While many area candidates are busy trying to get their messages out to voters in time for the May 22 Joint Preferential Primary, others are already focusing on the November general election.
Among those who addressed the Pine Bluff Board of Realtors last week at the Pine Bluff Country Club were Sheriff Gerald Robinson and a challenger, Roger McLemore. Mayor Carl Redus and challenger Debbie Hollingsworth also spoke.
Robinson, seeking his third term as county sheriff, is unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 22. He cited his record of having worked in and commanded every position within the sheriff’s department.
“I’ve worked hard to make Jefferson County a better place to live,” Robinson said. “We have the most professional law enforcement agency in this state.”
Robinson said he has kept every one of his campaign promises from previous races, including locking up deadbeat dads, adding new deputies, putting incarcerated persons to work on road cleanup crews and engaging in community service in and out of the state by helping in areas hit by disasters.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “I promise to continue to find ways to bring in more money to this county and to improve conditions here.”
McLemore, who is running as an independent and therefore not on the primary ballot, also has a background in law enforcement and said the safety of every citizen is his primary concern.
“I want to make this town as safe as it can be, and I know how to do the job,” McLemore said.
Debe Hollingsworth, in her bid to become the city’s mayor, said she has been campaigning for a year because she thinks that from listening to citizens the city needs to go in a new direction.
“We need to address crime, both in the short term and in the long term,” she said.
To spur economic development, Hollingsworth said the city needs to partner with and help small businesses. Other partnerships that she suggested include linking with the chamber of commerce to improve the city’s image, with county government and the education systems.
“Invest in me, ” she said, “and you’ll be investing in Pine Bluff.”
Redus, who has not officially announced his intention to seek re-election, advised Pine Bluff residents to stay the course.
Under his leadership, Redus said, the city has developed a 20/20 plan that focuses on public safety, infrastructure and delivery of services.
Redus said the city has invested $5 million in new equipment since he took office, increased the number of police officers to 151 and firefighters to 102 and is halfway to the $10 million needed for a planned multipurpose center.
“That’s what the penny increase you voted has helped us accomplish,” Redus said, referring to a sales tax increase approved by voters in February 2011. “I have the leadership, management experience and vision to continue to move this city forward.”