By James G. Smith

The sun came up over the city of Selma Wednesday, Oct. 5 to a newly elected city governing body. It was almost a clean sweep with a new mayor and four new councilpersons.

There will be a new day dawning in city government Nov. 7 when the new mayor and council are installed.

It is out with the old and in with the new. Selma has a chance at a new beginning with fresh thinking and hopefully new ideas to make Selma the best it can be.

Congratulations to all the newly elected public servants and to the re-elected ones as well. Needless to say, there is a lot of work to be accomplished. The positions of trust you have been elected to are vitally important to the community. You will be scrutinized as never before in carrying out the people’s business. Never lose sight of the fact you are employed by the residents of Selma to work on their behalf. We, the residents, will insist on the utmost transparency and integrity in all you do.

If you think the job you are giving up was difficult, wait until you get this tiger by the tail.

The time for crowing about what is wrong and what can be done to fix it is over. It is now time to demonstrate and accomplish the promises made to get elected. You will be judged favorably on what you accomplish and unfavorably on excuses as to why you can’t.

Reflecting back on the election, it may not have gone exactly as everyone wanted. It seldom, if ever, does. However, it is what it is and we have to make the best of it. We can all start by supporting those who have been chosen to lead Selma. Our new mayor, Darrio Melton, is a young man on his way up in the political world in my opinion. He is young and energetic which is a plus on his resume. If he seeks out advice and counsel on fiscal matters, there is no reason Selma can not benefit from his guidance for the next four years. I wish him well and pledge my support.

The past is the past, and I am willing to move on and forward.

Some of the more difficult hurdles I foresee is how to attract more industry here to provide jobs. Good paying jobs, not welfare, is needed in Selma. It is the only way to break the chains of poverty and dependency regardless to what the democrats say. In order to attract industry, there has to be something attractive here to lure them. It all starts with a clean presentable city.

The new council will have to come up with a way to sustain the first responders pay raise in the next budget.

The bond refinancing is a one shot revenue boost and City Treasurer Ronita Wade has warned of the shortfall.

Speaking of police protection, the crime rate in Selma is much too high. The only way it is going to improve is by more proactive policing. Our police department is stretched thin by a shortage of personnel trying to cover all the bases.

They are doing a good job of community policing and in other areas as well but until they are allowed to more actively stop crime before it happens, it will continue.