Tonight we attended the DEC meeting to watch their certification of candidates for the upcoming Primary Election on 2 Aug 2011. Another reason for our attendance was that the Transparency Committee had sent a letter voicing our concern about candidates not living at the address they declare on their qualifying statements. (A copy of that letter was posted to this site earlier.)
Actually, we didn't learn anything we didn't already know about this residency problem that seems so prevelant in Mississippi. I personally thought it was sort of amusing when one of the committee members said something like...well someone can have more then one house. This statement was following a discussion about it being common knowledge that the Superintendent of Education doesn't live in the state of MS.
So, here is my light bulb moment. How sad and shame on us. Not only is it common knowledge that this Superintendent doesn't live here...we keep electing him and we have a low performing school system. Our children deserve better.
Don't we have enough faith in ourselves to elect people who live here full time? Are these elected officials so arrogant that they think they are the only people who can be elected to office? I think we can find enough good people who want to live here full time to help make Tunica County a better place to live and work for all and not just the few.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
TRIAD Meeting
Bob and I just returned from a TRIAD Meeting. For those of you who might not be familiar with TRIAD, this is an outreach program of the Sheriff's Department for the benefit of senior citizens. All political candidates were invited to attend and to talk for 3 - 5 minutes.
Well, guess who did not show up? All 5 of the incumbent Supervisors. Not one of our Supervisors thought enough of our senior citizens to show up. That's right. They were not interested enough to even show their faces. Maybe they think they already have their vote.
I will say to them just eactly what I said during the TRIAD meeting. Being one of the 5 Supervisors in Tunica County is not some "little ole part time job".
If it is your choice to elect me, you will be my full time job.
Well, guess who did not show up? All 5 of the incumbent Supervisors. Not one of our Supervisors thought enough of our senior citizens to show up. That's right. They were not interested enough to even show their faces. Maybe they think they already have their vote.
I will say to them just eactly what I said during the TRIAD meeting. Being one of the 5 Supervisors in Tunica County is not some "little ole part time job".
If it is your choice to elect me, you will be my full time job.
Redistricting
Is there anyone out there who has been more critical of this particular Board of Supervisors then I have been? However, on the subject of redistricting the Board and the people the Board has hired seem to be doing a bang up job. The Board agreed to hold the related public hearings in the evening so that more people may attend. So, on its face, everything seems to be above board. Should that change, I would be the first to talk about it.
So, here’s the deal. Last week’s paper quoted a local resident with stating: “White bloc voting in Tunica County, Mississippi is statically significant.” This is impossible. Using round numbers the U. S. Census Bureau has reported Tunica County to be 73% African American and that leaves 27% for the rest of us.
Remember in our first Public Hearing we were told that our final redistricting can’t disenfranchise anyone? At that hearing, this same person was suggesting that the Town of Tunica be moved to one beat. An explanation was offered as to why this could not be done. The Town of Tunica is divided among 4 of our 5 Beats so that the White population would have a voice in their government…at all. To do otherwise would disenfranchise the White vote.
I guess what really ticks me off about the above quoted statement is that our Transparency Committee has been very vocal about presenting to the Board of Supervisors incidents where we think Tunica County could do better by appointing an African American resident to this or that Board.
Needless to say, I hope Tunica County does not wind-up paying “court costs and attorneys’ fees” on this particular suit.
So, here’s the deal. Last week’s paper quoted a local resident with stating: “White bloc voting in Tunica County, Mississippi is statically significant.” This is impossible. Using round numbers the U. S. Census Bureau has reported Tunica County to be 73% African American and that leaves 27% for the rest of us.
Remember in our first Public Hearing we were told that our final redistricting can’t disenfranchise anyone? At that hearing, this same person was suggesting that the Town of Tunica be moved to one beat. An explanation was offered as to why this could not be done. The Town of Tunica is divided among 4 of our 5 Beats so that the White population would have a voice in their government…at all. To do otherwise would disenfranchise the White vote.
I guess what really ticks me off about the above quoted statement is that our Transparency Committee has been very vocal about presenting to the Board of Supervisors incidents where we think Tunica County could do better by appointing an African American resident to this or that Board.
Needless to say, I hope Tunica County does not wind-up paying “court costs and attorneys’ fees” on this particular suit.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
We have been trying to find out just exactly what the unemployment rate is for Tunica County. For sure it is over 15%. Maybe 18%? So, what can be done about it?
