With Selma’s election a week away, the candidates for mayor, city council president and city council wards 1-3 met Monday night in the Chamber of Commerce’s political forum.

Candidates from Wards 4-8 will debate tonight at the Performing Arts Centre from 5-7 p.m.

For the most part, the candidates stuck to the issues and the forum’s rules by not attacking each other.

The crowd had to be chastised only once for being too raucous by moderator Jamie Wallace.

“I thought it went really well, it was very civil,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Claire Twardy said. “I felt like the candidates had the opportunity to answer questions.

I’m excited that we had a great forum this evening.”

The candidates touched on several issues facing the community.

Each candidate was given three minutes to discuss his or her platform.

Then they returned together to take hand-written questions from the audience.

Many of those questions dealt with appointment powers, the change of ownership of the Vaughan Regional Medical Facility, tourism, transportation and jobs.

Wallace addressed the crowd at the start, reminding them the forum was a place for debate and each candidate deserved to be heard.

“This is not a pep rally. This is not a political rally,” he said. “This is a political forum.”

Candidates for Ward 1 spoke first.

John T. Jowers

said he would attempt to improve interstate access to Selma.

Jowers also promised to retire from his job as the highest certified auto technician in the state if elected so he could devote his full time to the people.

His opponent, Dr. Cecil Williamson, discussed some ward specific issues before turning to issues that affect the city as a whole. Williamson spoke about fiscal responsibility and holding the city’s auditors accountable, in their contract, for a late audit.

In Ward 2, Reid Cain and Anthony Smith squared off cordially.

Cain talked about Selma’s need to grow and gaining a sense of urgency.

Smith, a teacher at the alternative school, spoke about reaching out to Selma’s violent youth in an attempt to save them before it’s too late.

Four candidates are running for Ward 3, incumbent Jean Martin, Michael Hayes, Felecia Owens-“Dixon” and Juanita B. Lister.

Ward 3 was one of the few places where the debate got personal as Owens-“Dixon” took the podium.

Owens-“Dixon”, who cited

herself as a good example of what hard work can accomplish, dropped out of high school, got her GED and then graduated with a Master’s Degree from Faulkner.

She criticized Martin, Hayes, Mayor James Perkins Jr. and the law firm of Chestnut, Sanders, Sanders, Pettway and Campbell.

Martin said she has great hopes for Ward 3 and Selma.

She talked about the things she would like to improve in the city and her ward if elected to another term.

She also spoke of the accomplishments of her previous term.

“This is my city, you’re my people and I’d like to serve you one more time,” she said.

Hayes says he’s watched the gradual decline of Ward 3 over the years and wants to do something about it.

“I’ve seen Ward 3 at it’s best, I’ve seen Ward 3 at it’s worst,” he said. “I am the person for this job.”

Juanita B. Lister said she will be open and accessible as a councilperson. She also promised to help residents explore grant money for home improvements mandated in the city’s historic district.

“If you’re a low income person, you don’t have money freely available,” she said.

Next came the three candidates running for Selma City Council President.

Frank Chestnut said he would bring a business-like atmosphere to the council chambers.

“I’d like to bring a different attitude, a business attitude,” he said. “My main interest is to keep the city in the black, not the red.”

Council President George Evans said he is concerned about the finances of the city.

He also expressed a desire to aid citizens in keeping aware of the council’s decisions.

He encouraged Selmians to attend the meetings, the council to hold semi-annual public forums and suggested the council begin hold audit hearings so the citizens can understand the process better.

Candidate Robert Walker said he would be for the people.

That he will take his cue from the citizens of Selma and enact the legislation they want.

“That office is y’all’s office,” he said.

Right on schedule, the forum then got to the main event as the four mayoral candidates squared off.

In his three minutes, Perkins talked about his visions for the future.

Perkins said he believes the city can continue to bring economic development to the area, improve it’s transportation system and that the area’s unemployment numbers can get down to seven percent.

State Representative Yusef Salaam said it is fine for Perkins to focus on visions of the future, but the mayor has failed in providing some of the basic needs.

“We’ve had a lot of talk about transforming the vision,” Salaam said. “You cannot win without the fundamentals.”

Salaam criticized Perkins on the city’s crime and budget.

“We’ve have been spent blood red,” he said of the budget.

Candidate Gene Hisel lamented speaking first in the group.

The order was chosen alphabetically and Hisel said he’s gone first at every forum. Still, he spoke of his ideas for the city.

Selma, he said, has become a city of excuses.

Hisel said that for most of the problems facing the city, he hears excuses as to why things are like they are.

Hisel also spoke of preparing for the expansion of I-85 so that Selma does not get passed by.

He also said the county’s unemployment numbers seem better than they really are.

The Rev. Glenn King said he’s the man with the right direction for Selma. He said he can bring more jobs to Selma through his connections as a United Auto Worker’s representative.

He said he would work to put an end to crime.

“To keep the streets safe for ever human being in the City of Selma,” he said.