Meet the Candidates: Warren County Board of Supervisors — District 3 Democrat Charles Selmon

Published 7:26 pm Friday, August 2, 2019

Editor’s note: The responses to the questions posed to each of the candidates vying for nominations in their party primaries were provided by the candidates. The responses have not been edited. We appreciate the candidates for taking the time to participate in this survey and providing their responses in a timely fashion.

Charles Selmon

• Hometown and how long you have lived in Warren County. If you’re a lifelong resident of Warren County please include that.

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50-plus years.

  Highest education level achieved and/or technical certification. Also include any degrees earned and institutions where those degrees and/or certifications were earned.

Bachelors of Science in Social Work – Mississippi College 1981; Economic Development — University of Southern Mississippi 1999; Delta Leadership Institute, Washington, D.C. 2014; Delta Leadership Institute 2014; Crucial Conversation/Crucial Accountability 2014; State of Mississippi License of Insurance, Life, Health and Accident 2012; Certified Fatherhood Initiative 2007

  In your opinion, what is the number one issue facing your district? Why do you believe that issue is a top priority?

I believe our biggest problem we have is lack of education and poverty. I know you can uplift a community if each individual earned enough to take care of their family (higher paying jobs in the community). We need to increase the level of education. I believe the more we know our values increase to the community, even if in a vocational or technical career.

  As supervisor, what have you done to address issues in your district? If running for office, what would you do as supervisor to address those issues?

The number 1 (one) issue facing the third district is poverty and education. Being the Workforce Development Board, I was able to help the community to become work ready. We are over 95 percent work readiness. We have created over 670 jobs with $13 million dollars vocational and technical training for our community. In Workforce Development, we have spent over $500,000 in this community for on the job training annually. 

  As a whole how would you grade the current Board of Supervisors’ performance? Be specific as to those things you believe the board has done well and those things that could have been done better. If you’re running for office, please grade the current board overall and be specific in those areas they have done well at, or need to do a better job.

I believe the Board has done a good job as related to job performance based on level of revenue. We have audits every year by the State of Mississippi. We have not had any finding regarding the misuse of county funds.  I feel that we need to improve to the public. There is a disconnect on how county government works. I feel we need to do more to education regarding county government. 

  As a county overall, what do you believe the biggest challenge facing the county will be over the next four years and what do you believe you can do to meet those challenges if you are elected or re-elected?

Bring high paying jobs to our community, so that head of household can take care of their family. Second issue, we need to grow our community in population. Warren County has been less than 50,000 people in the last 50 years. The third is infrastructure of roads and bridges. We cannot have a striving community if you cannot get to high tech jobs. We must continue to raise the poverty level.