Dear editor,

The city of Selma needs progress leadership.

The mayoral election of 2016 is pivotal in the survival of the local community. Selma cannot afford to revert to eight years ago when the city was destined to become poverty-stricken and citizens’ morale was at an all-time low.

Prior to the election of 2008, the city was inevitably becoming a “ghost town.” A high crime rate couples wide-spread poverty.

The elections of 2008 and 2012 were crucial in the eyes of voters. They made a wise choice. It is imperative that the voters choose a visionary, credible and mentally stable mayor in 2016. Mental instability in the mayor’s office will wreak havoc for city government.

There is an exodus of the middle income from the city. America’s middle income pays the most taxes. A strong tax-base is very important for local government.

Local governments were our first governments.

It has been said that the primitive tribe that chose the strongest man to be its chief and the oldest men to form a council was establishing local government.

City government is a form of local government. Basically, there are three main kinds of city government. They are the mayor-council government, the commission government and the city manager government.

Selma has the strong-major plan of city government. The strong-major plan gives the mayor increased responsibilities for running city affairs.

Selma, along with many other localities throughout the state, will hold a mayoral and city council election during the 2016 year.

The minimum qualifications to hold both offices are very much similar: 18 years age; 90 day state residence; one-day U.S. citizen; registered voter; and must be a resident of the city or district for 90 days prior to the election.

Elected officials must be held accountable just like educators. Primarily, most elected officials care about one thing — votes. The sources to votes are people and money.

Selma’s voters should analyze and evaluate incumbents. They can be graded by creating a report card or score card. According to the National Housing Institute, voters should learn as much as possible about incumbent elected officials.

They should ask: What are the elected official’s positions on their issues? Are they firm ideologically, or are they more flexible depending upon the voters’ positions? Where did the elected official’s money come from? Is any of it from groups that you oppose? Is there evidence to suggest that the elected official is “bought” by moneyed interests? Who were the primary groups of people supporting the elected official?

The elected official’s job performance report card should also include the categories job knowledge, managerial skills, interpersonal skills and mental demands.

Each citizen is directly affected by local government. Federal government, state government and local government serve the common needs of people. Americans tend to trust politicians to provide a responsible government.

A democracy allows voters the use of the ballot to replace ineffective public officials. Elected officials must be accountable at each government level.

A progressive Selma is on the horizon in 2016.

Gerald Shirley

Selma