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Charlotte Reeves
Candidate: Charlotte Reeves
Office seeking: Mayor
Candidate Web site(s): www.charlottereevesformayor.com
Age: 61
Education: Jackson Public Schools; Jackson Commercial College-Legal Field; Continuing educational seminars
Current job: President and owner of A-1 Pallet Company, Inc.
Past public office:
Spouse/family names: Carl Monte Reeves, husband
Contact info: Charlotte Reeves, 601-624-3011
Platform:
1. Explain how and why you would provide the best leadership for Jackson.
a. WHY: I would provide the best leadership for Jackson because I have lived my entire life in Jackson, I have more than 20 years of successful business experience in Jackson, and I understand both the strengths and weaknesses of our Capitol City. I would manage our Capitol City like a prosperous business—not as a political circus.
b. HOW:
1) I would emphasize leadership skills from the Top Down. In other words, I would set a work ethic example for my department managers, I would listen to their concerns, and I would ask for their suggestions in solving the City’s problems and making it a better place to live, go to school, work, and retire. I would expect my department managers to follow my example and do the same with their staff.
2) Another strong leadership characteristic I will show is to initially talk with all city employees over a period of time to determine their concerns and suggestions to efficiently improve our city services.
3) My leadership will also encourage support from the citizens of the entire State of Mississippi to take a personal interest in the revitalization of their Capitol City.
4) My leadership will emphasize fiscal responsibility and accountability. I will also promote networking with business owners who also have a positive outlook for the future of Jackson.
5) The tax base in Jackson is already substantial and certainly does not need to be raised. However, the manner in which the city currently uses that tax base does require a drastic overhaul.
2. What are your infrastructure priorities, and how will you pay for infrastructure repairs?
a) My infrastructure priorities would include not only the physical needs such as water, sewer, streets and highways, but also the administrative and service needs.
b) I will determine the costs associated with repairing our streets, drainage issues, etc., and then fund these projects the same way I would pay for a necessary expense in my business—step by step. As I have already said, the tax base in Jackson already exists—it simply needs better management. I will strive to reestablish a good working relationship with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. I will also work closely with MDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to obtain the maximum possible amount of funding and support from these agencies.
3. What will you do to combat crime in the city (other than reinstating the Crime Prevention Unit)?
a) I will utilize the technology currently available to enable the Jackson Police Department to do its job—protect the citizens and visitors of our Capitol City. We will also have a friendly police presence to make our Capitol City feel and be secure. However, the Jackson Police Department will be firm and aggressively take the proper legal measures to rid our Capitol City of drug dealing, major crimes, as well as petty crimes. We have one of the best police academies around, but we lose our graduates to other agencies due to low salaries. We must strive to keep the finest police officers here in Jackson by paying competitive salaries.
b) In order to provide a safe and secure Capitol City, we must collaborate with Homeland Security, MEMA and FEMA, and as Mayor, I will develop a vulnerability plan. This will be the Urban Area Security Initiative, which will emphasize hiring officers, plan for vulnerable areas in the Capitol City, and stop drug-dealing on corners, to name a few. This has become an emergency crisis.
4. How would you handle the police chief position? Would you return to a full-time chief? Why or why not?
a) Jackson is our Capitol City with normal metropolitan problems such as a large population, traffic congestion, drug problems, and crime that must be addressed on a full-time basis. For these reasons, Jackson needs a full-time Police Chief.
b) I will promote from within, if possible, a full-time Chief of Police. If that is not possible, I will advertise and fill the position in the shortest practical amount of time. In addition to having public safety knowledge and experience, the Chief will need to be a responsible manager. I will hire the best-qualified person to be full-time Chief of Police, then empower him or her to “just do the job“. I will give the Chief my complete support and cooperation. I will also ask the citizens of Jackson to likewise support the Chief during an extensive recruiting, hiring and training process of new personnel.
5. What are your economic-development priorities for the city?
1) Continued revitalization of downtown Jackson including Capitol Street, Farish Street, and the Old Capitol Green.
2) Continued development of the Convention Center Hotel and Parking Garage and the King Edward Hotel.
3) Revitalization of Metrocenter Mall.
4) Support for the Two Lakes Project.
5) All seven Wards in the city need improvements, services and revitalization. I will work closely with each Council member to ensure that Ward by Ward our Capitol City becomes one of the best in the nation.
6) I will expand and promote our transportation and distribution hub. Our Capitol City’s location is ideal for economic growth. We have four major interstate and highway arteries running through our Capitol City— I-55 and I-20; and Highway 80 and Highway 49. We are also fortunate to have railroads running north-south and east-west, as well as private and international airports. These are great assets of our Capitol City which have yet to be fully utilized.
6. How would you alter the employee pay/benefit structure?
1) I will implement an employee pay schedule based on years of experience, performance, and qualifications.
