Jennings announces bid for mayor

Local News

Related Photos

Jennings

Discussion

March 9, 2013

Jennings announces bid for mayor

By Terri Ferguson Smith / tsmith@themeridianstar.com The Meridian Star The Meridian Star Sat Mar 09, 2013, 06:00 AM CST

MERIDIAN —     Citing problems with the city's education system and youth-related crimes, along with 40 years of Republican administrations in Meridian, Randle Jennings announced Friday that he is seeking the office of mayor.

   He announced his candidacy at First Union Missionary Baptist Church.

   "Having been back home now a good while, I realized this town has some serious issues with corruption. It's corrupt in a lot of ways to the point where we're seeing things and we're acting like we don't see them," Jennings said. "We're waiting on officials to step up and tell us what we're seeing, but no one is stepping up to tell us anything."

   In his statement, Jennings, who is running as a Democrat, said in order for positive, real change to take place, communities and schools have to grow together.

   "God has told me to liberate the people. So God is telling the Republican party; let the people go," Jennings said. "The number of incidents, in the recent past; incidents like the accusations of running a school to jail pipeline, illegal gambling and racketeering, violation of a federal school desegregation order, along with high crime rate versus police department dissension are just a few examples as to why it's time for the Republicans to let the people go."

   Jennings said the community is concert at the lack of interest or outcry not coming from elected officials. Drugs, high crime, poverty, and slow economic growth come with the territory as communities deteriorate, Jennings said.

   "The Republican administration has operated a conservative platform for over 40 years now here in the city of Meridian," he said. "The rich has gotten richer and the poor suffer the consequences. It's time for a more liberal approach toward changing Meridian."

    Jennings, who is education chairman of the Meridian Branch of the NAACP, has serious concerns about the DOJ investigation that led to its suing the city, county, Division of Youth Services, and local youth court judges over what has been called the school-to-prison-pipeline. He said local officials have not been forthcoming with information about the investigation and lawsuit.

   "I've just taken the initiative to say that if they are not going to be transparent and open and honest, just go ahead and remove them," Jennings said. "I've taken the initiative to go ahead and run for office, the top office. It's going to take someone from the top office to first of all admit where we are and then find common solutions for all the people."

   Jennings said as mayor he would work to improve the image of Meridian, which he said has been damaged by its reputation during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He also pledged to implement the Promise Neighborhoods after school program.

   "After 3 o'clock, we have to make sure we secure the foundation of the future — getting our children off the streets," Jennings said.

   Other plans, he said, are to encourage bipartisanship, boost education through implementing a community involvement plan, hosting monthly community forums, and monthly open door meetings with the mayor, removing neighborhood blights, educating the formerly incarcerated on voting rights, forecasting Meridian's future, and working for community faith-based initiatives.

   Meridian is his hometown, he said, and he wants to see it grow for all people.

   "When you ride around and you still see the same people in the same conditions in the same neighborhoods and the same settings, and it's 40 years later, something is wrong," Jennings said.

Text Only

Local News

Patriotic program
Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Command Senior Chief Chris Leonard and
NTTC Commanding Officer Cmdr. Brett St. George accept artwork from Northeast Lauderdale
Elementary School Special Needs Teacher Jennifer Tabb and student Cody Vice.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Library scheduled to reopen May 20
The wait has been longer than anticipated, but Meridian/Lauderdale County Public Library will once again open – just in time for registration for the library's Summer Reading Program.

May 18, 2013
MHS students earn closer look at medical field
“I’d like to explore my options … I want to see what nursing has to offer.”
That’s what Redarius Fowler said when asked why he was taking part in Thursday’s unique camp, “Experience the O.N.E: Hospital Stay.” Fowler was one of 20 Meridian High School male ninth graders taking a part in the unique opportunity.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
High 5
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Denny gives a high-five to a student from Northeast
Lauderdale Elementary School Special Needs Class following the students performance at Naval Air Station Meridian.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Incubator farm to host Agricultural Field Day
Farmers, consultants, and others interested in Mississippi agriculture will have an opportunity to hear about results of current research and demonstration projects during the upcoming Spring Agricultural Field Day at the Alcorn State University Incubator Farm, 18600 Highway 397, in Preston, according to Dr. Franklin Chukwuma, director of Off-Campus Centers.

May 18, 2013
Antique Alley in in full swing
The consensus among those who were laying out their wares for all to see Thursday during the annual U.S. 11 Antique Alley and Yard Sale was that the crowds have been good and the weather even better.

May 17, 2013 2 Photos
Feds close down another Gordon business
May 17, 2013
The Price Is Right, Live! at Pearl River Resort
May 17, 2013
MPD confiscates gambling machines, arrests made
May 17, 2013
Chase ends in arrest
May 17, 2013 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Jennings announces bid for mayor

Site Map

Contact Us