That knock at the door is not your neighbor or bill collector. It’s a politician running for a post on the City of Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners.
I hope they found you well.
You know these guys better than I do, so our visit today will not discuss candidates or the latest news which you can easily read on Page One.
Let’s talk substance and the issues.
Nah, that’s no fun.
Political signs
Dale Clark told me the first thing to sprout on local lawns this spring were political signs.
He added the only thing you can do to get rid of them is vote in the next election and most will go away.
Political justice
People think I like controversial news. I don’t.
Controversial news always costs me friends, it take up time on the phone and it often costs me advertisers and subscribers.
But we come to work every Monday and work hard to bring you the news you can use to make Clarksdale a better place to live.
I spent the better part of my day in court Thursday. You can read the details on Page One.
Court is never a good place to be. Think about it. There are always two parties and half the folks are going to leave the room in a huff because things didn’t go their way.
I got here for the county election two years ago and saw contested race in court for the next six months.
The legal questions this year have thrown candidates into court even before the election is held!
We’ll keep reporting if you will keep reading.
Political pockets
Coffee shop talk explained to me last week the reason we don’t have the grocery store, sports complex, housing project, hotel and convention center and water park that was touted more than two years ago.
The answer is $39 million dollars.
That’s the price tag given when the development off DeSoto Avenue/Highway 49 was first pitched to the community.
Who do you know that has $39 million dollars to spend in Clarksdale?
I once had a banker tell me deep pockets solve lots of problems. That was true then. It’s true now.
Political phones
I hope you know who your city commissioner is. I also hope you know their phone number.
Last but not least I hope you call them when you have a concern.
Now, let me tell you my secret to working with politicians: You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar!
So call your commissioner if you have a problem and politely explain the situation and what you want done.
Then call them again and politely explain you still have a problem and want help.
Let’s face it you may have to do it four or five times.
Please stay sweet and polite, and then smile as you head to the voting booth in two short weeks.
Political problems
Clarksdale has problems, some of them major. But as a man who has lived several places they are problems we can solve.
Get informed and know where you should vote. Study the issues and see if your guy knows how to find the funds, delegate and make the contacts to get the job done.
Let me encourage you to listen to your favorite politician. Judge them by what they have done and not what they promise or how they say it.
Then go vote April 6, because nothing less than the future of Clarksdale hangs in the balances.
Floyd Ingram is the Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. He has covered more than 50 local elections in three states and never ceases to be amazed at our form of government.
