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photo by Amy Collins
Mayor-elect George Evans
Evans to become next mayor
Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008
George Evans received warm greetings from supporters Tuesday evening as he strode into a banquet room at The St. James Hotel.
He didn’t talk long.
“I’m here tonight because someone stood up for me,” he told close to 200 people gathered in the room.
Evans defeated incumbent two-term Mayor James Perkins Jr. by taking 56 percent of the vote, 4,303 to 3,267, or 43 percent, in a four-man field.
Others receiving votes included Louis Dixon with 38 votes and John Jowers with 42 votes or 1 percent.
Perkins didn’t make an appearance early at his campaign headquarters, as news of his defeat began surfacing.
He couldn’t be reached for comment after the returns came in.
The two men had varying campaign styles, but both spent many days walking door-to-door, talking to people and seeking their votes.
Perkins was the first African American elected as mayor in Selma, known worldwide for being a focus of the struggle for voting rights in 1965.
In his victory speech, Evans, 63, said he’s ready to change the city’s environment, its vision and move the city forward.
Among his top priorities, Evans has listed providing public safety with necessary support and funding, meeting with city employees and other citizens to hear their concerns; making the city’s budget public record; supporting the Center for Commerce, city council and airport authority in attracting news jobs and businesses and establishing forums to hear the voices of youth and senior citizens.
Comments
Posted by tootsie (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YAY!!!!
Posted by danielle (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel sorry for the state of our city.
Posted by loujezzy2005 (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 1:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IM SO HAPPY FOR EVANS, IT TYME FOR A CHANGE!!!!!
Posted by kdnichols (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 5:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Selma. Maybe now you can move forward
for the good of ALL the people.
Posted by PFABE (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It does not matter who the mayor is, he is only one man and has to be accountable to the entire community. The result does not signify change.... it only switched players and has moved Selma back 20 years as far as healing the wounds of this fair city. Perkins is a man and Evans is a man... Have we done our share to help them move Selma toward becoming an inclusive community or have we only looked out for ______ (I'll let you fill in the blank)? Sadly, throughout the campaign I saw a lot of GREED in many people who portrayed themselves as being in support of each mayoral candidate and feel sorry for James and George at this time in Selma's history. I would not want to be in either shoes and wish godspeed to both. If we want to see change in Selma, we as citizens owe it to ourselves to work together in making that change. If we continue to fight each other or sit idle and do nothing and say nothing about the state of our city we will continue to be disappointed and Selma will not progress. I decided several years ago to take a stand against corruption in our city and county government and unfairness in our schools......my stand has paid off and the results are coming soon. Stay tune for the picture show...
Posted by Something2think_about (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please remember that it did not take one day for our city to fall as low as she has. It will not take just a day to fix her either. It will take all of us to set higher standards for our citizens and officials. We have to be accountable for our actions and those we have elected to govern our fair city.
I think that this election has proven that we are not "sheep". We have shown that we have voices and WE WILL BE HEARD! Congrats to all the winners (and soon to be winners). Please remember we will be watching you. As a city we can not let another group of people fleece our city and block progress. We have high hopes for you and I know that a majority of us will work hand in hand with you to make Selma shine once again! It will be a lot of hard work, but together we have shown that nothing is impossible!
Posted by Lacon (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CONGRATULATION TO MY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL "JOB WELL DONE"
WINDA BATES COTTINGHAM - SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO
Posted by EvSafford (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CONGRATULATION,for all the hard work, preseverence,painstaking labor and sacrifies has finally paid off, I am so proud of you.(:) "My high school principal.
Evelyn Safford'Moore-Birmingham, Alabama
Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree,PFABE.Even though I voted for Evans he's not the second coming of Christ.I congratulate him on his victory,but the past administration has made me very suspicious of city government and it remains to be seen if he'll do right by Selma and it's citizens.I certainly hope that he does.
Posted by Liberty (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Free at last...
I look forward to the rebuild of our beautiful city and community.
Also, I encourage any and everyone to attend the city council meetings. Dedicate a little time and educate yourself and others.
Congrats, Mr. Evans.
Posted by lightning (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to Mr. Evans,
The journey is just begining, there are many who are praying for you and God is upholding you at this time.
Remain faithful to your cause and to those who trusted you enough to vote for you, and all else will fall into place, the proper place in Gods hands.
May you be blesssed with honest people to work with and may you always hold them accountable to being honest, confronting all things openly and honestly no matter how difficult that may be at times.
Change takes time and energy and PRAYER, and patience.
Posted by nowhining (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is Perkins? This article says he did not make an appearance at his headquarters early, but did he make an appearance late? Has he conceeded? Does he have the common decency to congratulate his opponent? If he cares about this city at all, he will resign and turn the reigns over now to the President of the City Council, and Mayor-elect George Patrick Evans. That would be the gentlemanly thing to do, instead of hiding under a rock like a small insect, and not making any comments. He has shown how small he really is.
Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree.His behavior is showing what I--and many others-- have suspected all along...that the mayors office was a gravy train for him and his supporters and the city's needs were a distant second if they were in the running at all.I'm surprised he hasn't challenged the election,even though Evans won by a considerable margin.
