Today, I am formally announcing my candidacy for the Greene County School Board, District 4. My name is Willie Esther Davis, I am running for the Greene County Board of Education. I am a lifelong resident of Greene County and a proud native of the Tishabee Community. I am a graduate of Paramount High School and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Stillman College. While attending Stillman College, I received the United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar Award. I humbly ask for your support and your vote to serve as your School Board Member for District 4. A vote for me is a vote for change. Thank you.
The Greene County Commission held its monthly meeting Monday, August 12, 2024 with all commissioners present. Before the agenda was approved, Commissioner Roshanda Summerville requested to present amendments. The commission approved adding the following items: Consider renewing the CFO’s contract under its existing agreements; Consider adopting a resolution naming Caroline Carpenter Road one half mile from the Union City limits; Consider a resolution to approve the Rebuild Alabama Plan. The Commission acted on these items individually with all approving naming the county road Caroline Carpenter Road and adopting the resolution for Rebuild Alabama. The renewal of CFO’s contract was approved on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Allen Turner and Corey Cockrell voting in the negative. Turner expressed concern that the existing contract should be reviewed before acting on it. CFO Macaroy Underwood expressed that he was agreeable with renewing his contract with existing terms. The status of Attorney Mark Parnell’s contract with the county was not raised at this commission meeting. The Commission accepted the resignation of David Bailey from the Water Authority Board, District 1, and approved the Commissioner Spencer’s recommendation of Barry Walker for the Board. Commissioner Summerville recommended the appointment of Donald Woods, District 5, for the Water Authority Board. Appointments to the E-911 Board were as follows: Geraldine Thompson, District 1; Johnny L Isaac, District 4. The Commission tabled a request from the E-911 Board for emergency operating funds, since an amount had not been discussed and agreed upon. At the Commission’s work session, August 7, Mr. Johnny L. Isaac, Chairperson of E-911 Board, appealed to the county for financial assistance. According to Isaac, E-911 lost $100,000 when Greenetrack had to stop disbursements. “ The state provides approximately $2,100 per month and the county awards $30,000 per year. All these funds have been depleted,” Isaac said. He noted that E-911 does not generate funds and must keep employees on the job 24/7 with six full time and two part time persons. Isaac said that at this time the operations need about $800,000. The Commission approved, as a blanket, the following items proposed by the Engineering Department: * Solicitation for consultant/engineering proposals to address bridge scour. * CDBG reimbursement for $19,000. * Use of JM Woods Auction to action/sell four tractors and three dump trucks. * Sell four tractors and bush hogs and purchase four new tractors at additional cost of approximately $40,000, totaling $160,000. * Trade three dump trucks and purchase three new dump trucks at additional cost of approximately $10,000, totaling $30,000. The Commission acted on the following items requested by the Greene County Industrial Development Authority:
Yolanda Flowers -GovernorWill Boyd – US SenatorWendell Major- Attorney GeneralPamela J. Laffitte- Secretary of StateCurtis Travis- State RepresentativeAnita L. Kelly- Alabama Supreme CourtYvette M. Richardson State Board of Education District No # 4Bobby Singleton – State Senator
By: John Zippert, Co-Publisher
In Greene County, and many places across the state, the Alabama New South Alliance (ANSA) and the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) are urging voters to vote a straight Democratic Party ticket in the November 8th General Election.
The state’s two major Black and progressive voter organizations are encouraging voters to color in the oval next to the Democratic Party, at the top of the ballot, and vote for all the statewide and local candidates on the Democratic Party slate.
Some of the candidates you will be voting for if you follow this advice are pictured in this article. “Many people do not know that we have Black candidates concerned about all the people running for statewide offices in Alabama,” said Lorenzo French, Chair of the Greene County Democratic Executive Committee.
Yolanda Flowers is running for Governor against incumbent Kay Ivey. Flowers, a retired educator, has a platform of more equitable policies in education, criminal justice, and healthcare than the current Governor. “All you need to know is that Flowers supports Medicaid Expansion and will sign for it as soon as she is in office,” said French.
In the U. S. Senate race, Dr Will Boyd is supported over Katie Britt for the seat being vacated by the retirement of Senator Richard Shelby. Boyd supports overturning the filibuster to allow for passage of voting rights, reproductive health care, and progressive economic policies in the Senate. Boyd and other statewide candidates will be in Greene County at the Renaissance Theater on Thursday, November 3rd, to rally for a strong voter turnout next Tuesday.
