RSS Feed
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Jackson full-time mayor idea dies on tie vote A controversial proposal to make the Jackson mayor's job a full-time position died on a tie vote Tuesday night. Jackson City Councilman Robert Marks made the motion to consider a resolution to ask the Alabama Legislature to pass a local bill establishing a full-time mayor position, requiring the position to be the only full-time job the mayor would hold. After a good bit of discussion the motion failed on a 3-3 deadlocked vote. Councilmen Marks, Daron Bolen and Eddie Huggins voting in favor of it and Councilmen Paul South, Eldridge Jackson Jr. and Mayor Richard Long voting against it. Had the motion passed the next item on the agenda would have been to ask the Legislature to pass a local bill allowing the city to hold a special election to determine if the city would have a fulltime mayor. Because the first motion died, Marks withdrew his motion on that item and it was dropped from the agenda. During the discussion, Marks said that the resolution was worded in such a way to ensure the mayor's job would be the only full-time employment the mayor would hold. Marks and others have repeatedly referenced Thomasville where full-time Mayor Sheldon Day has been successful in developing the city in recent years. Proponents think the full-time job is a key to that success. Marks did not specifically name Thomasville but said, "Another city in this county, with a smaller population than ours, has proven that there are benefits to having a full-time mayor. There have been some definite success stories there." Mayor Richard Long turned the chair over to Mayor Pro Tem Paul South before making his comments. "It is my opinion that the city of Jackson needs to continue with a part-time mayor and hire an economic developer," he said. "As we are all aware, there is a great amount of economic activity happening in and around the city of Jackson. This is especially true in Washington County and the Mobile area. I realize the county has an economic developer and the Clarke/Choctaw Twin Rivers Organization will have an economic developer. But as Wiley Blankenship, economic developer for the tri-county area of Monroe, Escambia and Conecuh counties told me, they would only pass off opportunities to the counties and cities that depend on them. It will be the city's responsibility to win the opportunity and I believe the success rate would be much greater with a professional, politically connected, experienced economic developer than with a fulltime mayor." Long also said he believed that in a city of 5,500 citizens many qualified citizens interested in running for the mayor's position would eliminate many candidates if the job was made full-time. In addition he suggested hiring an engineer/code inspector to provide additional support, while utilizing existing personnel to improve the day-to-day operations of the city. South turned the chair back over to Long before making his comments. "I do not believe the town is ready for a full-time mayor at this time," he said. "I think it is coming, but we are not there yet. As the mayor just stated, I believe some good candidates for the position would be eliminated by going to a full-time mayor. A good economic developer would serve our city better." Councilman Marks made further comments. "This is one of those moments in time where a city changes its destiny," he said. "There are enough people who want to vote on this. I ask this council to consider allowing the citizens of Jackson to vote on the issue." Councilman Bolen echoed Marks' comments. "I have talked to a lot of people about this issue," he began. "The majority of those I have spoken with say they want a full-time mayor. I think the people should be allowed to vote on it." Also voicing his opinion in favor of the move was Councilman Eddie Huggins. "I understand there are pros and cons to each position," he said. "What stands out to me is that when we first began discussing this issue, I started asking people what they thought without giving my opinion either way. The majority of those I asked think we should have a full-time mayor. I feel we should allow the citizens to decide." Councilman Jackson said, "I think we should look at what's best for the people. In my opinion an economic developer and engineer/ code inspector, along with a part-time mayor would better serve the citizens. That would be three people pushing for the people of Jackson." Councilman Anthony Jackson, who is currently on active duty with the U.S. Army, previously voiced his opposition to the fulltime mayor issue. This was conveyed by Mayor Long during Tuesday's meeting.
South Alabamian Editor Evan Carden contributed this story.
|
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
