{"id":6711,"date":"2013-05-06T13:28:40","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T18:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=6711"},"modified":"2013-07-08T01:15:46","modified_gmt":"2013-07-08T06:15:46","slug":"oxfords-first-city-election-is-tuesday-may-7-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/oxfords-first-city-election-is-tuesday-may-7-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Oxford\u2019s First City Election is Tuesday, May 7, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your vote will decide the next Alderman of Wards 4 and 5 as well as which Democrat candidate for Mayor will move forward to the general election. <\/span><\/p>\n

Parking on the Square, alcohol sales, managing future growth, and tourism were cited at the recent community forum as the major issues of the campaign. <\/span><\/p>\n

by Newt Rayburn – From The Local Voice #179<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Not sure which ward you live in? Here is a map of all the wards in Oxford, Mississippi.<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Oxford\u2019s first city election will take place on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Oxford Conference Center<\/b>. This election will decide the next Aldermen in Wards 4 <\/b>and 5<\/b>, and which Democrat candidate for Mayor will face Independent candidate Todd Wade <\/b>in the general election on June 4th.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Running for Alderman in Ward 4 are incumbent Ulysess \u201cCoach\u201d Howell<\/b>, Arnold B. Pegues<\/b>, and Ron \u201cRonzo\u201d Shapiro<\/b>. In Ward 5, incumbent Preston Taylor <\/b>is running against first time candidate Carol Flemmons<\/b>. The Democrat candidates for Mayor are incumbent George \u201cPat\u201d Patterson <\/b>and challenger Jason Plunk<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ward 4 of Oxford is one of the most ger\u00adrymandered wards in town: part of Molly Barr Road, most of Martin Luther King Drive (and \u201cFreedman\u2019s Town\u201d), the south side of some of Jefferson Avenue, the immediate North and East parts of the Square, the east section of Van Buren, and some of Bramlett, South 16th, Access Road, University Avenue, Booker Road, Highway 7, and Sisk Avenue.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Current Ward 4 Alderman Ulysses Howell was a teacher, coach, and Assistant Principle in the Oxford school system from 1972\u20132008. He is also Chairs the Deacon Board <\/b>at the Second Baptist Church<\/b>, a position he has frequently reiterated at Board of Alderman meetings. At the recent Community Forum on April 30, Howell claimed his religion is \u201cthe most important thing in his life,\u201d and that he is a \u201ccommon sense Alderman.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ulysses<\/a>
Ulysses “Coach” Howell. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Concerning parking, Howell said that \u201cOxford has a parking problem, but that\u2019s good because everyone likes to come to our Square to shop.\u201d He cited the recent pur\u00adchase of the Belk lot to add 107 spaces, and that he believes that Oxford will have to build a parking garage, but \u201ceven a parking garage won\u2019t alleviate our problems, but that\u2019s a good problem to have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning alcohol and Sunday Sales, Howell exclaimed, \u201cI\u2019m totally against that. I\u2019m a Christian and we should remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. I may lose votes because of this, but I am totally against alcohol sales on Sunday. I am, and I stick with that whether I\u2019m Alderman or not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ward 4 challenger Arnold B. Pegues is a lifelong Oxonian who graduated from OHS in 1979, Ole Miss <\/b>in 2000, and is now a Department Manager at Home Depot<\/b>. At the recent Community Forum, Pegues offered his services as Alderman to be a \u201cvoice for the people, not the moral minor\u00adity,\u201d an obvious swipe at incumbent Howell\u2019s overly religious tone. Pegues said, \u201cIt is time to reconnect the citizens with the government of Oxford.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning parking, Pegues said the need for a parking garage has been discussed \u201cfor 16 years.\u201d He said the current system is causing a great inconvenience to the people in the city. He went on to say, \u201cthe worst thing we want to do is have them worry about moving their car.\u201d Pegues went on to criticize the current parking system as being unprofitable, and that busi\u00adnesses are without parking spaces because Oxford\u2019s growth \u201chas gone in the wrong direction.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Arnold<\/a>
