Covering elections is what newspapers do best and I’ve covered each one in this town for the past five years
And over the last two weeks the question people have asked me the most is, who is going to win Tuesday’s primary election.
With 23 Democratic candidates running for five city posts, I try to explain there are too many variables.
Each one of those candidates has a power base, be it a church, business, fraternity or sorority brothers and sisters, neighborhoods they grew up in, school buddies, extended family and lifelong friends.
How this will play out is always fun to watch and we will have a clearer picture the day after the election.
But right now it is very fuzzy.
Five people a day
I’m averaging about five people a day coming in my office, taking a seat and wanting to chat.
Some have been candidates, some have been movers and shakers in this town and some are either new to Clarksdale or just curious about this election in their hometown.
I’ve had to ask a few of them their names and some of them you probably wouldn’t recognize.
But they are all concerned about the direction of Clarksdale.
I’ve only lived here five years and I repeatedly have people ask me why I stay.
Again, I don’t know and will never know Clarksdale like some of our candidates. I will also point out I’ve had to familiarize myself with some of the candidates. I didn’t know these folks prior to this election.
Those Other Candidates
You know the candidates I am talking about - not the ones you voted for. I’m talking about those smooth talkers who are running against your guy.
Now some of you have been fooled and given money to candidates who did nothing more than stick it in their pocket.
They bought a few yard signs, held no rallies or barbecue dinners and smiled when they told you they won’t forget you after they get elected.
I’ve had two men tell me they gave two candidates $5,000 each four years ago and saw nothing for their money and those two were defeated. Both of those “candidates” are back in the race this year.
We’ve heard of people quietly supporting candidates for commisioner with big money this year too.
So tell me, do you want to read about campaign contributions to local candidates after the elections this spring.
Good Candidates
Have you ever walked into the voting booth and held your nose as you cast your ballot?
You have a choice and you believe in voting, but your choice of candidates is sub par and you have to choose the lesser of two evils.
It will not be like that Tuesday.
Clarksdale has some good candidates, men and women who are educated, smart and are tired of their town being what it has become.
I don’t get to elect commissioners from three districts. I just pray that the good people in Clarksdale will elect good people in this year’s election.
All elections are critical
I do hope you will look at the candidates who have made public in print what they stand for and what they are going to do if you elect them as Mayor or Commissioner.
This is a critical election and Clarksdale must choose wisely.
We hope the right message has gotten to the right people.
We’ll be doing it Tuesday night. If all goes smoothly we should have results on our website before midnight.
I once had a wise older politician sit in my office in another community and tell me we get the government we deserve.
He said failing communities elect failing candidates and crooked counties elect crooked public officials.
He pointed to regions of Mississippi that were thriving and simply said look at the kind of leaders they elect.
He said he never understood why some places never change and weren’t getting better.
He finished with this: “In politics things either get better or they get worse, they don’t stay the same.”
We’ll see what Clarksdale does Tuesday night.
Floyd Ingram is Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. Call him at 662-627-2201 if you need a ride to the polls.
