Your Clarksdale Press Register looked on as Jimmy Harris and Albert Allen shook hands after Tuesday night’s election results were announced.
In this day of negative political ads, vicious rumors and election fraud, it was good to see chivalry is not dead.
Both men are quoted in a story on Page One of this paper. One - a longtime businessman - said the people of Clarksdale are his customers and he will serve them as such. The other said the issues he addressed in the campaign prove it is always all about Clarksdale.
With a record 846 ballots cast in a runoff election, we believe both men are right and it is time to get down to business.
Voters and this newspaper are tired of hearing city leaders say how much they have accomplished and we look around at out-of-control crime, homes decreasing in value and multiple junk cars parked in yards.
Yes, as one egotistical elected official likes to say, “Let’s go to work.”
As this newspaper has pointed out repeatedly, our problems are big, serious and squeezing the life out of people and businesses in this town.
Clarksdale had six longtime businesses shut their doors this summer. They are not coming back and no one is courting new businesses to fill those empty spots.
Population decline is part of the problem and it won’t be long before property taxes will go up as property and sale tax revenues go down.
We hope county elections this summer and city special elections this fall will bring us new leaders willing to do hard things, go against the status quo, and be the strong leaders voters elected them to be.
Most of all, your Clarksdale Press Register hopes this community will let the past be the past and look forward to a better future.
Our new city official takes office in just a few short days. New county officials will take their seats in January.
We hope they all have a plan and vision for Clarksdale and Coahoma County. We hope they will work with all people, but be ready to take a stand on critical issues that affect all people.
Let’s move on to the work at hand.
Let’s change the direction of Clarksdale and Coahoma County.
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