The three Democratic candidates vying for Greenwood’s top position addressed members of the Leflore County Democratic Executive Committee Tuesday evening.
After pulling numbers to see who would speak first, the candidates were each given five minutes to discuss their platforms.
“I was born and raised right here in this city. My love for this municipality can be no greater,” said Rogrick Wardell, the first to speak. “I want to see our city making progress, progress we have not seen in a very long time.”
A 23-year-old Greenwood native, Wardell, who holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Alcorn State University, is working toward a master’s degree in higher education administration at Mississippi College. He is a substitute teacher with the Leflore County School District.
“Leadership is not a quality that’s gained with experience but rather a personal quality,” Wardell said. “In other words, leaders are not made; leaders are born.”
Wardell said Greenwood is a disjointed city, lead by “a select few,” yearning for new leadership.
“Everyone in this city wants to have a voice — everyone,” he said. “Young and old, black and white, and Latinos. We all want to be represented.
“I am here to represent everyone in this city, no matter what side of the river you stay on,” he added.
Through economic development, striving for educational excellence, fighting crime “the smart way” and a genuine effort to bridge the generational gap, Wardell said, the city can move forward and come together.
“I want this committee to know I will stand up for what’s right, even if it means standing alone,” he said.
The next to speak was George Ellis.
“My platform is aggressive, proactive, open, and includes every citizen in and around Greenwood, from the newborn baby to the senior, senior citizen,” the 57-year-old owner of Ellis Taxi Service said in his opening.
Ellis said that during the last three decades, the city has lost its “sense of direction, that sense of boldness that made Greenwood.
“We have closed our eyes and allowed our history to lock us into a blaming, complaining, depending city that’s killing each of us and our city.”
Ellis said that if elected mayor, he will focus on economic development; helping put together a public school system “our children will run to”; quality health care; workforce training; and “expanding the limits of Greenwood.”
He also called for a hands-on approach to fixing the city’s problems. He said he would ride with police officers to “observe what is required of them to protect each of us and enforce the laws of our city.” He also would accompany the city’s public works employees.
“I will work with, and, if it’s necessary, demand our state Legislature to seek laws to enable us to remove these rotten, rat-, roach-infested abandoned buildings and cars that clog our community.”
In closing, Ellis recommended changing the “Welcome to Greenwood” signs on highways. “The signs should read, ‘Welcome to Greenwood. We apologize for your inconvenience. We are now a work in progress,’” he said.
Mayor Sheriel Perkins was the last to address the committee. She talked mostly about her accomplishments as mayor.
Her open-door policy and “Chat and Chew” public meetings have made her accessible to all citizens, Perkins said. Though the country is suffering harsh economic times, she said, Greenwood has not laid off any city employees or had to curtail services during her tenure. Perkins added that new equipment has been purchased for city departments.
“New businesses continue to find Greenwood a great place to invest,” the 53-year-old first-term mayor said. “Tourists visit our city daily.”
Perkins, who said she has 14 years of experience in city government and 20 years of experience in management and finance, said she has worked to bring more than $1 million in grant money to Greenwood.
She said the city council has “unanimously voted in favor of a majority of my recommendations” because of her good relationship with council members.
“In working to reduce crime in our neighbors and local business areas, an overtime task force was implemented, along with our Mobile Command Unit, DARE program and a bike patrol,” she said.
“I will continue my plan of maintaining and attracting new jobs, seeking affordable homes, repairing our streets and sidewalks, tearing down dilapidated housing, putting teeth into our building code ordinances and improving our recreational areas.”
Perkins ended her statements by saying, “There’s much, much to be done. Together we can move Greenwood forward.”
Committee members applauded each candidate’s comments.
Anjuan Brown, president of the Leflore County Democratic Executive Committee, said the group will not endorse a candidate before the May 5 Democratic primary but will endorse someone before the general election in June.