Arnold B. Pegues. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Pegues criticized Oxford\u2019s no cold beer policy in conve\u00adnience stores, saying that Oxford was increasing the chance of DUIs on Sunday because, \u201cif you want it, Batesville <\/b>sells it, Holly Springs <\/b>sells it, New Albany <\/b>sells it, you can even get it in Coffeeville<\/b>.\u201d His statement drew applause from the forum audience. Concerning Sunday Sales, Pegues believes it should be put to a vote and the people of Oxford should decide. He also said that having Sunday Sales on some days but not others has \u201copened up a can of worms, let\u2019s go ahead and take the top off and stop addressing this issue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning the promotion of tourism and the manage\u00adment of Double Decker Festival<\/b>, Pegues said Oxford needs to do more to promote \u201cdiversified tourism,\u201d including partnering with Ole Miss to offer and market more events to visitors, including things like \u201cCinco de Mayo\u2026 the Oxford Beerfest<\/b>\u2026 Oxford Bluesfest<\/b>, and all type of options,\u201d to promote tourism. Pegues said that Double Decker was great, but tourism needs to grow in a more diversified direction. Pegues believes some of the burden of expanding tourism should be taken off the city government and possibly the Tourism Council.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ron Shapiro has lived in Oxford since the mid-1970s and has owned or operated many local businesses here, including a drive-in movie theatre, Main Squeeze <\/b>Smoothies and Juices, and the beloved Hoka Theatre <\/b>which was as one of Oxford\u2019s most import culture cen\u00adters of the last 40 years. Shapiro is an Army Veteran who served during Vietnam, he is a board member of Oxford\u2019s Interfaith Community <\/b>that helps the homeless, and he is a member of Oxford\u2019s Tree Board<\/b>. Shapiro himself is unofficially known as Oxford\u2019s \u201cMinister of Culture\u201d and has won or been nominated in several yearly polls taken by The Local Voice <\/i>and Oxford Eagle <\/i>as one of Oxford\u2019s favorite local citizens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ron<\/a>
Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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At the recent Community Forum, Shapiro said he wants citizens to be able to give feedback to the City of Oxford via the monthly electric bills that everyone receives. He also wants the bussing system to go all electric, to implement glass recycling, and he also wants more afford\u00adable housing, giving an example of how Aspen, Colorado, worked in conjunction with a major hotel chain to accomplish a similar goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning parking, Ron Shapiro exclaimed, \u201cWe don\u2019t have a parking problem, we have a car problem.\u201d Shapiro believes that the people who work on the Square need to be shuttled to work every day to create more spaces. He believes this will also allow the community to get to know each other better. Shapiro criticized investing too much into parking spaces, \u201cin a few years we may have a President who is war hungry and gasoline may go up to $10 a gallon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shapiro criticized the management of Oxford\u2019s growth saying that it is \u201cgeared towards the well-to-do.\u201d He went on to say that he himself couldn\u2019t afford to open a busi\u00adness on North Lamar due to the City\u2019s unfair building codes. Shapiro said, \u201cThe most important thing for our future is to make sure everyone has a chance.\u201d He went on to say that, \u201cwe have a goldmine, and I just want it to be fair. The pendulum has swung and it favors the well-to-do and I just think that\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shapiro said that \u201cthe reason Oxford is at the point it is today, is because of alcohol. I\u2019m sorry to tell you that, but it\u2019s true.\u201d He went on to say that Oxford\u2019s restaurants and bars are employing some \u201c4,000 people,\u201d the food is better, a variety of bands are being booked in Oxford ,and that none of it would be pos\u00adsible without alcohol sales. He said it was wrong for the previous Board of Alderman to turn down Sunday Sales when it\u2019s doing so much to draw people to Oxford.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning promoting tourism and the management of Double Decker, Shapiro wants to keep the Oxford Tourism Council and thinks they are doing a great job. He would like to see Oxford offer more events to draw tourists, such as Bicycle Festivals, and he said the city government should do more to draw people to the Square.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ward 5 of Oxford includes a large swath of Jackson Avenue, Hathorn Road, Anderson Road, the area around Davis Drive, the east side of West Oxford Loop, and some of Highway 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Incumbent Ward 5 Alderman Preston Taylor is a lifelong resident of the ward, who graduated from Oxford Training School in 1958, and Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs. Taylor is retired now, but was a classroom teacher for 35 years. Anderson said he supported and fought for sidewalks and lighting for safety in Oxford.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Preston<\/a>