Here are a couple of ideas:
1). Statutorily the Chancery Clerk is paid a base $52,000 with all fees collected capped at $90,000. The Board of Supervisors has added to the Chancery Clerk’s responsibilities the jobs of Inventory Clerk and Law Librarian for which there are salaries of $40,000 and $5400 respectively. How about combining these two jobs and creating a job for one of our unemployed Tunicans?
2). During the grass cutting season Tunica County pays upwards of $10,000 per month to an outside company to cut grass. We’ve asked the Road Manager about buying some lawnmowers and seasonally hiring unemployed Tunicans to cut the grass. The Road Manager didn’t think this was such a good idea.
So, there you go 2 or 3 new jobs created.
Here are a couple of ideas:
1). Statutorily the Chancery Clerk is paid a base $52,000 with all fees collected capped at $90,000. The Board of Supervisors has added to the Chancery Clerk’s responsibilities the jobs of Inventory Clerk and Law Librarian for which there are salaries of $40,000 and $5400 respectively. How about combining these two jobs and creating a job for one of our unemployed Tunicans?
2). During the grass cutting season Tunica County pays upwards of $10,000 per month to an outside company to cut grass. We’ve asked the Road Manager about buying some lawnmowers and seasonally hiring unemployed Tunicans to cut the grass. The Road Manager didn’t think this was such a good idea.
So, there you go 2 or 3 new jobs created.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Letter to Tunica County DEC
Last night three members of the Transparency Committee met with the Election Commission. Today we are sending the following letter to the Democratic Executive Committee.
9 Mar 2011
Mildred Conley
Democratic Executive Committee
P. O. Box 2424
Tunica, MS 38676
Dear Ms. Conley:
This letter is being written to express concern about the residency of candidates for public office in Tunica County. I will use my Supervisor, Cedric Burnett, as an example.
During the summer of 2009, it was brought to the attention of this committee that Burnett was not living at the address he used to declare for office in 2007.* Upon inspection, it was obvious that no one was living at this address as one could see from the road that this residence was packed with debris. Also, during the summer of 2009, one could observe a Jeep with the license plate stating “BAMBAM” was parked in the carport. Was this vehicle parked there to make us think the house was occupied?
Our Committee addressed this situation with Burnett without receiving a satisfactory answer.
In January 2010, some sort of remodeling and/or construction began at 1370 Beatline Road. We can only suppose this to be in preparation for the 2011 elections.
The problem is this: What happened in 2007 and before?
This community is depending on the Democratic Executive Committee to make sure each candidate for office actually lives where he or she states residency. The well being of Tunica County depends on it.
Sincerely,
Barbara R. Tuchel
Cc: Hand delivered: Sharon Reynolds, Tunica County Circuit Clerk
Hand delivered: Elijah Williams, President of the Tunica County Election Commission
*1370 Beatline Road
9 Mar 2011
Mildred Conley
Democratic Executive Committee
P. O. Box 2424
Tunica, MS 38676
Dear Ms. Conley:
This letter is being written to express concern about the residency of candidates for public office in Tunica County. I will use my Supervisor, Cedric Burnett, as an example.
During the summer of 2009, it was brought to the attention of this committee that Burnett was not living at the address he used to declare for office in 2007.* Upon inspection, it was obvious that no one was living at this address as one could see from the road that this residence was packed with debris. Also, during the summer of 2009, one could observe a Jeep with the license plate stating “BAMBAM” was parked in the carport. Was this vehicle parked there to make us think the house was occupied?
Our Committee addressed this situation with Burnett without receiving a satisfactory answer.
In January 2010, some sort of remodeling and/or construction began at 1370 Beatline Road. We can only suppose this to be in preparation for the 2011 elections.
The problem is this: What happened in 2007 and before?
This community is depending on the Democratic Executive Committee to make sure each candidate for office actually lives where he or she states residency. The well being of Tunica County depends on it.
Sincerely,
Barbara R. Tuchel
Cc: Hand delivered: Sharon Reynolds, Tunica County Circuit Clerk
Hand delivered: Elijah Williams, President of the Tunica County Election Commission
*1370 Beatline Road
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Barbara R. Tuchel
Candidate for Tunica County
Candidate for Tunica County
Beat 2 Supervisor
I believe anyone who is seeking political office needs to have both feet firmly planted in the district they wish to represent.
Not only do I believe this, it is also the law.
I live in Beat 2 in Tunica County, MS.
In November 2008, I founded Tunicans for Transparency in Government. The mission of this grassroots effort has been to “help make Tunica County a better place to live and work for all of our citizens and not just the few.”
My decision to run for political office is based on some of the changes I believe need to take place in Tunica County to move our community forward. Each resident needs to be represented and each resident needs to have a voice in their government.
