Jackson Free Press

Let's be honest. This town needs an enema. There are some leadership voids that indicate it's time for our city to turn a page—or three.

Frankly, we've done a questionable job of nurturing new talent and new political leaders and, thus, have made ourselves vulnerable to complacency. We need new blood. We need fresh ideas and fresh faces on the local, county and state level. We're probably well behind the curve of other blossoming cities like ours, but our seemingly gripping fear of change prevents us from stepping out of our comfort zone.

Before you dismiss this as an ageist rant (which it's not), just look at the stats. I'm sure if you compared median ages you might find that we have one of the oldest city councils and boards of supervisors in the nation. Experience notwithstanding, we have new technology, a new generation of voters and new dynamics that a really effective public servant must be able to grasp. If the proverbial torch is not passed in politics and business, our city will continue to shrink until we become like Flint, Mich.: a shell.

Our neighbors are most certainly being proactive. Jackson needs to learn to embrace its renaissance residents: the non-traditional; the non-conventional persons among us who can do several things.

What makes a good politician or business person to you?

To me, it's folks like Che Smith, aka Rhymefest, a world-renowned MC with several albums under his belt. He's running for alderman in the city of Chicago and has a great chance of winning. He is an educated, engaged man who, through music, has a great connection to the people he may serve, a man who, because of his tattered past, probably has a better connection to his constituency than any career politician.

Or look at world-champion boxer Manny Pacquiao. His Sarangani province in the Philippines elected him congressman by a landslide earlier this year.

Even more recently, Wyclef Jean flirted with the idea of running for the presidency of Haiti. He, too, would have probably won by a huge margin. If those guys were in Jackson, they'd be ridiculed because "hip-hop artists" and boxers are dumb and would make a mockery of an office. (Sarcasm off.)

Jackson, politics and good business are about people. It's about having the trust and respect of those you serve. It's about knowing the trials that your constituents go through daily. It's definitely not the circus act that we see peddled before us every day in the news. Folks, I've had businessmen and politicians tell me Facebook and Twitter "aren't that important." I've had someone, albeit lovingly, tell me that it was disrespectful to take notes on my phone instead of using a pen and notepad. (Who still carries paper?) We've just had our powers-that-be tell a cadre of Jackson warriors that an arena "isn't that important" at this juncture.

And the hits just keep on coming. We have become comfortable with what our perception of an elected official is supposed to be. We've become comfortable with being stagnant.

Maybe innovation requires too much work. Beats me. But truth be told, we can't create a "new" Jackson with the same old faces.

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.

Previous Comments

ID

161248

Comment

Classmate, you don't play nice; but the truth hurts.

Author

chambliss65

Date

2010-12-09T15:41:04-06:00

ID

161249

Comment

Cmon. (Smile) Im ALWAYS Nice. Blunt. But nice. Had a GREAT dialogue on Twitter a few days back about this very subject from several engaged Gen Xers and Gen "Y"ers. And the consensus was that none of them felt confident that a GOOD , ABLE young candidate could beat an entrenched older opponent or incumbent regardless of how bad they are. They gave examples of a few Wards and a few districts here where they thought that dynamic existed. IT was good to her that we all agree that a candidate shouldnt be elected SOLELY because he/she is young. But is there a "perception" of young folks and public office? I dont know. But what I do know is right now we've become a laughingstock at times, and I for one think its time for some turnover. Just sayin'. Our mode of thinking here politically is archaic. the methods used to reach voters is stale.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2010-12-09T17:09:34-06:00

ID

161250

Comment

The presumptive replacement for Jeff Weill's seat is under 30, isn't he? We certainly have a problem on this front and, perhaps even worse, with the need for more women in public office in our city and state. It strikes me that the answer isn't so much declarations about it, but getting political mentoring/networking (etc, etc) systems in place, much as Lacey and some other young women are doing to help young women get in line for public office. I know we all agree that any candidate needs to run on more than their age and show that they have done their homework, etc., on relevant issues. We've all seen young people, as well as older ones, run for office around here with an embarrassment lack of knowledge of insight on local issues, and with a tendency to repeat what their big donors whisper in their ears. Have you done any research or have ideas on how to get young candidates prepped/motivated to run for office? We should all start kicking around tangible strategies as the young women's network is attempting to do.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-12-09T17:21:11-06:00

ID

161251

Comment

And my "young" candidates meant men AND women. Black AND white. Time for freshness on all fronts. Right now Im just going around adking folks thier opinions/thoughts. Gauging the pulse of folks. Even talking to some of my older colleagues on why older folks tend to shy away from younger candidates, even when they are qualified. But I welcome any link to some studies or other like convos. I did read about a loose model in australia where they were pairing up sitting council folks with students teaching them the ins and outs of their offices and teaching them how to run campaigns. but that would be TOO much like right to work in Jackson.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2010-12-09T17:48:00-06:00

ID

161252

Comment

I agree across genders, race, etc., although I think it's also a great idea for a young women's network -- men will often drown women out in those kinds of situations. Let us know how we can help facilitate and publicize meetings and the like. I would think Leadership Jackson and Leadership Youth Jackson could get involved in an effort like this. Just one thought.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-12-09T19:03:17-06:00

ID

161254

Comment

I agree with Donna there are young people that would be an asset to the public arena; but need someone to take them under their belt and mentor them. Great Leadership Jackson project.

Author

chambliss65

Date

2010-12-10T08:45:07-06:00

ID

161255

Comment

as always 'kaze, solid article to battle the apathy around here!

Author

Duan C.

Date

2010-12-10T08:50:01-06:00

ID

161256

Comment

Pat, great project. Likely to happen? Probably not. Youve witnessed 1st hand the repsonse during our government sessions. Several no-shows. No interest in schooling folks on the ins and outs of public offices. The better educated we are the quicker they lose their spots. An ignorant citizenry will continue to go to the ballot and vote for the same person, simply because they dont know any better. We should NOT have anyone in ANY seat in this state for 30 years! CMON! How can some1 70 yrs old or better begin to understand the issues facing young professionals in this age. The stage is different, point blank. Theres a sense of entitlement in some of our officials. A smug comfort. How do we put some fire under their asses?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2010-12-10T09:27:56-06:00

ID

161257

Comment

In regards to this topic, it's hard to pinpoint where to begin. An ignorant citizenry is a very true statement, and our politicians, black and white, take advantage of it big time, matter of fact they use in order to help them get elected. If there was some kind of way, to get your working poor and middle class (black and white) on the same page, we wouldn't have half the social, economic issues we do today in the metro area. But for some reason or the other, its hard to get those two facets on the same page.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2010-12-10T09:52:26-06:00