By Mayor George Evans
The Selma Times-Journal

As 2014 comes to a close, let me take the opportunity to thank the citizens of Selma for your continued support. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your mayor for the past six years.

A year ago, the mood in Selma was cautious. The recession was over, but the recovery was just beginning to take hold. That’s changing. As I drive around town, what I see is a business community that has come out of a long sleep and is investing in our community once again.

Yes, we lost some longtime businesses, but others opened or expanded in 2014 and, just today, on the short drive from Highland Avenue to City Hall, I counted three commercial construction projects underway. There’s a growing optimism in our city, and it’s evident all around us.

Next year, people from all over the world will visit Selma to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches and the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Selma. Tourists have always come here but these milestones, coupled with the release of the movie “Selma” will increase their numbers in magnitude. The hotels, restaurants and retail outlets that serve our visitors will benefit directly. But what an opportunity we all have, with the eyes of the world on us, to showcase our city and our way of life. Let’s do ourselves proud.

I hope that I make it clear all year long how much I appreciate the citizens, business community and employees of Selma.

Our people are our greatest asset. I hear from visitors every day who stop in to see me or write to say how impressed they were by our citizens. And no way was that more evident than last summer when we all came together, rolled out the red carpet and welcomed the cast and crew of “Selma.” Thank you all.

I can’t say enough about our business community. Many of you can remember when every store in Selma’s downtown was full. Well, times have changed and the way we shop has changed, but Selma’s retail sector is still vibrant, and it’s growing. Please show your thanks to all the business people who continue to have faith in Selma’s future by shopping with them during the holiday season and all year long.

Remember that every dollar spent here turns over in our community six times. Local sales tax revenues fund our city government and local businesses provide jobs.

I’ve visited a lot of cities and talked to a lot of mayors, and I am happy to report that the employees who run our city every day are among the best anywhere.

Our police officers, firefighters and first responders have difficult jobs, but every day they’re on the job serving and protecting us. Our operations people who are out in the field every day sometimes have to labor under less than favorable circumstances, but they get the job done. And our administrative and support staff makes sure that everything runs smoothly and within budget. So when you see these dedicated public servants out and about, please join me in taking a moment to say “Thank you” for a job well done.

Please don’t forget the less fortunate in your giving and check in on your elderly family, friends and neighbors to make sure that they are safe and warm.

And please remember to pray for our men and women in uniform, here and abroad, who protect the freedoms we so enjoy.

Wishing you and your families a very merry Christmas and a joyous new year. Looking forward to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015.