View
Tom Stingley
Candidate: Tom Stingley
Office seeking: City Council, Ward 2
Candidate Web site(s): votetomstingley.com
Age:
Education: J.D. Mississippi College School of Law; M.A. (Public Policy and Administration), Jackson State University; B.A. (Political Science) JSU
Current job: Attorney, Frascogna Courtney PLLC
Past public office:
Spouse/family:
Contact info: 601-987-3000,
P.O. Box 2326,
Jackson, MS 39225
Bio:
Platform:
-Increased police patrols and more visibility of law enforcement throughout the Ward 2 Neighborhoods
-Reorganization of the system for street maintenance and the installation and replacement of street lighting
-Enhanced communication with county, state, and federal elected representatives for proper funding of projects
-Improved Business Development and Employee Training including establishing formal relationships with training entities
-Establishment of an intra-neighborhood partnership involving Neighborhood organizations and local Churches for certain projects
1. Explain how and why you would provide good leadership for your ward.
In order to provide good leadership the council person must understand the purpose and operation of the city. The city is a legal entity established to: produce public facilities including safety protection, utility services, and environmental improvements; foster economic development and production including job creation; provide the means for effective human interaction including a viable social and cultural system; and, create human development opportunities including education structures and systems. In other words, the city is the place where the focus of life is for the people, the people are the city and the elected officers must, to the best of their abilities and financial resources, fulfill this purpose to ensure the survival of the city.
Accordingly, the responsibility of a council person is to work with other council persons and the mayor in a manner which meets the expectations of the residents/voters for carrying out the purpose of the city which is for the general welfare of its residents.
This means that the residents of a ward expect their council person to not only be able to articulate the social and economic needs of the people of the ward but also to possess the requisite knowledge of the city governmental operations (and political nature of it) to be able to deliver services through the city’s human bureaucracy to people of the ward.
My work experience with the City of Jackson and State agencies that is important to the survival of the City of Jackson; my work experience with community based organizations; and, my work experience as an attorney have prepared me to be an effective leader in this regard. For example, my work on the City of Jackson level yielded the community centers construction, swimming pool installations, street resurfacing efforts, drainage improvements, job training and employment activities, child care services, transportation services, and police equipment improvements which occurred in the City of Jackson during the 1970’s and 1980’s. And, my law practice includes work helping small and minority owned businesses obtain loans to open and remain in business.
Moreover, my experiences as a lifelong resident of Jackson and my life as a family man and Christian have provided me with a deep understanding of the human needs of the people of the city and ward. Therefore, my life experiences and personal temperament coupled with my work experiences and knowledge of the city and its governmental structure, provide me with the necessary foundation to be a voice of reason on the city council and the ability to take the city in a different and positive direction.
In conclusion, I am well-seasoned and can start working immediately after taking office, which is needed at this time on the city council.
2. What are your infrastructure priorities, and how would you pay for infrastructure repairs?
As probably expected, my infrastructure priorities involve street maintenance which would include drainage improvements, as applicable and street lighting. For some time now, the people of the ward and city have expressed that this priority is one that is second only to crime prevention. Of course, the need to address the economic conditions being suffered by our residents has become a priority and those conditions can be considered as one of the underlying causes for certain increases in the commission of criminal offenses.
I believe that the strategic approach to paying for the work would be to:
• Examine the city’s budgeting process for priorities and making sure that infrastructure improvements are duly prioritized together with police protection
• Find ways to legally leverage our city’s public funds that would yield an effective level of funding for the infrastructure needs
• Seek additional federal funding for infrastructure improvements, such as the use of Community Development Block Grant funds for streets and drainage improvements located within “low and moderate” income communities
• Seek new state and federal legislation for new funding mechanisms for infrastructure which could involve a “partnership” with corporate Jackson and Mississippi. Both of those entities, like our residents, have an important stake in the condition of our city’s infrastructure
• Amplify communication and working relationships with Hinds County and State agencies which have funds for roads, bridges, and economic development
• Utilize the information/technology transfer resources of the public interest groups that support cities for strategies for leveraging and obtaining infrastructure funding
3. What measures would you propose/support for combating crime in the city?
The answer to this question involves both short term and long term strategies. First, the recommendation of the Maple-Linder report concerning the number of police officers employed must be achieved. The visibility and frequency of police patrols must be increased. The crime prevention unit must re-activated and as the report recommended, the city’s mechanism for obtaining federal DOJ funds for the police department must be greatly improved. Secondly, the city will have to spearhead a community based effort to deal with some of the underlying causes of crime, i. e., loss of jobs, illegal drug use, the post-incarceration crisis, and the overall condition of the housing stock and commercial buildings in the city. I am proposing that an intra-neighborhood partnership be established which would involve established neighborhood organizations and local Churches for certain projects. This effort would bring together the local Pastors, business owners, school principals and coaches, homeowner organization presidents, heads of established community based organizations, and department heads of the city, to begin a long-range public-private planning and funding process for the total improvement of the city’s neighborhoods
4. How would you handle the police chief position? Would you support returning to a full-time chief? Why or why not?
The police chief position should be a full-time position that is not held by any other public officer. I have much respect for the leadership and law enforcement abilities of our current Hinds County Sheriff and we have personally known each other for over 30 years. He is a good man and a skillful public administrator (and a skillful politician), but combining the duties of those two positions is not a good public policy decision.