Posted by misscloud (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree in some ways with you all. Change and improvements will not come immediately. I personally think that as PFABE stated, "Evans is a man" and 1 man at that. Evans is NOT "the second coming of Christ" (thanks leo71)It WILL take the entire community of Selma, Alabama to step in and make improvements within your own city...You live there right? I look forward to visiting the website to see what change and progress will come over the next 6 months, 1year, 2 years, 5 years, etc....This will be interesting. The city can hire me on a consultancy basis and I will bring change alright. Im all for raising taxes for the rich and decreasing them for the middle and lower class. Maybe since Selma is small, there may need to be some type of bartering system? What you think? Start in your local wards and get involved then you may see a city of change! Definitely hold your ELECTED City Council women and men accountable. Impeach if needed!
Posted by tootsie (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sincerely hope that Mr. Evans is more clear-sighted than Perkins and will see through this "organization" that came here from "out west" to supposedly "save us." They apparently have their own agenda there that has little to do with altruism IMO, of course, and I would be worried to see them start working their way into the new administration.
Be very, very careful.
How does it go.."Beware of Greeks (or others) bearing gifts?"
Posted by Gatorhamm (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Although I no longer live in Selma, I would like to congratulate Mr. Evans on his victory. Hopefully through his leadership as mayor, he can inspire all the citizens of Selma to come together as one community to build a Selma that all world can be proud of.
Posted by bigbama (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor Evans,
Congratulations on your win we look forward to working with you for at least the next 4 years. But just like the last guy you can be voted out just as well. We(Selma) are looking for a change and I hope and pray you have already got things working in your mind where to begin. One thing I would like to see changed(and I think a lot of other Selma people also) is the way the water works is run. We need to get the mayor and city counsel off the water board and just hire competent people to run it, and get people to pay their bills no more running up 600.00-700.00 bills. If this was done it would surely lower our water and garbage fees. One other request and I will leave you alone lets see if we can't get another cable company in this town. Charter cable has an monopoly and they can just about charge what they want.
Thanks
Posted by charzine (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Mr Evans! I'm no longer living in Selma, but I visit atleast twice a year. I'm proud of Selma and I know you're up for the challenge. I like the variety of health facilities since I've moved away. Such as the new YMCA and the Wellness Fitness Center. Keep them going strong. It is so important that we have options to stay fit and healthy.
Posted by Bless26 (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that Selma community has made a change as far as mayor goes. I"m waitng with anticipation to see how well things work out. One of the things Mr Evans should address among many is the old trees that some owners have in there yard and they know that the trees are old and has become a hazzard for there neighbors and refuse to do anything about it. I'm sure we all have seen the damage that these old trees has cause. The city should site these owners that refuse to have those tree's removes when they know within there heart that its going to cause damage.As i said before we shall see.just what kind of changes will be made. Good luck Mr Evans and God speed
Posted by ejplatinum3 (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Mr. Evans and his campagain. Hopefully. Selma can now move in a more positive direction. Even though I no longer live in Selma, I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Evans all of my life, and I feel he will do the city of Selma a wonderful job. Rome was not created in a day, and hopefully this will be the start of a new vision. Good luck Mr. Evans, and God bless you and the city of Selma.
Posted by Soldier (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations is in order Mayor Evans,
Let us all stand behind the new mayor to move this great city forward. It is not the mayor/politicians alone to do this, but to each and every hard working citizen of Selma who really have the power to do so. If we all stand together and unite and fight for what is right, we will move this Great City of Selma forward and beyond.
Posted by MightySelma (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YAY, I might move back to Selma now that the wicked witch of the east has lost her puppet boy in office. I pray Mayor Evans can unite Selma and rid Selma of the Weeds and bad Roses!
I may just move back now.
Posted by truegifts (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as I'm concern the city of Selma is going down the tubes. I personally am not happy with this city. Citizens have turn down opportunities in the past to increase the productivity of the city and now they elect a mayor that couldn't even run a city council meeting. Many said the nothing was done in the past but now nothing is really going to be done. For a long time this city was considered a "joke" because our officials fought like cats and dogs and now they are going to run the city. This city is truly in danger. Now just for our present adults, but also for our future children.
Posted by ScoopDogy (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a few words about the mayor's ouster.....To GOD be the Glory!
Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What was the alternative truegifts? I cast reluctant votes for Evans and BL Tucker the opponent to the cantankerous Johnnie Leashore in my ward.Selma has some very serious problems;a shrinking tax base,a less than stellar school system,poverty,joblessness,racial division I can go on and on.If not Evans then who?Another four of proven mediocrity with Perkins?
Posted by pari1220 (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Alright Mayor Evans...show us what you got!! I was really impressed the other day when I came down Broad street & saw you standing outside talking to a couple of people. The whole time Perkins was Mayor I never saw him in public at all!! I believe from seeing you on the council that this city may be heading toward the right direction. The main issue this city has is safety!!! PLEASE Mayor Evans make this city a safer place to go out at night for me & my children.
Posted by VinceShelton (anonymous) on November 2, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Mayor,
The world watches Selma..Congratulations. I'm proud of your continued comittment to the city. You are one of the reasons that I became an educator..I was a first grader when you arrived at Tipton in 1966.
Sincerely..From the grandson of Eli Shelton,
Vincent D. Shelton, E.D.
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