Sign policy among reasons Smollen seeking mayor’s job|[3/25/05]

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 25, 2005

The only Republican candidate for mayor of Vicksburg said the current administration’s policies are hurting tourism and that more needs to be done to promote local attractions.

Shirley Newman Smollen, 69, told members of the Port City Kiwanis Club Thursday that her business, the Stained Glass Manor Oak Hall, 2430 Drummond St., has suffered since 2001 because of new policies that have limited signs on the city’s right-of-way.

“When the mayor took up my signs, our tourism went from an average 30 a day to zero and now I have to do all my own advertising,” Smollen said.

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“It’s gotten really hard to find the tourist attractions,” she said.

The city removed signs to Stained Glass Manor along with Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau signs last year, saying that the privately placed signs needed to be more uniform in appearance. City officials have been working with the VCVB on new signs which are expected to be up this year.

Smollen also said taxes are too high and that there are too many rules on small businesses. She was asked to name the characteristics of good leadership and said she couldn’t, but knew what wasn’t good leadership.

“I wouldn’t say that (President Bill) Clinton and (The Rev.) Jesse Jackson are the people we want our kids looking up to,” Smollen said.

Since Smollen is the only Republican in the race for mayor, she bypasses the primary election and advances to the June 7 general election to face the winner of the Democratic primary, incumbent Laurence Leyens, 40, and former Mayor Joe Loviza, 65, who are both running as independents.

In a handout Smollen gave out at the Kiwanis Club meeting, she listed other campaign issues including women’s issues, commerce and crime.

The Kiwanis members are hearing from candidates weekly.