THE PERKINS RECORD…NUMBER 1
5-21-12
We plan to use this space for the next three months reviewing the miserable and divisive record of ex-mayor JAMES PERKINS, JR., who was in office from 2000-2008. The record of former Mayor Perkins is a series of disasters which turned a once lovely city into a city where he could not control crime, did not provide essential services to citizens, undermined the police department through incompetent leadership and generally divide people against each other. In the coming months, we will put his record out so that the good people of Selma can be reminded of the eight years of division and misery under the Perkins administration.
Today, we begin with the Perkins campaign slogan on his cards, “MOVING FORWARD, UNITED”. No Mayor has ever divided this city like James Perkins, Jr. did. He:
*DIVIDED THE CITY AGAINST THE COUNTY, SUING THE COUNTY OVER A TOWER
THE COUNTY HAD PLACED ON ITS OWN PROPERTY. Perkins lost the suit and cost the
taxpayers of Selma thousands of dollars in the process.
*DIVIDED THE CITY AGAINST RESIDENTS OF VALLEY GRANDE by trying a back door
method to annex people into Selma who did not want to live under a Perkins administration.
By his underhanded methods, Perkins forever assured that the areas would never be one united
city.
*DIVIDED THE CITY GOVERNMENT AGAINST ITS OWN RESIDENTS by deliberately
leaving the cave in on Crescent Hill Drive unrepaired for more than 5 months thinking it would
hurt then Councilman Cecil Williamson with voters in Ward 1. THE TRUTH IS THAT THE
VOTERS IN WARD 1 KNEW WHAT PERKINS WAS DOING AND he was blamed for the
inconvenience to thousands of people every day and endangering the lives of citizens by making
emergency vehicles go two miles out of the way to reach certain residences. The result of this
mean spirited action was that Williamson won by over 1000 votes and Perkins lost by over 1000.
*DIVIDED THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. Perkins used his FOUR
PUPPETS on the City Council-CRENSHAW, LEASHORE, VENTER AND RANDOLPH-to create
chaos at the City Council meetings in an effort to discredit then Council President George Evans.
The people knew who caused the controversy, chaos and division which characterized city council
meetings from 2004-2008. The result was that Evans won by more than 1000 votes and Perkins lost
by more than 1000 votes.
Two word characterize the administration of James Perkins, Jr.- DIVISION AND CONTROVERSY. His slogan of MOVING SELMA FORWARD, UNITED is a misleading joke. We pray that the good people of Selma, black and white, will not deliver our city again into the hands of those who are dividers and haters. Even today Perkins continues to divide by using HATE RADIO 105.3’s program ALL LIES (calling itself True Selma) as his primary campaign voice. If he were really interested in uniting this city, he would quit appearing on and supporting ALL LIES. A person who really wants to “unite” does not support the MOST HATEFUL, MEAN SPIRITED AND DIVISIVE radio show in Selma.
NEXT WEEK: The costly and sorry state of city services under the Perkins administration.