Preston Taylor. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Concerning Parking, Taylor admitted that everyone loves Oxford, the Square is where they want to go, Oxford has a park\u00ading problem, but he is working on it and is looking into a parking garage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning alcohol, Alderman Taylor said that Oxford is losing revenue because people are going to other counties to get cold beer and that he supports cold beer in Oxford stores. He went on to say that he voted for Sunday Sales as Alderman and that it went fairly well, with no problems that he is aware of.\u201d Taylor went on to say he was willing to listen about further Sunday Sales.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Taylor went on to say that Oxford is a tourist town with many well known options and future options such as the historic Burns Church currently being renovated. He closed by saying that he knows Ward 5 and that he serves his ward and is always just a phone call away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ward 5 challenger Carol Flemmons started off at the Community Forum by giving honor to the \u201chigh God,\u201d and went on to say that \u201cshe knows that each of us here are Christians,\u201d which drew a look from Ron Shapiro, who is Jewish, sitting directly next to her. Flemmons said she has worked with the elderly in nursing homes, and with children. She believes parking should be limited around the court\u00adhouse. Flemmings said that she is \u201cone of you; I\u2019m for the people, and I pray that you vote for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Carol<\/a>
Carol Flemmons. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Concerning parking, Flemmons said that businesses need\u00aded more input into this issue, as well as the whole commu\u00adnity. Flemmons said more people needed to walk to the Square saying, \u201cwe need to exer\u00adcise more.\u201d She said there are more businesses in Oxford than just what is on the Square, and reiterated that parking immediately around the Courthouse should be limited to 30 min\u00adutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning alcohol and Sunday Sales, Carol Flemmons said, \u201cI\u2019m not too familiar with alcohol, but my brothers is [sic<\/i>]. I think you can go one day without drinking alcohol.\u201d She went on to say that she was willing to listen to both sides because she thinks \u201cChristians drink beer as well as sinners.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Concerning promoting tourism and the management of Double Decker, Flemmons deferred and said she didn\u2019t know a lot about it. Flemmons says Oxford bicyclists need helmets and reflectors for more visibility and that Oxford needs to deal with this issue. Flemmons closed by saying she is very dependable and that \u201cthe Lord has sent her on a mis\u00adsion to serve you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Democratic candidates for Mayor of Oxford are incumbent George \u201cPat\u201d Patterson and controversial former bar owner Jason Plunk. The winner between these two can\u00addidates will face Todd Wade in the general election on June 4, 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Oxford<\/a>
Oxford Mayor Candidates: George “Pat” Patterson, Jason Plunk, and Todd Wade. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your vote will decide the next Alderman of Wards 4 and 5 as well as which Democrat candidate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,19,307],"tags":[1401,38,1403,1405,1406,7071,1399,5,15,4,1404,1402,1407,1400],"class_list":["post-6711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-government","category-local-news","category-local-people","tag-arnold-b-pegues","tag-board-of-aldermen","tag-carol-flemmons","tag-george-pat-patterson","tag-jason-plunk","tag-local-government","tag-mayor","tag-mississippi","tag-newt-rayburn","tag-oxford","tag-preston-taylor","tag-ron-ronzo-shapiro","tag-todd-wade","tag-ulysess-coach-howell"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/UlyssesHowell-250.jpg?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}