Two Democratic candidates for the Greenwood City Council asked for support Wednesday night at a meeting of the Greenwood Voters League.
Willie Preastly, a candidate for Ward 7, and Norman Smith, a candidate for Ward 5, spoke to the small crowd.
Preastly, 55, is challenging Ward 7 incumbent Carl Palmer in the May 7 party primary.
Preastly, the former owner of Willie’s Family Restaurant of Itta Bena, co-owns an Internet company, Transformation Is Believing, with her son, Carrolton Davidson.
“I’ve heard several people speaking on making a change, but yet I have not seen one,” she said. “Speeches are good, but putting those words into action would be better.”
Preastly, a mother of three adult children, said she’s lived in Greenwood for 30 years. She said she felt running for the council would be “an opportunity for me to serve the people” after someone told her she would be a good candidate.
She said change is needed in Ward 7, where several streets have potholes.
“I’m not asking you to vote anybody out. I’m just speaking on how I feel,” she said. “I’m here to take care of you. I am for the people. It’s not about me; it’s a team effort.”
Preastly, a member of New Green Grove Church of Faith, said her business experience would translate to action on the council.
“We have to give people a vision of how to create an atmosphere for others to follow,” she said. “All we need is some leaders who don’t mind taking a stand on any issue — someone that they can come to, who wants to listen to them with their complaints and their suggestions.”
Smith, 74, is running for the council for the sixth time. He faces fellow Democrats Andrew Powell and Dorothy Ann Glenn in the May 7 primary.
He is an adjunct professor of history at Mississippi Valley State University and was a Leflore County constable for 20 years.
He said when he first ran for constable in 1979, he disregarded advice from his brother and campaigned door to door in Green Acres Subdivision, a largely white community. He said he received 300 votes there.
“I figure I can communicate with anyone,” he said. “We may not agree on everything, but I can get my point across to you.”
Smith said Greenwood’s greatest challenge is dealing with the migration of young people from the city.
“Every businessman I’ve talked to since I’ve been campaigning says, ‘We need some jobs here,’” Smith told the crowd.
Smith said he would take an active role in recruiting new businesses and industries.
“If I’m elected, I’m going to take some money out of my pocket and get those industrialists to come and look at our area,” he said.
Smith said attracting something such as a John Deere or Caterpillar plant would be a real accomplishment.
“When you get a company that pays well, the people stay. They spend, and they grow and develop that tax base,” he said.
The increase in the tax base can fund additional police officers and firefighters as well as infrastructure improvements, Smith said.
In addition to good jobs, Smith said, more needs to be done to provide a social life for young people.
Smith, a longtime member of the Voters League, said his skills make him a good candidate.
“I’m not going to listen to someone that tells me what can’t be done,” he said. “I’m going to follow my instincts.”
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