2) I will work closely with the City Council.
3) I will make certain that all benefit plans are approved by the Mayor and the City Council in a bid process.
7. How would you improve transparency in government? How would you change the way the city responds to public-records requests?
a) We will have a transparent Capitol City. All City government policies and procedures will be placed on a website for public review. As we all know, nothing good comes from sweeping a problem under the rug. I will put everything out in the open and we will deal with it issue by issue. The meetings I attend will be open to the public and to the press corps. It won’t always be fun but it will always be honest. Also, I will hold periodic meetings for the public so I can hear and respond to their concerns and suggestions for our Capitol City.
b) I will ensure that the City Clerk’s office responds in a timely manner to all appropriate public-record requests.
8. There are various proposals that would ostensibly help with flood control on the Pearl, and perhaps increase development and/or green space for the city. What program would you support and why?
a) I have always been in favor of the Two Lakes Project. The Two Lakes Project can provide solutions to some of our Capitol City’s problems such as flood control, water supply, and economic development, all while being environmentally friendly.
b) I will work closely with our sister cities to promote the Pearl River being used as a major attraction for our Capitol City. Residents, as well as commerce, are drawn to waterfront living and doing business. We have a wonderful climate for year-round tourism that needs to be harvested.
9. What is the first thing you would do as mayor?
a) The first thing I would do as mayor is get to work repairing the image of our once great Capitol City. It’s a little tarnished. I love this City, the people, and the many cultural activities. Where else can you go to a rodeo one week and a ballet the next, and just a mere few city blocks from each other? I will promote tourism, not only within our state, but nationally and internationally, and encourage people to visit our great landmarks and enjoy the arts and entertainment.
b) Over a reasonable period of time, but as quickly as possible, I intend to meet with all of our City employees to stress the importance of:
1) the safety and security of our Capitol City, its residents, and employees,
2) accountability and professionalism of the operations of the Capitol City,
3) economic development within the entire City,
4) two-way communication, up and down the City chain of command.
10. What role should the city play to help the youth of Jackson? Please provide your specific plans.
I will work with the City’s K-12 public schools, colleges, universities, and our many organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, churches, 100 Black Men, Junior Achievement, etc., to provide a full range of year-round educational and recreational opportunities for our youth.
11. How would you bring new funds into the city of Jackson’s coffers?
Tourism. Tourism. Tourism.
Economic Development. Economic Development. Economic Development.
But first, we must restore the credibility of the Capitol City which is currently sorely lacking! That credibility must be with the local citizenry, regional agencies, state agencies, the federal government, and quasi-governmental agencies. With better streets, schools, and an overall safe and secure Capitol City, we can better attract new businesses, industries and residents—not just downtown, but in all seven Wards.
12. Do you support making Capitol Street two-way?
Yes; because it would be less confusing. Instead of people becoming frustrated and leaving when they could not maneuver the one-way streets, making Capitol Street two-way would be very accessible and more lucrative for business.
13. What can you do/support to make the city more attractive to residents?
1) I will clean up our Capitol City, all of it, not just downtown; build up our parks and green spaces and promote areas like Lake Hico and other neighborhood recreational sites.
2) This question also ties in with the previous one about infrastructure. We need to bring our Capitol City’s infrastructure and technological capabilities into the 21st Century. One example, that most of us experience everyday, is the obvious need of resurfacing and maintaining our streets.
3) Reduce crime
4) Improve public transportation
5) Add new retail stores
6) Improve quality of life activities such as the arts, museums, Zoo, parks, entertainment, restaurants, etc.
14. What can you do/support to make the city more attractive to businesses?
1) Reduce the crime rate
2) Better streets and roads
3) Lower taxes
4) Lower water and sewer rates
5) I will be an advocate for recruiting businesses, rather than hindering them.
I will encourage the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce to take a more active role in protecting existing businesses and to assist businesses in obtaining acquisitions, permits, and overall development of the business, as well as recruiting new ones.
6) I WILL TAKE A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH STARTING WITH CUTTING THE RED TAPE!
15. What is something fun/interesting about you that few people know?
I have fun everyday. I enjoy life; working; meeting people; participating in many civic, philanthropic, and church-related events, and spending time with my husband/business partner.
Many of the Jacksonians I talk with seem surprised that I would enter this mayoral race. I would like Jacksonians to know how serious I am about running for mayor. After many years of watching our Capitol City slowly deteriorate and wondering why “they” don’t do this and “they” don’t do that, I came to the realization that You and I are the “they“. You and I are the ones that have to stand up, get out of our comfort zone, and make our Capitol City the beautiful, prosperous, safe city that we know it can be. I think it is our responsibility, working together, to make these positive changes. That is why I am running for mayor. If given the opportunity, I would enjoy serving the citizens of our Capitol City as their Mayor.
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