With the construction of Meridian High’s ninth-grade academy as his backdrop and surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of family and friends, Meridian businessman Percy Bland officially announced his plans to run for mayor of Meridian.

During a mid-day press conference on the MHS campus, Bland, who will run for the coveted office as a Democrat, said he will be a mayor who “unites all of the people” of the city.

” … Both black and white, Hispanic and Asian, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican,” he said. “We will break barriers and lines of division and be open to listen and flexible to change.”

Usually soft-spoken and laid back, Bland had a take-charge demeanor as he laid the ground work for his plans as mayor.

“As your mayor, I will be a change agent for this city, and we will communicate with the people about our true issues and solve these problems together,” he said.

“City government will be on the same page with your mayor. County government and city government will communicate and work together on projects to improve the quality of life for all Meridianites.”

His words pumped the crowd of supporters, who, at various times during the presentation chanted – in the same pharaseology of a recent national office seeker – “It’s Our Time! It’s Our Time!” Toddlers as well as adults waved campaign signs with “Vote Percy Bland for Mayor” on one side, and the clock-bearing slogan “It’s Our Time” on the other.

But there were also moving moments, such as when Bland fought back tears as he talked about the sacrifices made by his father, who, during his youth, worked in the cotton fields and in later years taught school and took on extra jobs for his children.

” … I saw how you struggled to pay for our tuition on two teacher’s salaries so that we could go to the best schools, so that we could have the opportunity to compete later in life,” he said.

The high school campus setting complemented Bland’s reference to another major decision Meridian residents faced a little more than a year ago – the $19.5 million school bond issue.

” … There were a lot of people who didn’t believe it was a good idea … did they want to invest that kind of money into our public school system,” he said. “Some said we would never get 60 percent of the vote needed to pass the bond, because we had fallen short just five years prior. Some said we had not passed a school bond in over 20 years and this community could not come together to support any issue.”

But, he said, people of all backgrounds, occupations, races, class and beliefs came together to assure the bond’s passage – despite the number of big name supporters against it.

“They believed and they knew a community’s greatest strength is always it’s people,” Bland said.

The bond issue passed with a 71 percent vote.

“We stand here today with the new ninth grade academy at our backs because of the spirit and change that this community delivered,” he said.

Bland is one of several candidates seeking the mayor’s office. Casandra Sloan, a Democrat, was first to file qualifying papers. Also announcing their intent to run are Cheri Barry, a Republican, and former congressional candidate Bill Marcy, also Republican.

Mayor John Robert Smith has yet to announce whether he plans to seek a fifth term.

The qualification deadline is at 5 p.m. March 6, with the primary election set for May 5 and the general election June 2.