you think I will let it go by your mad, YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is that theory called NatchezEnema? Survival of the Fittest? That's what I'm screaming. Why do folk demand weakness? Because it's easier, takes less backbone...requires change? If things don't change, everything gets stagnant...just like a pool of water fills up with mosquito larvae and starts stinking. Progress...not perfection. (And I'm gonna get mine, too, NtzEnema. I depend on noone for my happiness or fortune. It's all about putting one foot in front of the other and being determined to get what I earn, even if it galls some...and I mean this positively...if I don't move and shake, I ain't gettin' nothin'.)
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ben,
Though I cannot vote in Natchez I can donate money and support for candidates there who I think will move Natchez in a direction consistent with the efforts of the progressive mayor of Vidalia.
So, I sent a list of issues to one of the candidates asking for his position on those issues and received no response, leading me to believe he either has no position or does not wish to disclose it.
The same goes for the NCVB, whom I wrote to asking about a certain set of issues and their position on them, and received no response from them either. While asking for public support of issues they promote, they do not have or wish to disclose positions on important issues.
All the candidates are speaking in general terms that sound good. So is the NCVB. But what are their positions?
It is impossible to vote or support based on positions when one doesn't know what those positions are.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EnKiKur...makes me wonder what these candidates and NCVB have to hide!!! What's the big secret people? I guess their vagueness points to rhetoric, which is nothing but pretty words with no meaning.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is what I mean kpage, the questions I asked NCVB and got no response to:
I believe the residents of the area who oppose the occupancy tax would be more accepting if the general perception of lack of full disclosure involving elected bodies and the various authorities, boards, and commissions could be addressed. The way things are presented to the public causes some reactions based on intuition that many cannot adequately express- they don't know what it is but they don't like it.
An example is the clause in the occupancy tax bill that allows the Tourism Council, once established, to accept gifts, donations, and gratuities to be held in a separate account from the tax money. The clause also allows the Council to seek grants on behalf of individual and group entities and then to decide how that money is disbursed through at least quarterly meetings of the Council for persons seeking grants. This part of the bill was never discussed in the newspaper.
I would be more supportive of local efforts if I had a better idea of what the overall plan for the area is, if there is one. I am not a Natchez resident, but I am a stakeholder in what happens in Natchez due to the amount of federal tax money Natchez has received in in its efforts for economic development. So, these questions:
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Questions:
1. Have you ever personally reviewed the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of Natchez to see if any funds are available off-budget that could be used for tourism promotion?
2. Are you aware of any plans to develop Natchez as a Sustainable Community? If Natchez could legitimately market itself as such it could improve its attractiveness to the growing number of environmentally and socially conscious persons domestically and abroad.
3. Has any effort been made to work with the interested parties represented on the proposed Council to see what they are willing to put up of their own capital to promote tourism? How might the global positioning of Carlson Group, Wal-Mart, Office Depot, etc. be used to lower the cost of Natchez tourism promotion worldwide? Is there any way they will work with Natchez on this?
4. Have you examined the structure of the economiic development network that begins in Washington at the Dept. of Commerce and comes all the way down to the local EDA to see if all the advantages tourism promotion might gain through the network are being taken advantage of? This network supports, so far as I can tell, that endeavor which address three issues: social equity, public/private partnerships, and the environment. In other words, how aligned with Sustainable Development is the tourism effort in Natchez and Adams County? Greater degrees of alignment can bring greater degrees of funding, but reason must be used.
I refer you to this page on the EDA site at the Dept. of Commerce which addresses the five realities of modern economic development, and if you have time please read it and return a response. This is a speech by Sandy Baruah, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development speaking: http://www.eda.gov/NewsEvents/Speeches3/...
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I apologize to the NCVB and to Mr. Graning, I was writing on another computer and when I got home I found they had responded to me.
Mr. Graning's response was pleasing to me, and I find his views to be aligned with own, though I don't want to damage his campaign by endorsing him.
The NCVB, well, I think in time I can persuade them to my point of view. Or compromise with them.
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on May 30, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Mr. Graning's response was pleasing to me, and I find his views to be aligned with own, though I don't want to damage his campaign by endorsing him."
EnKiKur--I hate to break the news to you, but I don't think the candidates are sitting on the edge of their chairs waiting to find out which one of them received the EnKiKur endorsement. Thanks for the giggle, though.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was meant to be funny idefinitelymight. I don't think they anxiously await my endorsement either. I just thought I owed them an apology for being too hasty. And who knows what they think? The pen has a tradition of being mightier than the sword in a democracy.
What I like about Mr. Graning is that he can demonstrate through his viewpoints that he understands what moving forward entails in light of today's economy, and he honors the traditional values that brought us to this point. He has proven to me that while he doesn't agree with all of my point of view, he listens sincerely and returns a thoughtful response.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi everybody! Have yall heard about the new band in town? They are called the three tops. And they have been spinning on the direct questions they were asked on the new democrat chat blog. Read my questions that I asked and tell me if you guys think they gave me direct answers.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Especially Chic.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The NCVB has asked me to please quit trying to change the mindset of the people who will be voting on the occupancy tax.
