Don Christian seeks WM City Council position

Don Christian seeks WM City Council position

A Lifetime of Public Accomplishments, Ready to Step Back into Service.”

Lifelong West Memphian, Don Christian is running for West Memphis City Council Ward Three Position two vacant seat. “My reason for running is simple” said Christian “I have over thirty-eight years of working hand-in-hand with all of West Memphis and I know I can help make things better for my hometown.”

Christian added, “as soon as I retired from City employment as Director of the West Memphis Civic Auditorium friends from across Ward Three began urging me to seek position on the Council.”

“With this year's race open, I felt the need to step forward.” Don continued, “In my time with the City I've had the good fortune to work with five different Mayors, dozens of City Council members along with countless representatives of The Chamber of Commerce and Civic and Church groups from all over our City. Being included as a part of these planning groups expanded my appreciation for what can be accomplished through community teamwork.”

Over the years he helped

Don Christian start the local Little Theater and Art's Council, which has morphed into the successful Delta Arts Group.

He also helped produce the Livin' On The Levee Rodeo, our City's salute to the Nation's birthday Freedom Fest, and countless dances, plays, spelling bees and such family fare for the West Memphis Civic Auditorium.

“It was all a huge reward,” Christian said, speaking of his years at the City's first performing arts center.

“Getting to be a part of staging events with local talent and bringing in national and regional performers like BB King and Charlie Rich was a thrill, but it was working with our young people over the years that was the most rewarding.” Before our West Memphis Senior High School built its excellent performing arts center, I was able to help broaden the horizons for generations of our children.”

And “children” is a subject he and wife, Sarah Beth (another “involved” native West Memphian), are very familiar with. Between them they have five sons and those young men along with their wives have blessed the Christian's with sixteen grandchildren.

“Planning Birthdays and Holidays requires great attention to detail.”

On the subject of “holidays” Don has always been very involved. He worked with our Chamber of Commerce on various programs for years, including our very successful annual Christmas Parade. He also started the annual tradition of videotaping the parade for replays on the City Government Channel CITY 17; which he worked to help establish. “Bringing the Christmas Parade into homes across the community was great fun for almost twenty years but even better was the addition of City Council meeting replays.” Don added “this provided a view into City Government that most working men and women had never before had – a chance to see local government at work.”

But Christian's belief in West Memphis doesn't end at the city limits – he served for years on the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Four of those years as Chairman of the group. “It was a wonderful opportunity” he said. Christian continued, “my proudest achievement during that period was nominating World Famous Trumpeter Wayne Jackson as a member.” Don continued, “As part of the Memphis Horns of Stax Records fame, Wayne did all of us proud that night he walked on stage to reflect on his West Memphis roots.”

Don said, “let me close with this, I was born in West Memphis, Arkansas I have lived all of my life here, most of it in the Ward. My wife Sarah and I live in the home my parents bought in 1953. It's important to me. There is an old saying that goes, ‘My roots are buried here.’” To me that is a true statement. I am seeking this position because I want to help make our City an even better place to work and live. I humbly ask for you vote for West Memphis City Council Ward Three Position Two on November 8, 2016.”

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