Anthony Rutledge wants to see the economy and education of Ward 8 improve. That’s why he’s running for the ward’s seat on the Selma City Council.

This is Rutledge’s third bid for city office. &uot;The third time’s the charm,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m still the right choice for Ward 8. The politicians need to stop lying and promising things that they can’t do.&uot;

Ward 8 has seen improvements over the past 12 years, but people can’t see them, according to Rutledge.

Homes are falling apart and just four years ago some residents used outhouses, he added. &uot;In the 21st century we can do better than that,&uot; Rutledge said.

Education and the economy are the keys to improving Ward 8, Rutledge said.

If someone doesn’t have the money to provide for his family, he might resort to anything. &uot;You have to take time with your children from when they’re born,&uot; he said. &uot;The key is, it has to happen at home. As a child, people used to say that it took a community to raise a child. Where has that community gone?&uot;

Education shouldn’t be limited to the academic, but should also include the emotional and disciplinary development of children, Rutledge said. If elected, Rutledge plans on lobbying city, state and federal agencies to bring programs into the school system that will enhance the capabilities of Selma’s youth. &uot;We have some programs, but they’re not producing results to match the 21st century,&uot; Rutledge said. &uot;We live in a technological world now.&uot;

Rutledge added, though, that job-training programs didn’t mean jobs would come to the area. &uot;I’ve been all over the world, and when you ask people about the Selma, they always say there’s division there,&uot; he said. &uot;With that kind of situation, you’re not going to bring a lot of companies in here.&uot;

Selma’s government isn’t focused on growth and productivity, Rutledge said. &uot;City government should be working together to better the city,&uot; he added. &uot;I don’t see black and white. I see people. We need to move beyond the past and look toward the future.&uot;

Concerning the city’s crime issue, Rutledge said Selma wasn’t alone. &uot;Crime is on the rise all over America,&uot; he said. &uot;If you have a police and Sheriff’s department, you’ve got to equip them with what they need to combat crime.&uot;

Rutledge suggested a mobile police unit in each ward instead of just one for the entire city. &uot;Money may be the issue, but mobile units in each ward would alleviate lots of crime,&uot; Rutledge said. &uot;You have to have the community’s help. You have to say, ‘Enough is enough.’&uot;

Rutledge is ready to say &uot;enough is enough&uot; to the council’s executive sessions as well. &uot;I would never entertain these types of sessions,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re here to serve the people. You can’t serve your constituents and then serve special interests. It looks as if you’re trying to hide something.&uot;

Rutledge, a life-long Ward 8 resident, is a graduate of Selma High School, Concordia College and Officer Candidates School at Ft. Benning, Ga.

He was stationed in Panama in 1989 and spent most of his time overseas in Central and South America.