Jackson Free Press

The race for Jackson's Ward 5 city council seat heated up Monday night on the second floor of the Margaret Walker Alexander building on Jackson State University's campus.

The forum, hosted by Student Government Association President Brian Wilks, gave the candidates a chance to meet a handful of JSU students and listen to their concerns.

"One thing I wanted to do was promote student awareness," Wilks said. "So we partnered with the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Society and the Political Science Club to get our students more politically engaged."

The six candidates in attendance--healthcare specialist Plavise Patterson, security guard Charles Alexander JSU professor Fran Bridges, former City Councilwoman Bettye Dagner-Cook, JSU student Corinthian Sanders, incumbent councilman Charles Tillman and sales advisor Courtney Walker--answered a myriad of questions, mostly regarding the city's biggest university and its bid to build a $210 million domed stadium.

"This is a state issue," Tillman said of the stadium. "We have local state representatives and state senators and we must engage them ... What we need to do is lobby, lobby, lobby. ... Every major change that has come in this country has been brought about by young people. The day they decided not to fund that dome, you all should have been down there in numbers outside the capitol."

The rebuilding of the Highway 80 corridor, which runs near campus, was also a theme. The most heated moment came when democratic challenger Charles Alexander passionately answered a student's question about development around Metrocenter Mall.

"We have to bring something to attract business there," Alexander said, his voice rising. "We need to bring a Macy's there. You don't have any anchor stores in the Metrocenter. Put one there, that is what's going to attract businesses. Put something in the old Sears that sits empty. That's what is going to bring business back!"

With that, Alexander tossed the microphone to the table.

The security guard also proposed a commuter tax to protect Jackson jobs.

"If you stay in Madison, Warren or Rankin County, you would have to pay a $5 monthly fee to work in Jackson," Alexander said. "That's the only way to influence people into hiring Jackson workers. If you try to tell people who they can hire, you'll have a lawsuit."

Mississippi State University alum Courtney Walker warned against passing a commuter tax, calling it a two-way street.

"If you set up a commuter tax here," Walker said. "You can be sure they are going to set their own tax up, and we're going to be paying one, too."

A group of 15 to 20 political-science students provided questions from the audience. Crowd favorite Corinthian Sanders, a 20-year-old JSU sophomore, defended his youth and inexperience.

"Experts built the Titanic, but amateurs built the ark," Sanders said. "...You don't need experience of being a politician for 10 to 20 years to represent the people you come from. My experience is coming from knowing my community, because I was born here, and I still live here."

Monday's event was the second forum for the Ward 5 seat hosted by Jackson State. The primary for the Ward 5 and other municipal races is May 7.