Longtime Meridian policewoman Rita Jack launched her political campaign for mayor Thursday with a kickoff event at Dumont Plaza.

 

Among her priorities as a candidate include enhancing public safety, promoting economic growth, engaging with the community and operating government efficiently. Jack previously served as community liaison officer for Meridian Police Department, heading up initiatives such as the National Drug Take Back Day and neighborhood watch, and it is that experience that gives her the edge in the mayoral race, she said.

 

“During my time with the police department, I spent a great deal of time trying to develop programs that would bring us closer together, that would bridge that gap,” she said.

 

Jack said her administration would work diligently to improve public safety by boosting the police department’s recruiting efforts and putting more officers and patrol cars on the streets. Seeing uniformed police driving marked vehicles not only gives the public a sense of security, she said, it puts fear into the criminals.

 

Under her leadership, MPD would also move toward accreditation again, an effort that fell by the wayside during a period of heavy turnover in office leadership. Individual officers would also be encouraged to pursue higher education and bring those skills to the job. Technology is advancing and the demands from law enforcement are changing, she said, and Meridian’s officers need the education to do the job right.

 

“My plan is to encourage our officers to get a higher education, and with that comes the ability to deal with these challenges that are being brought upon the profession by as high as the governor of the state,” she said.

 

If elected, Jack said she plans to reduce red tape for small, locally owned businesses, making it easier and reducing the cost of setting up a business in Meridian. The city could also look at waiving fees for water taps and other incentives to help small businesses as well, she said.

 

And those businesses will need skilled workers, which is why investing in workforce development is also important, Jack said, as well as having the necessary infrastructure and maintenance programs in place to meet the needs of industries and residents alike.

 

“All of this is a process, but as I stated, it is my job to seek solutions, and I am committed to that,” she said.

 

With decades of police work and interacting with the community under her belt, Jack said she believes she is uniquely qualified to understand and address the problems facing Meridian. It may take time, she said, but it is possible to build a better future for the city.

 

“It is very important to have a strong mayor who is dedicated to serving the people. That’s why I’m running. I want to bring accountability, fairness and leadership that puts people first. We want to build a stronger, safer and more transparent city.”

 

Jack previously ran for Lauderdale County Coroner in 2023 but was unsuccessful.