THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

A failed attempt to increase the mayor&8217;s salary led to an attempt to cut city council members&8217; salaries, and council members don&8217;t know which way it&8217;s going.

Councilman Johnnie Leashore wanted to have the council salaries cut. The measure that would offer the next council an annual salary of $5,000 per year could be approved as early as Feb. 11.

Evans said he was not in favor of any pay increases.

Leashore declined to comment Saturday on his intentions. However, the move came after Leashore argued for a 20 percent pay increase for the mayor&8217;s $70,000 salary, saying the city&8217;s leader deserves it.

The increase would have made the next mayor&8217;s salary $84,000 a year. The council split 4-4 on the measure. Randolph, Leashore, Jannie Venter and Bennie Ruth Crenshaw voted to increase the mayor&8217;s pay. Reid Cain, Cecil Williamson and Dr. Geraldine Allen voted to keep the salary the same. Jean Martin abstained.

After losing the mayor&8217;s pay raise, Leashore proposed that the council cut its own salary from the $15,000 a year by two thirds, which would make the salary $5,000 per year.

Council members Martin, Venter, Randolph and Crenshaw voted not to cut the salaries.

A former councilman attending the meeting, Lorenzo Harrison, was among the first African Americans elected to the Selma City Council. He said he&8217;d never seen such a thing.

Council members currently receive $1,250 a month. State law requires the salaries are set six months prior to municipal elections, which prevent elected officials from setting their own salaries.