Eric Johnson announces WM mayoral candidacy

Eric Johnson announces WM mayoral candidacy

Policeman, EMT focused on the future

Of the six official candidates for West Memphis Mayor each has been quoted in the paper while speaking in public forums — except one. Eric Johnson has filed to run for the office of mayor and the candidate is hoping his focused on the future message strikes a chord with voters.

Homegrown, Johnson attended Faulk, Wonder Junior High and West Memphis High School.

Johnson serves the community now as a policeman and an EMT and started a career as a city servant as a fireman. He grew up on Vanderbilt and displayed a heart for volunteerism at the age of twelve helping at the nursing home on South Avalon.

Johnson wanted citizen participation in city government decision making. Forums like citizens committees, public hearings and focus groups were part of his plan he unveiled to govern the city with a servant leadership style.

“We need a mayor that is a servant to the people,” said Johnson. “The mayor should give people the opportunity to help in decision making. The city is a clean canvas, the mayor holds the paint brush and lets the paint the picture.

We need the community involved. We need to let them make some decisions.

Right now they don’t have say so on anything.”

Johnson stated his campaign had four focuses for the future. His experience as a patrolman put crime reduction as the first corner stone. the mayoral hopeful wanted the department to continue its thrust into Community Oriented Policing Programs (COPS) and to hire more locals. Johnson wants the patrol division beefed up and put officers in contact with citizens.

“If elected, I’ll figure out a solution to staff 15-20 officers per shift, targeting high crime areas, and incorporated foot and bike patrols,” said Johnson.

“Curfew will most definitely be enforced.”

Johnson wanted to elevate the comfort level of the elderly and children in the city by reducing violent crime.

“Elderly people are too fearful to tend garden in their front yards, said Johnson. Their childhood is being robbed stolen from children. Many parents are terrified to let their children play in the yard because of crime.”

Johnson’s solution is to fund the local boys and girls club, mentoring programs and youth nights.

The candidate expressed concern about housing for veterans, the disabled and elderly as his third plank.

He observed the declined in community block grant funding and wanted to inject new funding idea, and looked to the Arkansas Development

Finance Authority.

He wanted 20 new home and 40 home rehabilitated each year.

“We must compete for new grant money that are available,” said Johnson.

“In four years we would have 100 newly constructed homes and a total of 160 rehabilitated homes.”

Johnson indicted that crime reduction must come for economic development to follow. Investing into city employees and infra structure go with the cause to bring in private development. He called for partnering local entities and government stakeholders to push for growth. He said the city has made it too hard for new small business development.

“It’s difficult to attract business and new evidence if our codes are outdated,” said Johnson. “We need to bring them our codes, regulations and ordinances up to 21st century standards.”

If elected I will bring city employees salaries up to date, Happy employee, happy citizens.”