I have also been advised that asking the parties represented on the proposed tourism advisory council to donate the same one nickel per ten dollars they initially tried to tax us with is "absurd". Further, it is unrealistic and idealistic because NCVB knows it is never going to happen and that the industry is already doing all it can financially.
Here are some local realities. The tourism industry needs servants, and the prison industry needs guards and prisoners. Our local education system has produced persons qualified for all three of these positions in abundance. That is why these industries are here- there is a workforce for them and profit to be made off them.
The tourism industy will directly benefit from the hotel tax far more than anyone else. It is neither absurd nor idealistic to expect the industry to pay the same nickel per ten dollars on their gross they wanted us to pay on our food. It may be unrealistic to expect them to volunteer to do it, but it could be done by the same kind of legislation the tourism industry wanted to use to make us pay it on our food.
Some new entrants and some old entrants in the local tourism industry are exploiting global markets. When you stand in line at Wal-Mart waiting to purchase items made in China by children working for less than the minimum wage established here in 1925, think about the absurdity of asking Wal-Mart to contribute to a fund for marketing Natchez.
When you are standing in line at McDonalds think about the subsidies McDonalds received for expanding into China, a market of almost 3 billion, think of the absurdity of asking them to donate to a fund for marketing Natchez.
When you drive by the convention center hotel, think about the absurdity of asking Carlson Group to pay one nickel per ten dollars their management would have you pay; Carlson operates hotels in 985 countries around the world.
Most of us are already doing all we can financially also. It's absurd, isn't it?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm ready to see Natchez advertised and I'm ready to see this town become much more tourist oriented than it has been to date. I voted for the tax absentee today. Or was it yesterday......?
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am too OldGrandDad. I just think those who will benefit the most should help foot the bill on an even basis.
I intend to live in Jefferson County sooner or later, so I will be one of the tourists.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
500,000 won't buy much good marketing OldGrandDad. A million is getting there, but even that is on the low end. The tourism market could gross over 100 million in two or three years, maybe before. Expanding how the town is marketed could help even more, if the town could be seen as more than just old homes, b&b's, casinos and hotels. The market could be very big here.
There ought to be a recreation complex, and there should be shuttles to area lakes and parks, like Okhisa. But if the tourism people just keep looking strictly within the boundaries of the town, that is a dead end.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was up in Jefferson County yesterday. Business, not pleasure. But my roots go back there for 8 generations.
You sound like one of the candidates now when you start talking about recreation. It smacks too much of ancient Rome to me. I'm happy just walking up some creek or sitting on the porch.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That complex is for the guests OldGrandDad, so they can play tennis and stuff. There needs to be a good golf course too. That casino under Roth Hill is going to need a golf course. At the one in Lake Charles, they even fly people in to play golf and gamble.
Done right, this could be very good for many people, Room for people to run canoe and kayak trips down the Homochitto, overnight camping trips, horse stables, a waterpark for ordinary people in our ten county region and the sub region on the Louisiana side. The possibilities are very good.
The commodity we have to export, the joy found in our natural environment, can be harvested over and over without diminishing it at all. That makes it truly sustainable.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just as long as they don't build anything else in Jefferson County. Do what they want with Adams, but leave Jefferson County alone.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It can be done while still preserving what you like. I've been in some places where the houses were hard to notice. You really had to look. The walking trails are a good start, I hope they connect them to wilder areas than just downtown. We have something special here.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on May 30, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Endorsing a new golf course is about like endorsing gay marriage. It just don't sit right. What's the world coming to???
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 4:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a sign of continued federal occupation OldGrandDad.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EnKiKur, The trails do seem to be a good step in the right direction. As long as we can keep the skateboarders off of them. But I know a few tricks that tend to keep them away.
But I worry about extending them into wilder areas. If we keep putting trails into wild areas we will eventually have no wild areas left. I'm straight out of the Edward Abbey mentality. I believe that wilderness should remain wilderness and for someone to experience it they need to sweat, get scratched by thorns, slip and fall, get stuck in quicksand, etc.
I doubt the trails will be a serious tourist draw. Folks have gotten used to spoonfeeding us a lot of BS by saying certain things will bring tourists. I'm sure tourists will use the trails, but their greatest value will be in providing a sort of refined "finishing touch" to the town.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I still do not understand why tourist is more important than people who live here all year long it just bggles the mine....
I still want to know what are they going to do to advertise for tourist? Let's say we get 100,000 (lol) tourist here. What will they do once the homes are seen? I still say they need things here to do. Look at pigeon forge. Does anyone remember it 20 years ago? Look at it now BOOMING!!!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear you fire.
What I had in mind OldGrandDad, was running those trails down into some of the in-town gullies. I agree with you on keeping the wild wild.
Keep Jefferson County pure.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EnKiKur, that's cool. Folks might be forced to stop throwing their trash into them if they have trails there. Its not hard to see deer, coyote, fox, beaver, gators and more right in town. The trails might run the animals off. And then, the trails might not. Folks might get to see them once in a while. Hopefully the trail will include leash laws and skateboard bans.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on May 31, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad - my oldest son tried to skateboard down Silver St. once many years ago. I will be glad to show any skateboarders you know pictures of what happened to his elbow and forearm after he quit rolling down the pavement. Maybe that would stop some of them - but maybe not!
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