Assessing the West Memphis mayor’s race

Assessing the West Memphis mayor’s race

Former, current civic leaders weigh in with analysis

news@theeveningtimes.com

Three officials with chief executive experience sized up the East Arkansas Realtors Association Mayor’s forum. The Tuesday evening event at the West Memphis Civic Center was the last chance for voters to vet candidates’ side by side. A standing room crowd greater than 400 filled the West Memphis Civic Center. All six candidates made their strongest appeal to culminate a series of forums held by two groups across the city this campaign season. Two former mayors and the county judge delivered their analysis of the candidates’ presentations through experienced eyes and sifted out the key elements for voters to consider. Former West Memphis Mayor Leo Chitman, former Earle Mayor Otis Davis, and County Judge Woody Wheeless weighed in.

Davis noted each candidate delivered a clear vision for the city along with detailed improvement plans. He keyed in on prioritizing and developing a cooperating relationship with city council to best use available revenue.

“If I were voting in West Memphis, I would look at what they have already done, age has nothing to do with it,” said Davis. “I choose candidates that say less. I heard it once tonight, ‘I’m not making promises.’ You have to have a council willing to work with what you have.”

The former mayor of Earle noted crime and policing platforms from each candidate. The mayoral hopefuls spouted various high crime statistics and offered solutions ranging from community policing thrusts to building substations. He said police work centered on making arrests and community apathy the biggest stumbling block on the way to public safety.

“You cannot police the crime,” said Davis. “Police make arrests; that’s what they do. You can make sure those officers are trained and in place. There are a lot of killings in our cities. The view of police is eroding in our country, but I never hear the pastors call a community meeting to get people

involved.”

Chitman heard multiple candidates gripe about run down properties overgrown and open ditches, and flooding. He said the next mayor ought to get done what city government has been charged with doing.

Almost every candidate called for cleaning up the city.

“I heard many complaints about dilapidated properties, but somebody owns it and is paying taxes on it,” said Chitman. “That’s not an excuse. If you do your part, as a city you’re supposed to, take care of utility easements, and drainage.”

The former West Memphis Mayor said paying attention and responding to voters provided mandatory basics to good city government.

“If you represent people, you need to listen and understand,” said Chitman.

“Voters say we need jobs.

We need to bring small business.”

County Judge Woody Wheeless drew on his experience as the lead administrator for the county.

“The highlight for me was hearing all six candidates understand what is at stake in West Memphis,” said Wheeless. “We saw a full crowd here tonight; the building was full. The people are wanting to see the city move forward and reverse population decrease.

How can we get turned around to get people to invest in the properties here?”

The judge heard many candidates talk about the poor state of East Broadway and thought voters should evaluate the candidates on who had the best plan to revitalize that area.

The city and the school district failed to see eye to eye last year on consolidating the Jackson and Wonder campuses at an East Broadway

location.

“If you are looking for infrastructure in the city, you need to look at revitalizing East Broadway, make the first investment down there,” said Wheeless.

“Build a fire station- police station complex together.

Both are needed. What they have is in sad shape. Show the public the city will make the first investment.

Then encourage businesses to come here.

“The population of West Memphis is seeing a decrease. We’ve got to figure out a way to stop this. This is the biggest city in the county. Whatever happens here effects everyone in the county.”

He noted the optimism among candidates and said stakes were high not only for the city but also for the county.

“I think these candidates will continue to work hard together after the election,” said Wheeless. “Voters should pick who has the vision for the city that best matches their own.”

To review what the pundits heard, the entire question and answer forum may be found on Facebook on the East Arkansas Realtors page.

By John Rech