The Miss-Lou bids farewell this month to four dedicated public officials: Natchez Municipal Judge John M. Tipton, Natchez Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith, Natchez Alderwoman Sue Stedman and Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin.

All of these officials have been good public servants. Tipton served the longest, with 28 years in office before he decided to retire this year. He ran a fair court and leaves the office in good hands with Judge John Blough, who served as judge pro tem almost as long as Tipton was in office.

Smith, a newcomer to politics when he was elected four years ago, was narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary by Mayor-elect Phillip West. During Smith’s term, the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority board was reduced from 15 members to a more manageable and effective five members.

Stedman, who gave up her Ward 3 seat to run for mayor, was a calm, intelligent presence on the board of aldermen. Chairing the public properties committee, she shouldered a great responsibility well.

McGlothin, who four years ago returned to the mayor’s office he had previously held, was a leader in developing Ferriday’s downtown revitalization project and worked hard on economic development projects as well.

All four public officials will be missed, and we wish them well in their next endeavors.

Serving in public office is a double-edged sword. While it is an honor and privilege &045;&045; not to mention an exciting job &045;&045; it is also impossible to make everyone happy. And those people who aren’t are often the most vocal.

We appreciate the hard work these invididuals put into their jobs, and now look to the future with the new occupants of those offices.