This last spring Mississippi held its municipal elections. All of the newly elected mayors and alderman were sworn into new four year terms that began on July 1, 2021.
These newly elected officials have an opportunity to help build better cities and towns across our state.
I wish them the very best in that endeavor.
Being a local elected official is an important job. It is an incredible opportunity to help an entire community. Local government is the level closest to the people.
What goes in the halls of local government affects people more directly and more quickly than what goes on in Washington, D.C. or Jackson.
Local elected officials make decisions on an abundance of important matters like taxes, budgets, and political appointments.
All kinds of issues will come before these new mayors and aldermen; issues like public health and safety, economic revitalization, zoning, street paving, dilapidated buildings, parks, youth sports, sidewalks, ditches, flood mitigation, limb/debris pickup, water, sewer, and garbage.
Local groups will ask them for donations to sponsor this event or that trip.
People and businesses will ask for exemptions from the rules and regulations. Not everyone will agree on these issues.
Furthermore, determining what issues deserve priority will always be difficult. It is just human nature that everyone wants their pet project put first.
Additionally you also never know what kind of disaster could be in store next. In the next four years, it is very likely the some Mississippi cities and towns will have to deal with tornados or hurricanes.
Disasters we cannot even fathom today are always a possibility. I’m sure very few people had any idea that a global pandemic would have upended so much of our lives in 2020.
Being a local elected official has always been an important, but difficult job. I believe it is a harder job today than ever before.
The internet has created a world where it is easy to complain about grievousness (both real and imagined).
The internet has also created a world where it is easy to spread gossip, rumors, and false information that local governments must contend with.
People look to their local elected officials as community leaders. The remarks of mayors and aldermen in the news and on the internet are viewed as “representing the city.” It is important for officials to conduct themselves with honor, dignity, and professionalism. For some people, the only thing they know about a city is how its leaders conduct themselves in the news and on the internet.
My first experience with local government was when I was a third grader at Petal’s W.L. Smith Elementary. Petal’s first mayor, Ulmer Byrd, was a guest speaker in our classroom.
He had been out of the mayor’s office for a few years, but still made time to visit our classroom of rambunctious elementary students.
He explained the role of local government and told stories about being the first mayor of the city.
He made a positive impression on me that day. I hope that all of our state’s local elected officials will make similar visits to our local schools. Our future depends on the education of the next generation of students.
I am reminded of the gracious letter that outgoing President George H.W. Bush wrote in 1993 and left on the desk for his successor.
The letter read in part: “There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I'm not a very good one to give advice; but just don't let the critics discourage you or push you off course…Your success now is our country's success. I am rooting hard for you.”
I am rooting for all the newly elected officials to build stronger and better cities and towns.
Keith Ball is a local attorney and a lifelong resident of the Friendly City.
