By SUSAN KEITH | Selma City Council

In less than three weeks the City of Selma will have a new mayor and four new city council members. Times like these bring a plethora of emotions. Sadness, for the members of the local delegation who will be retiring, and whom we will miss; excitement for the new members coming into the delegation; and anticipation for the new mayor and the hope for a revived Selma.

I remember 16 years ago the excitement as new mayor, James Perkins, the first African American mayor for the city of Selma, took office. That was something. An African American mayor in Selma. He came in with his own people, his own ideas, and made some changes. One thing that happened during Mayor Perkins’ tenure is that people expected too much too soon, while some people were resistant to the change from the longstanding tradition. Both can be expected anytime there is such a drastic change. There are a lot of people who I’ve heard say, “I told Mayor Perkins he needed to …”

I remember very well the excitement and anticipation eight years ago, with the election of Mayor George Evans. What a legacy he has. The first African American Superintendent of Education in the Dallas County School System, the first African American Selma City Council President and two terms as Mayor of Selma, not to mention an award winning referee for college basketball. With expectations high, Mayor Evans’ terms saw the biggest recession since the depression, the death of our City Council President Dr. Geraldine Allen, Ward 3 council member, Dr. Monica Newton moving from Selma, two special elections and Selma’s antiquated infrastructure taking its toll and a police “sick-out” — the term for a “safe strike.” Mayor Evans still managed to get a new Riverwalk, police sub-station, a reception building and an amphitheatre, marina restaurant and several road paving projects despite the obstacles of his tenure. There are a lot of people who I’ve heard say “ I told Mayor Evans he needed to…”

The mayor and the city council work harder than anyone realizes. The issues they deal with affect the lives of people and the health of the community at large. It is real easy to be an armchair expert. What the new mayor needs is not people telling him what to do and how to do it. He needs your support. He knows you want change. We all know that. Be patient. Let him know what your area of expertise is, and if he needs some information, input and help to please call you. Unless you are a double diamond level mayoral alumni from the National League of Cities, or Certified from the Alabama League of Municipalties, please don’t tell him what he needs to do. Allow him the opportunity to ask for your help, should he need it. I hope that our former mayors love Selma enough to offer help and to be a resource should our new mayor have any questions. I hope that Selmians love Selma enough to engage in doing their part to make Selma better. Simply changing leaders isn’t enough.

You are Selma. We are Selma.

It takes all of us to make Selma be her best.