Improved city appearance not enough, Ferguson says|[3/31/05]

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 31, 2005

Mayoral candidate John Ferguson said today that aesthetic renovations downtown and along the city’s corridors have improved appearances, but haven’t helped the people of Vicksburg.

“Most of us assumed that what you saw was indeed progress and that things were getting better and that jobs were being created,” Ferguson said. But, “If you were thinking that and you know the numbers, then you know that’s just not true.”

Ferguson, 63, is seeking the Democratic party nomination in the May 3 primary election where he will face Eric Rawlings, 42; Charles Selmon, 44, and John Shorter, 38, for the chance to advance to the June 7 general election.

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Candidates for mayor and the city’s two aldermen’s seats will speak again tonight at 6 at City Auditorium in the first forum of this election season. The candidates will present their platforms which will be followed by questions from the public.

Speaking before about 30 people at the Port City Kiwanis breakfast meeting this morning, Ferguson, a member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors until he was defeated by current District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield, cited unemployment statistics since the city administration took office. He also cited tourism figures since 2001.

The average jobless rate for the year in 2001 was 4.9 percent. Last year’s average for Vicksburg was 6.8 percent.

During that same three-year period, the state’s jobless average went from 5.5 percent in 2001 to 5.7 percent in 2004, according to the Mississippi Employment Security Commission.

Ferguson said that since 2001 tourism numbers have been down during that same period.

“There’s a conception that all the cleaning up of the corridors has helped tourism and it simply is not true,” Ferguson said.

Most people in the tourism industry have cited the terrorist attack on Sept. 11 for decreases in visitors since 2001. Earlier this month, the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau reported increases in revenue from the 1 percent hotel and restaurant tax.

Ferguson also said he supports creating a public transportation system and said it shouldn’t be centered on a downtown hub.

He also said he wants to support local business owners, improve infrastructure in neighborhoods and provide support for the Vicksburg Police Department.

“The leadership of the city needs to assure the officers that are putting their lives at risk to do the job that they support them. And have enough of them,” Ferguson said.

But, “I haven’t decided who the police chief would be. I have decided that you will have the best police force in the state,” he added.

The winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor will face incumbent Mayor Laurence Leyens, 40, and former Mayor Joe Loviza, 65, both independents, and Republican Shirley Newman Smollen, 69, in the general election. Because Smollen is the only Republican in that race she will skip the primaries and her name will not appear on the May 3 ballot.

Also on the primary ballot will be the Democratic hopefuls in the North Ward race, where incumbent Gertrude Young, 49, will face Mayfield, 47, and Rodney Dillamar, 45, for the nomination. The winner faces independent candidates Vickie Bailey, 36, and Tommie Rawlings, 41, and Republican Carl Yelverton, 58, in the general election.

In the South Ward, DaVon Grey, 46, and Pam Johnson, 39, are seeking the Democratic nomination and a chance to change incumbent Sid Beauman, 57, a Republican seeking his second term. There are no independent candidates in that race.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is Saturday, but voter registration for the general election will remain open until May 6. The City Clerk’s Office is also accepting absentee ballot applications until April 23.