If it is your choice to elect me as your Beat 2 Supervisor, I am making the following promise:
"I will hold a monthly Beat 2 meeting on the last Monday of every month at 7 p.m. for the purpose of hearing your concerns. I will listen and I will take appropriate action. This meeting will give each Beat 2 resident a voice in their local government."
If it is your choice to elect me as your Beat 2 Supervisor, I will start by making the following motions at the first Board of Supervisors’ Meeting in 2012:
1. I will make a motion to hold the first monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors in the evening of the first Monday of every month.
2. I will make a motion to have written job descriptions for each Tunica County Employee completed and delivered to the Board of Supervisors by 31 Mar 2012.
3. I will make a motion to bring the Healthcare Authority into the mainstream of Tunica County Government. This department will make reports at the first monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors. This action will eliminate separate bookkeeping and Healthcare Authority reports will be made a part of the Board of Supervisors’ Minutes.
4. I will make a motion to have each department head deliver their monthly report in person at the first monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
5. I will make a motion to eliminate the need of residents having to go through the County Administrator to be placed on the Board of Supervisors’ Agenda.
I am soliciting your vote for Beat 2 Supervisor. If it is your choice to elect me, it will be my full time job to be your Supervisor.
Candidacy
It's official. Bob and Barbara are running for public office in Tunica County, MS. Barbara is running for Tunica County Board of Supervisors, District 2. Bob is running for Justice Court Judge, Northern District. We are going to be busy.
R. C. Irwin Library
At the 15 Sep 2010 Tunica County Board of Supervisors' Meeting, Mrs. Sowers and I asked several Supervisors who appointed the local library Board of Directors. The purpose of our inquiry was to find out why there was not an African American on this Board. (Tunica County, MS is 73% African American.)
What we found was that the R. C. Irwin Library Board of Directors was not on the list of board appointments made by the Tunica County Board of Supervisors.
The Transparency Committee has been busy researching this situation. What we've learned since 15 Sep 2010 is the following:
1. Once a local library joins the Regional Library System, we no longer have a local Board of Directors.
2. When the R. C. Irwin Library became a part of the First Regional Library system, the Tunica County Board of Supervisors were to appoint one person to the First Regional Library Board of Trustees. At present, Tunica County's Board of Supervisors has appointed Laura Ann Ryals Evans as our representative.
3. The Board of Supervisors also has the option of appointing an Advisory Board of Trustees to serve on the local level. As of 28 Feb 2011, the Tunica County Board of Supervisors has chosen not to appoint an Advisory Board of Trustees to serve at the local level.
So, what's this all about? Well, it's about this. Remember when we talked about the local library's Board of Directors before we became a part of the Regional System? They think they are still incharge of our library. Not only that, they have been appointing their friends and relatives to replace them when they either passed on or were tired of serving.
Just recently, I received an email from the President of the Friends of the R. C. Irwin Library. Within this email was a notice that she had authorized the purchase of a funeral arrangement for a member of the Board of Directors whose husband had passed away. I don't object to spending money from any organization to help another person for whatever reason. It's just that the R. C. Irwin Library does not have a local Board of Directors.
This is all so rinky dink.
What we found was that the R. C. Irwin Library Board of Directors was not on the list of board appointments made by the Tunica County Board of Supervisors.
The Transparency Committee has been busy researching this situation. What we've learned since 15 Sep 2010 is the following:
1. Once a local library joins the Regional Library System, we no longer have a local Board of Directors.
2. When the R. C. Irwin Library became a part of the First Regional Library system, the Tunica County Board of Supervisors were to appoint one person to the First Regional Library Board of Trustees. At present, Tunica County's Board of Supervisors has appointed Laura Ann Ryals Evans as our representative.
3. The Board of Supervisors also has the option of appointing an Advisory Board of Trustees to serve on the local level. As of 28 Feb 2011, the Tunica County Board of Supervisors has chosen not to appoint an Advisory Board of Trustees to serve at the local level.
So, what's this all about? Well, it's about this. Remember when we talked about the local library's Board of Directors before we became a part of the Regional System? They think they are still incharge of our library. Not only that, they have been appointing their friends and relatives to replace them when they either passed on or were tired of serving.
Just recently, I received an email from the President of the Friends of the R. C. Irwin Library. Within this email was a notice that she had authorized the purchase of a funeral arrangement for a member of the Board of Directors whose husband had passed away. I don't object to spending money from any organization to help another person for whatever reason. It's just that the R. C. Irwin Library does not have a local Board of Directors.
This is all so rinky dink.
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