Winfield says to expect decisions on term’s ‘Day 1’
Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 25, 2009
Mayor-elect Paul Winfield said this morning he will make announcements “very shortly,” possibly on “Day 1,” about specific personnel changes he wants to see at City Hall beyond his stated desire to replace Police Chief Tommy Moffett.
“The aldermen and I have some very significant decisions that we have to make…and (North Ward Alderman Michael) Mayfield and I intend to sit down with (South Ward Alderman) Sid (Beauman) as soon as possible to determine what the next steps will be for the City of Vicksburg,” said Winfield, who was the guest speaker at the Port City Kiwanis group meeting.
Winfield has been talking about meeting with Mayfield and Beauman to discuss personnel and other issues since June 2, when he was elected over two-term incumbent Mayor Laurence Leyens by garnering 61.6 percent of the 6,876 votes cast. Though he’s had several informal discussions with Mayfield, Beauman has been dealing with a family emergency for weeks and has been unavailable for a sit-down, Winfield said.
“I intend to be on the ground and running hard next week,” he said.
In the meantime, Winfield said he’s delivering on another pledge he made during his campaign over the weekend — a family trip to the beach. He, his wife, Malissa, and 3-year-old son, Paul Evans II, were to leave for Orange Beach, Ala., immediately following his appearance this morning. Winfield had said shortly after the election he intended to take a short vacation with his family before his inauguration on July 3 and first board meeting on July 7.
Winfield said he’s been meeting with some department heads since the election and added he doesn’t want the majority of City Hall employees to think their jobs are in jeopardy.
“I know a lot of people are worried… but just because you disagree with me doesn’t mean you’re going to get a pink slip. Vicksburg doesn’t need that much disruption,” he said. “The people of Vicksburg want some substantive changes, but I think the biggest change is going to be in the attitude at City Hall.”
One of the few specific pledges Winfield made to voters during the primary and general election campaigns was his commitment to new leadership at the police department. Moffett, whom Leyens hired shortly after his first successful bid for mayor in 2001, has consistently said the department has become more efficient and professional despite its thinner ranks.
According to the city charter, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is responsible for appointing several employees at the outset of each new term, including city attorney, city clerk, fire chief and police chief. The appointments are commonly made at the new board’s first meeting, but it is not required. Late last week, Mayfield — who has acknowledged he will undoubtedly cast the swing vote on Moffett’s job as Beauman has said he will support the chief — called for a 30-day moratorium on all appointments or personnel changes to give each a complete review. Winfield said this morning he does not support the moratorium and intends to make most of the appointments and possibly some other personnel changes at the July 7 meeting.
“I want everybody to know that my intention is to make some changes on Day 1 — that’s what the people elected me to do. I have some specific changes in mind. I have not discussed them with everyone involved and I don’t think it would be appropriate to mention anyone in particular at this time… but I will be doing that very shortly,” he said.
Winfield also fielded multiple questions about his decision to stay on for a fifth-term as the city attorney of Port Gibson. He reiterated his obligation to the residents of Port Gibson and said once more the job — which pays approximately $30,000 annually — “will not require very much of my time.” Winfield also added he has already effectively retired from his private practice as an attorney.
The Port Gibson board meets twice monthly at 5 p.m., on the same first and third Mondays as the Vicksburg board, which convenes at 10 a.m. Port Gibson is a city of 1,840 about 30 miles south of Vicksburg.
“I am an attorney; I am a professional and they are a client of mine. They’re proud to have me, and I intend to stay on as long as they’ll have me,” he said. “I don’t intend to allow it to interfere with my duties here in Vicksburg, but if at any point it did I would resign (from the city attorney job).”
Meanwhile, Leyens was to attend his final meeting as mayor today, but had not yet announced any plans as he transitions out of life as a public servant. With a background in business administration and marketing, Leyens has said he is considering employment options in and out of the Vicksburg area.
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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com