West Memphis a city at the crossroads as runoff nears

West Memphis a city at the crossroads as runoff nears

Polls open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30p.m. tomorrow

By Ralph Hardin

ralphhardin@ gmail .com This is it. After months of posturing for position with voters, candidates will gather tomorrow night at the West Memphis Civic Center to see the numbers come in for one of the most important political races in recent memory for the people of West Memphis.

The 2018 mid-terms were fraught with party politics and debate on a number of issues, but in Crittenden County, there is perhaps no other race that has garnered attention like the contest for Mayor of West Memphis.

From the moment Mayor Bill Johnson announced he would not be seeking another term, speculation about who might run and what their chances might be began to circulate throughout the community.

Ultimately, a half-dozen hopefuls filed to seek election, each offering what they believe is the best vision — their vision — for the City of West Memphis, its people and their future.

A crowded field of six candidates has been narrowed to two. On election night City Councilwoman Ramona Taylor, Quorum Court Justice Lorenzo Parker, buisnessman Fred Leonard and West Memphis policeman Eric Johnson were cut from contention, leaving the top two vote-getters, a pair of city councilmen, vying for votes in tomorrow’s runoff.

West Memphis councilman Marco McClendon’s focus has been a twopronged platform focusing on crime prevention and strengthening family and community. Crime and murder, he said, have impacted his life and good police-community relations must start at home.

“I sponsored a resolution on gun violence in West Memphis,” said McClendon. “Of the 126 people murdered since the ‘90’s, I probably knew 80 of the people. So, when we think about crime it goes deep with me, because it was someone I knew. I get passionate because of the love that 1 have for this city.

McClendon said men have been beaten by the system, the power struggle in West Memphis.

“We go back to crime we have to strengthen the family. With my crime plan I want to get heavily involved in intervention and prevention. Policing is not the problem. You know 94 percent of the murders are solved? If prisons are making building plans based on third grade population, why can’t we come up with third grade career pathways? Anti bullying, why are we not using the Roberta Jackson Neighbor- hood Center and put proper programs in there and empower our community.

Success starts at home and I can’t legislate that, but I can put a program for intervention in West Memphis.”

McClendon opined that the city government is not the complete solution.

“There are 89 black churches in West Memphis.

Some are doing a great job, some not enough. With that many churches in our community we should have a big bothers outreach plan or adopting a street to keep their streets clean. We’ve all got to get involved.”

Councilman Wayne Croom wants to make his message to the people of West Memphis very clear.

“The reason I’m running for mayor is simple, but important,” said Croom. “I want to improve the quality of life of the citizens of West Memphis throughout our great city.”

“Each of our citizens deserve to live in a safe environment, receive excellent educational opportunities, medical support, continual improvement of intra-city transportation, and other city amenities,” he said. “I will work to enhance these aspects of our community.

I offer a fresh vision and outlook as to what our community can become, rather than the stagnated ‘same old, same old’ politics to which our citizens have become accustomed.

Our city is made up of families — in some cases, second or third-generation — schools, churches businesses large and small, and many other organizations.

I want to create a safe environment that allows those families to flourish by establishing opportunities that will allow them to thrive in West Memphis.”

Croom has long been invested in the West Memphis community. For 40 years, he was a part of the city’s business and industry, working at Langston Companies, Inc., including serving as Plant Manager from 1990 to 2015. He has also dedicated time and energy to a number of civic groups and organizations Croom said he wants to be available and accountable to the people of West Memphis. He believes there are four components to a prosperous community: A low crime rate, a Class A Fire Department and first responders, an excellent medical community, and a first-rate educational system.

“Our crime rate is one of the highest per capita in the state,” said Croom. “Hiring, training and retaining qualified candidates is a challenge within itself.

West Memphis is short on officers. To address this concern, we must review our past practices and determine what works and what doesn’t in today’s environment, we must involve our citizens in deterring crime in their neighborhoods, and engage our youth, whether it’s through a community setting, after-school program, youth organization or other method.”

Croom said he wants to work with other community leaders and city officials to build a safe, prosperous community for everyone.

“Government should work for the people and not against the people. If we work together, we can make it happen,” he said.