To The Editor,

In response to my letter to the editor of October 19, Ms. Dee Turner asked several specific questions.

Understand that the purpose of this letter is not to be argumentative but rather to answer her questions.

In reply to, “Why didn’t you speak out when the council refused to allow Mayor Perkins to have any power?” When Mayor Perkins was sworn in as mayor the mayor’s office had the same power that had been held by his predecessor.

This was the level of authority James Perkins Jr. had campaigned for and that had been enjoyed by Mayor Smitherman.

The council took none of that authority away from him after the election or during the

following four years.

Some would say the council gave respect to Smitherman but not to Perkins.

Respect is earned, not demanded and mutual respect is what was lacking.

Ms. Turner asked, “Why didn’t you speak out when the council challenged every decision made by the mayor’s office?”

That did not happen.

Council records will show that the vast majority of items Mayor Perkins brought before the previous council were passed.

Some were passed without dissent, some received a challenge yet still passed by majority vote while others were voted down.

That is the way our representative process works.

As to President Evans attacking Mayor Perkins in a council meeting I will

agree that it may have happened, although I’m not sure at what point disagreeing with someone becomes an attack.

Having attended numerous council meetings in the past four years I don’t think there was a city official present who hasn’t been “attacked” by someone.

To set the record straight, Council President Evans had two challengers,

not just one as stated by Ms. Turner.

The second challenger, Mr. R. Walker, received more votes than mayoral challenger Rev. G. King.

All that

aside, 62 out of every one hundred voted for Evans.

Some of them also voted for Perkins.

I cannot understand how a vote for Perkins can be worth more than a vote for Evans.

The last question, “What is Evans going to do to dispel that perception?” (white support), and the statement that “the President should get in where he fits in” are both indicative of an us against them attitude.

Us against them being black against white.

Such racist attitudes will not move our city forward.

Benjamin Austin