More than 200 elected officials, including mayors, commissioners, aldermen and city clerks, from nearly 23 counties were present Saturday at U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson's fourth Mississippi Municipal Seminar.
Both the seasoned veterans and the newly elected packed a meeting room at the Leflore County Civic Center to share their experiences and their questions.
"We hold this seminar so the officials know they are not isolated. These newly elected officials are entering public service, and they've never had these types of responsibilities before. I want to help provide solutions," Thompson said.
The seminar included a discussion panel of mayors, county supervisors, a councilman and a state representative. The panel candidly discussed the joys and the pains of public service.
Wardell Leach, mayor of Yazoo City since 1998, addressed the newly elected. "When you embark on this new journey, make sure everything you do is fair, honest and legal. Do everything with that in place. Make your decision a betterment for the whole town."
Thompson spoke with an experienced voice. Before his election to Congress in 1993, he served as alderman and mayor of Bolton, his hometown, for 12 years before being elected as a Hinds County supervisor.
He told the all-black audience a few things to expect when newly elected. Among them, Thompson said, the first thing you will notice is that everyone voted for you.
"Even in the county, people will say with a straight face that they voted you. Don't even try to convince them otherwise. Just thank them and go about your business," he said.
Thompson warned the newly elected that they will be regarded as "supermen" in their respective communities.
"You will be expected to know everything and produce miracles," he said.
Thompson said a good way to know when you are doing a good job is when people get jealous and make accusations.
An early indication of this is when an official starts getting phone calls at home from strangers trying to start trouble. Prepare your spouse, Thompson said, because people will try to divide your house with lies.
Thompson also gave pointers on public life.
"You will have to remember to speak now where ever you go - even if you're having a bad day. If not, you'll hear about it. Someone will say, 'I saw him at Wal-Mart and he didn't say anything to me.' You are a public servant now, and it's tough," Thompson said.
District 63 Representative Walter Robinson, who served on the panel, said the best way to move forward is by uniting together.
Robinson said when a city comes before the Legislature asking for help, all the aldermen and the mayor should support a project.
"You need to be united in your approach. You all serve the same people. You see each other all the time, and you go to the same church. Often in a small town everyone is distant kin. You just need to hold hands and network," he said.
The audience also received advice on who to turn to for funds and advice.
Among the top resources is the county Board of Supervisors, advised Thompson.
Often the supervisors will say they don't serve the city, he said, but the taxpayers in the city elect the county officials, too.
The seminar split up later for focus groups, with the mayors in one group and the aldermen and commissioners in another.
Twenty-two mayors, including re-elected Itta Bena mayor Thelma Collins, swapped advice.
Leach suggested new mayors have an outsider audit the budget as soon as they enter office.
Itta Bena City Attorney and Leflore County Board of Supervisors Attorney Willie Perkins Sr. concluded the seminar with legal advice on running a city.
Perkins emphasized the accountability that comes from being a public official. There are several avenues where constituents can file complaints about public officials, including the Mississippi Ethics Commission, he said.
Harvey E. Burchfield is a newly elected alderman-at-large in Drew. Even though he is newly elected, Burchfield, a 50-year resident of Drew, is not new to the problems in the town.
Burchfield said he learned a lot from the seminar.
"I was interested to learn how to have control at the board meetings. I liked what Bennie Thompson said about having a good relationship with the city clerk and being knowledgeable about what's going on in town," he said.
