District 1

By Staff
ON GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATION: Undecided about consolidating law enforcement in Lauderdale County, Meridian and Marion; Supports consolidating other government services, but did not specify which ones.
ON HELPING CLEAN MERIDIAN: Supports working with the city of Meridian to clean condemned property in the city limits.
ON THE RILEY CENTER: Supports the county contributing an extra $2 million for the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center.
ON FLOOD PREVENTION: Supports other precautions to reduce the possibility of future flash floods, but did not specify what he would like the county to do.
TOP FIVE PRIORITIES: 1. Economic development; 2. Lauderdale County, Meridian and Marion working together; 3. Looking into possibility of reducing property taxes and the appraisal process; 4. Maintaining and improving roads; 5. Develop a north bypass.
IN MY OWN WORDS: "As a father of two children, I am interested in the growth and progression of all of Lauderdale County. In supporting Eddie Harper, you are supporting a person who will work hard, who is honest and will do all he can to earn your respect as your supervisor. Thank you."
Republican
Age: 60.
Home: Meridian.
Family: Wife, Cherryl Marlow; two children Mike and his wife, Ticia Rae, and Steve and his wife, Lee Lee; four grandchildren.
Religion: Northcrest Baptist Church.
Education: Graduate, high school, Mississippi Law Enforcement Academy, FBI National Academy.
Experience: Former Meridian police chief, 1981-1987; 20 years total with the MPD; MCC Campus Police chief, since 1988.
ON GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATION: Supports consolidating law enforcement, public safety and public works in Lauderdale County, Meridian and Marion. Supports consolidating county and city governing bodies into one board.
ON HELPING CLEAN MERIDIAN: Opposes working with the city of Meridian to clean condemned property in the city limits.
ON THE RILEY CENTER: Opposes the county contributing an extra $2 million for the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center.
ON FLOOD PREVENTION: Supports reducing possibility of future flash floods by developing a plan with a regular schedule of removing debris, as well as cleaning and maintaining drainage ditches that hinder the water flow.
TOP FIVE PRIORITIES: 1. Economic development; 2. Reduce taxes; 3. Education; 4. Public safety; 5. Budget restraints to reduce expenses.
IN MY OWN WORDS: "Bring positive and progressive change to District 1 and Lauderdale County. Provide leadership to weather the storms of economic downturn and budget restraints we are experiencing. Create a budget reflecting conservative fiscal views and getting better use of our tax dollars, while maintaining and improving services critical to our county."
Republican
Age: 71
Home: Meridian
Family: Wife, Violet T. McBride; children, William, Dana, Hal, Michael, James, Lesa
Religion: Central United Methodist Church
Education: Graduate, Maben High School; associate's degree, MCC; graduate, Leadership Lauderdale, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Experience: 41 years in military and U.S. Postal Service.
ON GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATION: Supports consolidating law enforcement and other government services in Lauderdale County, Meridian and Marion, possibly including fire protection, schools, public works, voting districts and land usage.
ON HELPING CLEAN MERIDIAN: Supports working with the city of Meridian to clean condemned property in the city limits.
ON THE RILEY CENTER: Opposes the county contributing an extra $2 million for the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center.
ON FLOOD PREVENTION: Supports other precautions to reduce the possibility of future flash floods, including cleaning drainage ditches and increasing their size where needed; keeping culverts clean and increasing their size where needed; and installing new culverts where none now exist if study so indicates.
TOP FIVE PRIORITIES: 1. Infrastructure maintenance; 2. Establish priorities to meet needs of community; 3. No tax increase; 4. Better cooperative working relationship between county and cities; 5. Animal control.
IN MY OWN WORDS: "Opportunity to serve the people to meet their needs. Be proactive, not reactive. Restore public confidence, establish accountability to the people. Decision making based upon principles and values what's best for all. Continue to be active in the community. Better communications with the people. Together we can make a difference."
Republican
DID NOT RESPOND