Incumbent Ward 8 candidate says he has enough experience and confidence to take his ward where it needs to go.

On Sept. 14, Durry will face Jannie Venter for his Ward 8 Council seat in a runoff election.

Durry finished the general city election on Aug. 4 within eight votes of Venter. In a race with five candidates in Ward 8, it wasn’t much of a surprise the seat would see a runoff, but it was a surprise that it would be such a close one.

Still, Durry is ready to win the race and continue taking his ward where he feels it should go.

Durry feels that Ward 8 hasn’t been properly recognized and hasn’t gotten its fair share from the city’s coffers.

“Recreational facilities are just becoming a part of my ward,” Durry said. “There are a lot of things that Ward 8 is in need of.”

Durry wants to stay in office and address these problems himself.

He wants to see the sewage and drainage improved in Ward 8. He wants to see more recreational opportunities presented to his constituents. And he wants to work with the rest of the council members to reduce crime.

According to Durry, the sewage and drainage lines in Ward 8 are probably one of the most visible problems.

Durry proposes making sure those sewage lines go where they need to and that all drainage ditches are properly graded and constructed.

In other areas, Durry said the city has already improved the Ward’s infrastructure.

He points to the community pond in East Selma and negotiations that are ongoing to add a community playground to the area.

While playgrounds and day care centers are important to Ward 8 families, Durry feels like crime must be dealt with as well.

While programs like Weed & Seed have already made an impact in reducing crime, Durry believes it will need continued support before the program can be administered effectively.

“The whole picture doesn’t show the full magnitude of the problem,” he said.

Weed and Seed is a program in which police work with community leaders and volunteers to help clean up wards.

“It has done a whole lot in our area. (We’ve) gotten rid of abandoned houses and cars,” Durry said.

Also, Durry said that the city has plans to put a mini-precinct in the area.

“That is going to be a plus for the East Selma area,” he said.

Another potential solution, according to some council members, could be a curfew for youth.

Durry believes the idea must be properly considered before a decision can be made.

“Before you even do that, lets pull together a representative group,” Durry said. “Let’s sit down and talk with them, and let’s see if we can’t come up with some kind of plan to make this thing make sense.”

Appointment powers have also been debated in the City Council. Some council members have suggested that the mayor should have the power to appoint city department heads.

Durry said he doesn’t feel the mayor needs the appointment powers.

“I’ve found that a large percentage of department heads were hired due to the mayor coming to the council and telling them, ‘This is the person I’d like to have,'” Durry said. “Why is there a need to do that?”

Durry has been the council member for Ward 8 for the last four years.