Other statewide candidates endorsed by ANSA and ADC include: Terri Sewell for U. S. House of Representatives, Wendell Majors for Attorney General, Pamela Laffite for Secretary of State, Anita L. Kelly for Supreme Court Justice, Place 5, Wendell Majors for Attorney General and Yvette M. Richardson for State School Board, District 4.
Also endorsed are Bobby Singleton, State Senate District 24 and Curtis Travis, State Representative District 72.
In Greene County, all local Democratic candidates for local office, chosen in the May primary, are endorsed for the November 8th General Election, including: Joe Benison for Sheriff, Greg Griggers for District Attorney, Ronald Kent Smith for Coroner; Garria Spencer, District 1, Tennyson Smith, District 2, Corey Cockrell District 3, Allen Turner District 4 and Roshanda Sommerville District 5 -Greene County Commission; Robert Davis, District 1 and Brandon Merriweather, District 2 for Greene County Board of Education.
Amendments
Also on the November 8th ballot is one referendum and ten amendments to be voted on by voters statewide. ANSA has given the following recommendations on the Amendments.
First, there is a referendum on the recompilation and removal of racist language from the Alabama Constitution. ANSA suggests voting “YES” on this proposal.
On the Amendments, ANSA suggests voting “NO” on Numbers 1, 3 and 4 and “YES” on the others: 2, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9 and 10.
Amendment 1, is based on Anaiah’s Law and would allow judges in Alabama to restrict bail for persons charged with felony crimes, including: Murder (other than capital murder), kidnapping, rape, sodomy, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, and robbery, all in the 1st degree, as well as aggravated child abuse, sexual torture, and terrorism. ANSA feels this would limit the power of judges to use their discretion in setting bail, based on the specific circumstances of the case. ANSA recommends a “NO” vote because too many Back people are in jail now, with high bail requirements they cannot meet. Some have been incarcerated for years, without trail, because they cannot meet bail.
ANSA urges a “NO” vote on Amendments 3, because it requires the Governor to notify the families of victims before commuting the sentences of offenders; and Amendment 4, because it would not allow changes in election Laws within six months of an election, which limits changes required by emergencies like the recent pandemic.
ANSC urges a “YES” vote on Amendment 2 which would allow use of public funds from county and city government toward broadband; Amendment 5, which deals with “orphans’ business”, and I obsolete language; Amendment 6, would allow cities and towns that collect a special property tax to pay bonds or other debt service on public capital improvements.
Amendment 7 would clarify the authority of counties, cities, and towns to use public funds for economic development purposes. Amendments 8 and 9, apply locally to Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Jefferson Counties for dealing with utility systems; Amendment 10, is a companion to the proposed recompiled Alabama Constitution of 2022. It would allow future amendments to the Alabama Constitution to be properly placed in the Constitution.
I, Larry Coleman, am a candidate for Eutaw City Council, District 4. While I was growing up as a child in Greene County, I was schooled on many lifelong lessons. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie and Bertha Coleman, taught me the values of hard work, education and faith in God. After graduating for Paramount High school, I made Detroit, MI my home for many years and worked for Chrysler Motor Company for six years and Valassis Printing Company for over eighteen years. Upon returning to my hometown, I was employed with Johnson Controls for over seventeen years. Until this day, my faith and my upbringing continue to guide my thinking and service. I am a member of Mt. Zion, Mt. Hebron Baptist Church where I serve in several capacities including Superintendent of Sunday School and a member of the Deacon Board, Usher Board, and Finance Committee. Now that I have returned home, my wife, Margaret Coleman, and I enjoy living in Eutaw. After taking an inventory of many needed improvements in the city of Eutaw, I feel compelled to take an active role in civic involvement to bring about positive changes. Serving as city councilman is not an easy task, but I will pledge my efforts, time, and cooperation and will work relentlessly to fulfill the responsibilities of this position. In addition to working to fulfill the duties of District 4 Councilman, I will be an advocate for the citizens of District 4 as well as the entire city. Furthermore, I want to help bring about changes that will strengthen the connection among city leaders. My goal is not to seek personal accomplishments or recognition. Instead, my energies will be exerted to help the City of Eutaw. It is not about us; it is about the city.
