Jobs for Tunicans

Last night at the Community Debate there were several questions asked of other candidates about creating jobs for Tunica County residents. I wish I had been asked that question because I have a couple of ideas.

Let's start with this: On 25 Aug 2011, I wrote the following letter to the editor.


"Hire Tunicans 1st

Here’s the deal. It’s become pretty obvious that Schultz is not going to be “making pipe by Christmas” for various reasons. So, what can be done about the unemployment in Tunica County right now?

The 1st thing that needs to be done is for the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator to take a look at the personnel records of County employees and employees of the agencies we fund. The Board and the County Administrator will have to require that all employees provide the physical address of their residence. A Post Office Box will just not get it. We’re not looking for people who say they live here and are using someone else’s address. We are looking for people who have both of their feet firmly planted in Tunica County, MS.

Second, identify the skills required for jobs held by non-residents. Does an unemployed resident of Tunica County possess these particular skill sets?

Third, hire the Tunica County resident and make an effort to find a job for the non-resident somewhere else. It’s tough for anyone to be unemployed but we need to take care of our own first. Personally, I’m really sick of people who don’t want to live in Tunica County having jobs here and at the end of the day, going home to wherever it is they prefer to live."

So, what did the current Board of Supervisors do with this idea? Nothing.