I would recommend, nonetheless, that the city establish an interagency agreement with Hinds County for comprehensive law enforcement for our city as the capital city within Hinds County.
Moreover, I would like to see the promotional civil service system for both our police and fire departments enhanced to insure that we have an upward mobility process in place for the public safety personnel. In my opinion, every division overseer in these departments should have a system in place that would ensure that when that supervisor leaves or is promoted to another position there are several persons under that supervisor’s responsibility who are ready to fill the vacancy left by that supervisor.
5. What are your economic-development priorities for the city?
Of course the infrastructure improvements must be included as a significant part of our economic development strategy. In that connection, we have to create an environment that encourages folks to want to open and locate businesses in the City. The Capital Green project is a good start for the downtown area, but the Farish Street development must be advanced and fully operational within the next four years. Businesses support our tax base and bring jobs - all of which is needed at this time. Entertainment is one area of business which can be not only profitable but also important for the recreational needs of our youth. It is absolutely imperative that we find a (legal) way to leverage public funds to attract private funds for opening a first class movie theater in Jackson. Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi. It is shameful that adjoining counties of Madison and Rankin have movie theaters and Jackson does not have even one theater. In addition, we must have other entertainment/recreational entities for the enjoyment of the people. For example, metropolitan areas like Dallas have shopping malls that contain skating rings and other attractions. I will work hard to continue the development of the (traditional) central business district, but I will also work hard for the realization of the business potential which appropriately adjoins our various neighborhoods such as the Lake Hico area in Ward 2.
6. How would you alter the employee pay/benefit structure?
This is a subject matter which I would ask the Mayor and his/her Personnel Director to address by providing a comparative study of municipal employee pay/benefit structures in Mississippi and similarly situated municipalities in other parts of the country. The study work would not require the hiring of any consultants. If the Mayor hires an experienced and skillful Personnel Director the Mayor and he or she can submit the applicable recommendations (in cooperation with the City’s Finance Director, Policy Director, and City Attorney) to the City Council. Of course, I would expect the Mayor and Personnel Director to obtain the “focus group” input from the applicable departmental personnel before submitting any recommendations to the City Council.
7. How would you improve transparency in government?
Holding regular meetings with the residents of the Ward about the status of city policies, programs, budgets/expenditures, and status reports (including crime statistics) would be a logical way to start. Publication of those documents and making them available to the public which would include public hearings would also augment this whole effort.
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?
Obviously, I would support, first and foremost, the program which would help with flood control in the most effective manner while being sensitive to cost-benefit analysis information. Secondly, I am interested in the project which holds the promise of economic development for the benefit of our residents. In that connection, we must also consider the project that would attract the greatest amount of federal/state funding assistance such as funding being made available for green space projects. As a councilperson, I would want the city to give hard look at all of the proposals, including the Two Lakes project.
9. What needs to happen to improve the relationship between City Council and the mayoral administration?
This issue can be resolved by having elected officials with leadership abilities. In addition, the voters/residents can impact this issue by demanding the proper behavior. As I have stated at the forums I have participated in, I have the experience, training and temperament to be a voice of reason on the City Council. My commitment is that if the voters elect a person as Mayor who turns out to be a “good” Mayor, I will work to help that Mayor and if the voters elect a person as Mayor who turns out to be a “bad” Mayor, I will work to help that Mayor to become a “good” Mayor.
10. What role should the city play to help the youth of Jackson? Please provide your specific plans.
This is a serious matter. My intra-neighborhood partnership proposal is designed to address this matter, among other issues. In addition, the City of Jackson must use its abilities and resources to develop neighborhood sports, specialized educational and employment opportunities for our youth - many of youth need to be able to work and the City must start addressing that issue in a comprehensive and organized manner. In addition, education has proven to be the great equalizer for many cultures on this planet- particularly for the different people who inhabit the United States of America. Accordingly, the City should make certain that the Jackson School Public School Board Members perform their job with respect to training our young people and reducing the drop-out rate affecting the school system. The City should provide the school board members with all the tools and resources they need to do their job according the City’s legal ability and resources. Further the City and the Jackson Public School should be aggressive in their pursuit of federal and state funding in order to provide many of the opportunities that can be made available to our youth.
11. How would you bring new funds into the city of Jackson’s coffers?
This effort must be multi-facet including business development, state and federal funding, and income producing mechanisms including a consideration of recent proposals involving “toll roads”, state government building uses, employee taxes, etc.
12. Do you support making Capitol Street two-way?
I have not reviewed the pros or cons of this proposal, but I would like to consider the proposal.
13. What can you do/support to make the city more attractive to residents?
My proposals for crime prevention, infrastructure and beautification will support this strategy.
14. What can you do/support to make the city more attractive to businesses?
In addition to crime prevention, infrastructure, and beautification, the city council must establish a public policy environment that fosters business development - I will work for those improvements.
15. What is something fun/interesting about you that few people know?
Although I am near 60 years of age now, I am still a fairly good basketball player.
Links to articles about candidate:
<
<
