JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
In two weeks Ward 3 residents go to the polls to elect a new person for the city council for the first time in more than two decades.
Tuesday night a "Meet the Candidates Forum" was held at the Jackson Medical Mall to allow voters to get acquainted with the people wanting to represent them.
Nine of eleven candidates attended a forum and shared their platforms.
More than 100 people crowded around the center stage where the candidates were seated.
Beneta Burt, Joyce M. Jackson, Harrison Michael II, Sameerah Muhammad, Gwendolyn Ward Osborne-Chapman, Darla Palmer, Patricia Williams, Zachery Williams and Albert Wilson participated.
Residents want crime, abandoned homes, and infrastructure addressed, as well as the loss of businesses.
Jennifer Rawls has lived in Ward 3 all her life and wants to choose a representative who she says will work with everyone on the council. She said she's tired of the politics of Democrat versus Republican and wants to see unity in the city. Her biggest concern is safety in her declining neighborhood.
"I live in Virden Addition, and I have an 11-year-old son who's afraid to go across the street to play. So my concern is for my child and everybody else's child," said Rawls.
Bennie Richards is president of the High School Park Neighborhood Association. There are 236 families in the neighborhood organization. He's worried about the blight, the vacant Hood building and the welfare of aging residents in the area.
"We're hoping that we can get the kind of support that we need for our neighborhood associations through the council. We have excellent candidates here. We hope one will come out to spend more time in our neighborhood and help us get some real problems solved," said Richards.
Candidates agreed that the residents' concerns are some of their top priorities.
The audience also posed questions.
Nakesha Ross, who lives on Cedarhurst Road, asked about ways to bring new revenue to the city.
"Would you consider creating a toll booth in the city of Jackson so non-residents that live in Brandon and Madison and other areas who work here can put tax dollars and revenue here instead of taking money with them," asked Ross.
Ross learned that it would take legislative approval to install toll booths in the city.
Atasia Jones has lived in Georgetown for seven years. She wants a representative who she said will support their community and keep businesses from leaving for other counties.
"It is a concern of mine to see exactly what they have to say and some of the things that I have heard is just absurd and I really think things should be really addressed a little bit better than what they are," said Jones.
Voters also expressed concerns about a lack of activities and entertainment for youth and adults and an unfriendly business climate.
Even organizers said the forum was needed to inform voters about changing demographics of the ward that has 15 precincts with four in north Jackson.
Those four precincts are located at Chastain Middle School, McWillie Elementary School, the fire station on State Street and Collins Funeral Home on Northside Drive.
"People in north some of them have no idea that they live in Ward 3. They think that they are in Ward 2 or Ward 1. That's really Ward 3. Over 8,000 people voted in those four precincts for Ward 3 councilman in the last election," said moderator Othor Cain.
The special election is set for February 14th.
Candidates Larita Cooper-Stokes and Rev. John Taylor, Jr. did not participate in the forum.
It was sponsored by The Women for Progress of MS, Inc., The Mississippi Link, The Jackson Advocate, The Jackson Association of Black Journalists and The Jackson Medical Mall.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
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