STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
June 19, 2001
By MELISSA M. SCALLAN
THE SUN HERALD
LINKS
GULFPORT -Larry Benefield wants to see a more "hands-on" approach to city government. That's one of the reasons he wants to run for mayor of Gulfport.
I believe he is running for mayor because he has been told he will not be a Supervisor much longer.
"I think the city is ready for and needs a new management style," he said Thursday after qualifying for the office. Benefield is the president of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors.
It must not take much to qualify for mayor in Gulfport.
"The city is ready for someone to be hands-on in the day-to-day operation of the city," he said. "It's how I have handled things on the board of supervisors and it's how I would run things as mayor."
I think he is forgetting that's how he is running the $1 million taxpayers money escrow account.
Benefield has been a supervisor for the past 10 years. Before that, he served on the Harrison County School Board for 12 years
Since he has been in public service for the past 22 years, let allow him to retire and work in the private sector.
The taxpayers have been paying him for to many years.
If elected, some of Benefield's priorities include making sure children have access to a new sports complex, improving the city's water and drainage system and better using what he considers Gulfport's biggest asset - the state port.
Do you, the taxpayers of Gulfport, really believe this is what is on his mind? I think not.
Benefield believes Gulfport will continue to attract more residents and businesses. "We need to take the pressure off the beach area and put retail areas north of I-10," he said.
I have to admit, I do not understand what he is saying.
The waterfront area does need to be developed, Benefield said, but not on public property.
As much of Gulfport needs to be developed as possible, I call it "growth."
"I don't think casinos should be on public property," he said. "If we're going to have them, I think they should be on private property. I believe in protecting what's there."
I believe the casino's are where they are, because of the elections which were held that approved casino's in Harrison County.
Mayor Bob Short said Thursday he welcomed all candidates for the city's highest office.
If I was Mayor Bob Short, I would not worry too much about Larry Benefield running for mayor.
"I take every opponent...very seriously," he said. "I intend to run a positive campaign that focuses on Gulfport's growth and the things we've accomplished in the last four years.
Their, it has been summed up in two lines.
"I will continue to work for the people of the city of Gulfport."
That is what a politician is suppose to say, I know because I have heard that statement from all of them wanting to get re-elected.
The deadline for candidates to qualify is 5 p.m. today. After that, the Republican and Democratic committees will meet to verify candidates' residency, voter registration and check for felony records. The candidates who meet these qualifications will be put on the ballot for the May 1 party primary. The general election is June 5.
Let see, Larry Benefield was just re-elected to Harrison County Supervisor, but now he wants to run for mayor of Gulfport.
Am I missing something here?
Melissa Scallan can be reached at 896-0541 or at mmscallan@sunherald.com
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY