RIDGECREST &8212; The issues the candidates for the town of Ridgecrest&8217;s fifth alderman&8217;s seat are running on include neighborhood safety, beautification, grants and employee raises.

Douglas Tisdale, 56, has lived in Ridgecrest for 51 years and said he is running for alderman because he just wants to help out his community.

Tisdale graduated from Ferriday High School in 1968 and works for the Ferriday Fire Department.

Safety is the biggest issue in Tisdale&8217;s mind.

&8220;I care a lot about the safety of our neighborhoods,&8221; Tisdale said. &8220;If elected I would work with the sheriff&8217;s department and the town marshal to install a neighborhood watch program.&8221;

Tisdale also said he would like to see Ridgecrest&8217;s volunteer fire department building renovated and equipped with the latest technology.

Willena C. Varnado said she is running for the vacant seat to improve the Ridgecrest Memorial Park.

&8220;I&8217;ve done a lot of work for the park in the past,&8221; Varnado said.

Varnado, 80, is a retired social worker for Concordia Parish and is married to Housley Varnado.

Together the two raised three children, Deborah Varnado Craig, Connie Varnado Fisher and Mike Varnado, who was killed in action in Vietnam.

Varnado went to the University of Southern Mississippi where she graduated with a home economics degree in 1945.

When the memorial park was first built, Varnado said she, along with a group of citizens on a committee, worked to install a pavilion, playground and a monument.

Varnado said she noticed recently the park needs some attention.

&8220;I would just like to see it cleaned up a little and I wouldn&8217;t mind cleaning up our streets a little too,&8221; Varnado said.

Derrick White said he is running for the experience and to add another point of view to the community.

White, 29, is married to Lakiska and has four children, Xavier, Derrick Jr., Tianaye and Jahquil.

White graduated from Southern University in 1999 with a bachelor&8217;s of science in mathematics and later earned a masters degree in administration and supervision in 2002.

He hopes to receive his doctorate in May 2007, and is the assistant principal at Ferriday High School.

White said if he were elected he would work with the mayor and other members of the board to hire more police officers for the town of Ridgecrest and work to make sure the town received more grants to pay personnel.

&8220;Right now we have one supervisor that&8217;s responsible for the water plant, checking the meters and he also cuts grass in the community,&8221; White said. &8220;I would like to see to it that he gets more money so that he can pay his employees for maintaining the town.&8221;

White said he too would like to improve the park and fund raises for the town&8217;s police chief.

The fourth candidate, Wanda Smith, could not be reached for comment Thursday.